Russians are innately conservative people and you would do well to dress with this in mind. An old Soviet-era habit has died hard—they judge you by your shoes. Good quality, nicely polished footwear will make a good impression. Old-fashioned courtesies (holding doors for ladies, taking their coat) are appreciated and expected. Men are always expected to pick up restaurant bills when the host isn’t a company or Government agency. Russians have a deep-seated desire not to be thought uncouth or 'the poor man of Europe’. If they ask you questions about how you find Russia, it is worth thinking of some pleasant things to tell them rather than letting fly about things that you wish were different. One final point: when taking your seat in an auditorium or theatre, don’t shuffle past people with your back to them but instead turn to face them, otherwise you’re considered to be 'sticking your arse in their face’.