Wooden architecture in Siberia The fortress of Irkutsk was founded in 1661 on the confluence of two rivers: The Angara and The Irkut. The Irkut River gave the name to the town. The location of Irkutsk was chosen very smartly – the rivers were full of fish and the forest round the fortress was rich…
Russia is a country with a long history and traditional clothing reflects it in many ways. Up to the reforms of Peter the Great in the mid-18th century, a traditional Russian costume was very recognizable. It is difficult to say when the history of traditional clothing began in Russia. But we know well what Rurikoviches…
After collecting tones of documents, filling endless visa applications, and other electronic forms, going through numerous interviews and passing the most frightening border officer in your life, you are finally here, in Russia. And each minute you spend on this land must worth all the effort you put to come here! But what to start…
Pancake Week has come to an end. We gained some weight eating delicious pancakes with caviar and jamming them with sour cream. We burned the straw figure of Maslenitsa on fire and hope that this pagan ritual will bring us good luck for the rest of the year. Why does orthodox lent last for 40…
What is Maslenitsa? You may call it ‘Russian Mardi Gras’ or even ‘Beltane’. And there are many other analogs: ‘Fastelovend’ in Cologne, ‘Fassenacht’ in Mainz, Carnival in Rhineland and other similar celebrations in the Czech Republic, Denmark, and England. Maslenita is a holiday that highlights the beginning of spring. According to ancient traditions, each day…
On how you’ve become a tour guide Do you believe in destiny? I do. I believe that certain things are destined to happen in our lives. Being a tour guide for me is one of such things. I took numerous career tests at school, and every one of them showed that I should be a…
Hello to classical music lovers from all over the world! Are you planning to visit Moscow and listen to Russian classical music, admire masterpieces by Russian composers and feel the atmosphere of world-famous Russian music halls? Then I hope you will find this article helpful. I am a musician and I want to share with…
Hey dear traveler, have you already tried vareniki, bortsch, and bubliki? Did you have a cup of Russian herbal tea, a can of kvas and a shot glass of vodka? Not yet? Want to have a company to have more fun? We kindly invite you to join a drinking tour or food tour whenever…
On how she became a tour guide At the age of 12, I realized that I want to travel. It immediately brought me to the idea of becoming a journalist. Getting a degree in journalism made me realize that I won’t travel much and may end up writing the same news all over again. I…
Safety is one of the biggest concerns for every traveler, especially when it comes to visiting a country as enigmatic, as Russia. Russia might not have a reputation of a safe country, but honestly, you don’t have to worry about crime and violence, especially in central areas, and Moscow is a very safe city and…