The wonderful world of Moscow shopping has just got richer: there is now a condom shop in Myasnitskaya St.

      Yessenia Shamonina was on a visit to Amsterdam when she visited a local condom shop and saw a business potential. Back to Moscow, she first toured music fests where the hippie atmosphere is often revived, driving a small van that sold the "French things". She then opened an online store, and now, a year later, she's all set up in a small shop in Moscow city centre.

      Unlike the Dutch shop, Preservativnaya is not a place to buy souvenirs (although there is a selection of those, too). The store that opened a couple of weeks ago and is in full gear to celebrate the World Contraception Day (September 26) is frequented by those who know their latex from polyurethane. The experts claim that the latter are far thinner yet stronger.

      The owners are excited about their options: they hope to bring self-rolling preservatives from South Africa and whisky-scented condoms from Scotland.

      Myasnitskaya St. is planted with trendy cafes, restaurants and high-profile banks, so Preservativnaya may actually flourish despite persisting sexual bigotry in Russia.

      This is good news for foreign travellers, as well: no longer do you need to go to a pharmacy and use the sign language there. Go to Myasnitskaya instead.