Tour of Ostozhenka with Mayakovsky and Dostoevsky

How Mayakovsky and Dostoevsky hunted a thief

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On the street Ostozhenka, that in Moscow, on one of those days when the grey November wind mercilessly tore the last leaves from the trees, an event occurred that probably deserves attention. That evening Vladimir Mayakovsky walked down the street, thinking about new poems and the eternal glory that poetry bestows.

The weather was overcast, with occasional drizzles of rain leaving dark spots on the pavement. The domes of churches could be seen in the distance, and people wrapped in shawls and coats were hurrying about their business. The air was filled with the smell of dampness, and from time to time the cries of street vendors could be heard, offering hot pies and sweets.

Mayakovsky, in his usual long coat, was walking along the old houses when he suddenly noticed something strange. On the corner of the street, in the shadow of one of the buildings, stood a man who was clearly out of place and time. He looked agitated and wary.

The figure, it turned out, belonged to a man known in narrow circles as Fyodor Dostoevsky. He was immersed in reading a book, seemingly completely oblivious to the world around him. But his gaze was wary, and from time to time he raised his head, as if expecting someone.

Mayakovsky, driven by curiosity, came closer. At that moment he noticed that Dostoevsky was covering something with his coat. It was a small wooden box, decorated with intricate carvings. Vladimir, unable to resist, asked Fyodor what kind of treasure he had.

Dostoevsky, sighing, admitted that the box was a family heirloom, which he guarded like the apple of his eye. But here's the problem - thieves, damned rogues, stole everything valuable from it. He hoped to find traces of them here, on Ostozhenka, knowing that thieves often operated in this area.

Mayakovsky, inspired by the story, offered his help. Together they set off along the trail that the street led, leaving behind the noisy crowd. Along the way they encountered characters as mysterious as Dostoevsky himself: an old shoemaker, a newspaper seller, and even a street musician humming sad melodies.

Eventually, they found what they were looking for - the thief, who turned out to be just a boy dreaming of fame and fortune. He returned the box, admitting his guilt and vowing to reform.

Dostoevsky, looking at him with compassion, forgave him, and Mayakovsky left the young man his poems, hoping that they would inspire him to an honest life. Thus, on this gray Moscow evening, a new story was born, full of forgiveness and hope.

***

Of course, this is a joke, and there is no real basis for this story - just a little imagination and for the sake of a smile! And if you are interested in real facts and events, we invite you to the excursions of the "Radius" bureau, where real history comes to life!

  1. On July 18th, we participated in the "Soul of Moscow" group tour led by Alexander. Kitay-gorod and its surroundings revealed a new side to us, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. Some of us began intensively studying related materials to broaden our horizons. We'll be back, and we highly recommend it! You won't regret it.
    Alexander July 20, 2026
  2. Good afternoon, on June 23rd we had a tour called " The Soul of Moscow ," led by Alexander. He's a very pleasant young man. We visited such lovely courtyards and alleys with him that we never even knew existed, and we learned so much. We really enjoyed everything, and we hope to continue our acquaintance. Alexander! Thank you! We had a great time with you, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. See you there!
    Tatyana, Galina, Nadezhda June 24, 2026
  3. This isn't my first time with Radius. This time, I took the Moscow metro . The goal was not only to admire the underground palaces but also to learn how to navigate the metro. As a resident of a region without a metro, I was a bit apprehensive and didn't understand how to navigate the metro. Of course, the internet helps, but live communication is much better. Tour guide Yulia handled this task perfectly. The information was accessible and interesting, the presentation was calm, and the communication style was very friendly. Thank you very much for the tour and the practical experience.
    Julia June 20, 2026
  4. Good afternoon! I gave the "Soul of Moscow" tour to some of the capital's guests. We were thrilled to hear our guide, Anton. It was so informative and engaging, and very warm. To say we were absolutely delighted is an understatement. It turned out to be a truly family-friendly excursion. We learned so many interesting facts. The material was presented professionally, all our questions were answered, and we saw so much. It was simply WOW! Thank you so much, Anton, he's the best!!!!! From now on, I'll only come to you, the Radius team. I highly recommend it. I promise we'll see each other again soon on other tours.
    Inna May 26, 2026
  5. Overall, the tour left a positive impression! Thanks to Alexander for the walk through the courtyards and atmospheric spots of Kitay-Gorod; we certainly wouldn't have done it on our own. The tour was comfortable, and the guide spoke confidently and calmly. One thing we personally missed: we would have liked more of the historical part, relating to ancient Moscow and the history of Kitay-Gorod. There were quite a few stories about the Soviet period and the bar scene, but for our group, this wasn't particularly relevant. We think the program could be a little more tailored to the age and interests of the group. It would also have been interesting to add more historical facts, monuments, and details about old Moscow and the area itself. That said, the tour was still interesting, and some places and churches were truly memorable. These aren't really "cons," but rather suggestions for an even more comprehensive program.
    Ksenia May 25, 2026
  6. Hello! We had a corporate group of 10 people. Our guide was Anton, and we had a tour of Bulgakov. I would like to point out the excellent organization; everything went smoothly. The managers were very accommodating to our changes in the number of participants. The bus was very comfortable. Anton is a super-engaged and motivated guide. He lives this history and is delighted to share his knowledge and create an unforgettable experience. Everything went well. I highly recommend it!
    Oleg February 19, 2026
  7. Thank you for a fascinating tour! It gave me so much food for thought to explore! Note: Review of the "Zamoskvorechye" tour with guide Maria.
    Eugene December 7, 2025
  8. I'd like to express my gratitude on behalf of our team! Thank you for keeping to our scheduled schedule despite our lack of organization. Our colleagues appreciated your preparation for the tour! It was informative. Note: Review of the "Modern Residential Complexes, Factory Past, and Avant-Garde" tour of the ZILART residential complex with guide Maria. Maria prepared and conducted a customized tour for employees of the Samolet Group of Companies development company.
    Team of the Samolet Group December 7, 2025
  9. Thank you! You have great talent. Good luck! ☺️ You're a wonderful guide! Thank you again! Note: This is a review of the corporate tour "The Heart of the Capital" with guide Maria.
    Dmitriy December 7, 2025
  10. Thank you for a wonderful day today!!)) Note: review of the excursion "The Soul of Moscow" with guide Maria
    Natalia December 7, 2025
  11. On behalf of the whole family, I want to thank you for a very informative and interesting tour! Note: This is a review of the "Palace Dungeons" tour with guide Maria.
    Eugene December 7, 2025
  12. Good afternoon! I'd like to express my gratitude and that of my guide for organizing the tour! We were very pleased. We'd like to do it again in October, but on a different route — ZIL. Note: This refers to the tour for Samolet Group developers, led by guide Maria.
    Elya September 27, 2025
  13. Thanks to Alexander for the bar tour of Baumanka ! It was fun, exciting, and we discovered so many new places! Awesome! May we reach new heights!
    Kira August 9, 2025
  14. Good afternoon! I was on a tour of Sukharevskaya Square — we went all the way to Tsvetnoy Boulevard. I didn't expect it to be so interesting! For those wondering whether to go — go for it! It truly became one of my most memorable summer memories!
    Kirill August 4, 2025
  15. Anastasia, good morning! Thank you and Masha for yesterday! The speakers are happy. The connection through the headphones was often lost, especially at the checkpoint, but that's just our current situation. You could hear if you were standing close, no more than 1.5 meters away. Colleagues have already asked for your contact information. I'd be happy to share it and look forward to another opportunity to work with you. Special thanks to the Director for the Bureau . Note: " Heart of the Capital " tour for participants of the 2025 Moscow Oncology Forum. Guides: Anastasia and Maria.
    Tina July 8, 2025
  16. We'd like to thank Anton and Alexander for leading the tour! It was fascinating to hear how the Krasnaya Presnya district developed and how Prokhorov's influence on our city's development. It was a pleasant immersion into a quiet, previously unexplored area!
    Dmitriy July 8, 2025
  17. Good afternoon, thank you so much, Anastasia. The " Uncle Gilyai " tour was fantastic. Even though we're Muscovites and know a lot about Moscow, the experience was amazing, so much new and interesting happened. We'll definitely be back.
    Victoria July 8, 2025
  18. Thank you for the " Heart of Moscow " and " Khamovniki " tours. Anton, a knowledgeable and passionate Moscow guide, gave me the tour. He's a great storyteller, intelligent, well-read, and captivating. You've truly opened up my Moscow to me! I'll definitely be back next summer to explore Moscow with you. I'll recommend your wonderful tour program to all my friends!
    Julia July 1, 2025
  19. Excursions with the Radius travel agency are always a positive experience if you choose them. We planned a tour of Zamoskvorechye on our next visit. We've worked with our guide, Anton, before. We'll definitely recommend him to everyone we know. The tour is informative, not overloaded with dates, and the information is comprehensive yet easy to understand, as it's presented in a light, narrative manner, not like a history textbook, dry and academic. Thank you for this approach. We'll definitely use the Radius agency again on our next visit to Moscow.
    Tatiana June 23, 2025
  20. Thank you so much for the tour of Zamoskvorechye . Despite the weather, it was very interesting and informative! Note: this refers to the tour with guide Anton.
    Tatiana May 6, 2025
  21. A huge thank you to Anastasia. We had a fantastic tour of the Patriki district. We learned so much. Anastasia is a true master of her craft. The tour was captivating, not at all boring, lively and interesting. Everyone was delighted. We were full of new impressions. I definitely recommend it. You won't be disappointed!
    Anna May 6, 2025
  22. We explored the Soul of Moscow with my family and Radius on my birthday. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the walk! Anton shared so many interesting facts about the capital and its history, taking us into spiritual depths no one else had even suspected. Most of us were either born or longtime Moscow residents who spent a lot of time walking around. It was educational, heartwarming, and unforgettable. 🙂 Overall, this wasn't my first time walking around Moscow with Anton, and each time was a real adventure!
    Olga May 4, 2025
  23. Anastasia, good afternoon! I wanted to thank you again for the wonderful tour on Saturday — we absolutely loved the walk, the information, and the conversations with you. We spent a long time afterwards discussing what stood out and what struck us. It seems like you've lived in Moscow your whole life, and we studied Moscow studies in school, but it turns out there's so much you still don't know! Overall, thank you so much; my mom said it was the best birthday present ever! Note: This is about the " Soul of Moscow " tour.
    Arina January 13, 2025
  24. Good day to all! I would like to share my impressions of the excursion "Journey to Christmas". Our guide was Anastasia. So! Everything was just magical: a slight frost of -4, snow, numerous Christmas trees, decorations, lights, garlands and all this to the interesting educational story of Anastasia. Despite the fact that we knew something about the New Year, there was a lot that was new, unexpected and interesting. And all this to the music of Tchaikovsky. In general, we are delighted. Thank you for the New Year mood you gave us. It is priceless!!!! Thank you!
    Victoria January 5, 2025