Visits to Russia
By jwfarrimond
@jwfarrimond (4473)
6 responses
@fizzytom (752)
• Maribor, Slovenia
23 Jan 07
I travelled around the Black Sea for 14 weeks in summer 2006 and took in part of Russia. It was so different than I ever imagined. We were mostly in Sochi which is eesentially a summer holiday resort but it is currently bidding to host the next but one Winter Olympics.
Crossing over from Georgia we noticed how people like brightly coloured skimpy clothes whereas black is the predominant colour of the fairly conservative clothes worn by Georgians.
In Sochi we stayed in a private flat owned by a middle-aged Russian lady who spoke no English but managed to convey everything she needed to tell us. It was in an estate of flats and was a great way to see how Russians live.
When we arrived from Georgia I wa suffering from a bad reaction to mosquito bites and had to go to hospital. The paramedics were great and tried so hard despite an obvious lack of resources. We even spent our first night in Russia at the home of the nurse who did not want me to walk around looking for a place to stay. Her family were so kind and friendly and I immediately felt like I'd made new frends for life.
I'm hooked now and am planning a few days in St Petersburg later this year
@variety (105)
• Belgium
12 Jan 07
What I can say... I'm really happy that you hat met only nice people. During my live there I saw all kinds of men... and I assure u that there is a great difference between living there and having a trip.
In any case I love Russia: nature, lifestyle, but not it's governemt.
1 person likes this
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
12 Jan 07
I entirely agree with you that there is a great difference between living there and just visiting there for a short time. That's the same anywhere. My trip was not the normal "touristy" type of trip. I went to Ulyanovsk on the Volga and then on to Bulgur, which used to be the capital of the Volga Bulgurs, but is now just a amall rural town. There I was staying in a "hunting lodge" which was quite primitive, clean piped running water but outside earth toilets. Then I went on to spend a week with students in their summer camp on the banks of the Volga. This was in tents, camp food, and the toilet was behind the closest tree in the forest. From there, I travelled by bus to Yoshkar - Ola in Mari El Republic to visit a penfriend who lived there. Then back home. My interest was in meeting real people outside of the usual tourist circuit and in seeing something of Russia away from the big cities.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Oct 12
I visited Russia over 30 years ago, and it was undoubtedly the best holiday that I have ever had. I spent a few days in Moscow then travelled 3000 miles east into Siberia, where I stayed at Bratsk and then Irkutsk. English is naturally very common in Moscow, but virtually unknown in Siberia. Nevertheless, despite the obvious language barrier people were always willing to try to help and would take the time to try to communicate via sign language.
Not only was this a wonderful experience in itself, but it gave me such a great respect for those people who tried so very hard to assist.
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
24 Oct 12
Irkutsk is a long way south of Yakusk and is about quite close to the Mongolian border, so I never saw the Lena. Irkutsk lies on the River Angara. I did enjoy a trip to Lake Baikal and it is quite an experience to see heavy trucks driving across it. We all know that this happens, but it is still a surprise to walk out onto the ice and then have a truck drive past you.
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
23 Oct 12
Ah. I'd love to see the Lena, I think that a trip down there by boat must be one of the great river journeys. But once you get to Yakusk, there's nowhere else to go apart from back up the river - unless you are brave enough the try the Road of Bones to Magadan 
@elisa812 (3026)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I went to Russia a couple years ago to play with an orchestra there, and I really enjoyed seeing the sights and everything, but the people I met were horribly rude. I am glad to hear that you came across such nice people when you were there though! Maybe I was in all the wrong cities, lol.
@jamiemazlan (4)
•
22 Feb 11
im currently living in russia now..well,what can i say,it has its pro and cons. the people as a general are quite rude and ignorant..but as an individual,they're so helpful and friendly!i love all of my russian friends. they're always up to anything..
regarding the cities,i havent been to a lot of them..maybe several..but i really do love moscow and st petersburg.their architectures are truly breath taking.. pictures cant really describe that feeling when you're inside the hermitage for example. you need to experience it yourself. i would definitely recommend these two cities for starters. and as for food, its okay.since im from an asian country,i would prefer spicier foods. them russians use to much sour cream and mayonnaise in everything! LOL
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
22 Feb 11
I had perhaps a day in Moscow, enough to see some of the major sights, the Kremlin, Red Square and St Basils, though I did not have enough time to tour round these places. St Petersburg is on my must see list of places, maybe one day...
