Travelling in Russia - before the year 2014

[Zebra]

Who has been in Russia then and can tell us about it?

 

[Zebra]

i have been to Russia three times before 2014 and could tell of my time there.

 

[luiza]

Many times -- well into double figures . St P to the west , Sochi to the south and Ykaterinburg at the Asia /Europe notional divide , plus many , many other cities and areas . Have watched a middle class emerge and seen an amazing prosperity rise. The people have a very high educational achievement system , are very intelligent and aspirational and tremendously hospitable . I never chose to learn their language but always travelled and moved around with people who were fluent English speakers though English is widely spoken . Privately most middle class and more affluent people think westerners are generally ill informed and not very clever . Naturally , I took "our" side and tried to show them how in the short term that was a likely inevitable fact but that huge cultural changes will occur once travel becomes even more widespread and the voices of the under 30s become more audible . That is , once they become infected with western "materialism " diseases .Have not been for nearly five years due to Covid etc etc and then the current war situation . Things might have changed considerably.Could easily live in Sochi because of sea , food , drink advantages and generally lower cost of living though Sochi itself is at St P and Moscow high price levels for property and top end products-- They "all" drive new black BMWs and black Range Rovers etc etc .

 

[Zebra]

I have been specially to Perm near the Ural and to Krasnodar in the Caucasus.

 

[Zebra]

I could tell you a little about my "adventures" in Russia.

 

[Zebra]

One adventure was like this:
"Lost in the endless Russian forest, at midnight".

 

[luiza]

One adventure was like this:
"Lost in the endless Russian forest, at midnight".

Not lost enough .

 

[Zebra]

Another adventure:
How I travvelled by the Transsib by mistake.

 

[Zebra]

Once I took the Trans-Sib by mistake, from Kungur to Perm, without knowing at first that the train I had entered was the Trans Sib.
I had only a very simple ticket that looked more like a tiny tramway ticket.
The conductor said: "What's this? I have never seen such a ticket in my life! Please follow me to the conductors' compartment ..."

I have written a few short stories, about this case and my other adventures in Russia.
They are all in German, so I can't copy and paste them here.

But I could translate just the headlines in English, to give you some idea.

 

[Zebra]

Can it be that I am the only one in the whole forum who has ever been to Russia?

 

[Quasar44]

Can it be that I am the only one in the whole forum who has ever been to Russia?

YES you are .
Are the people really cold and unfriendly there.

Tell us some Russian stories about interesting stuff

 

[Unkotare]

YES you are .
Are the people really cold and unfriendly there.

...

The girls aren't always cold and unfriendly.

 

[Zebra]

YES you are .
Are the people really cold and unfriendly there.

When I was there, the people were all friendly.

 

[luiza]

The girls aren't always cold and unfriendly.

Easy to make that sort of quip but it is far from representative . But women know they outnumber men very significantly and where required they behave appropriately .

 

[Unkotare]

Easy to make that sort of quip but it is far from representative . ...

Just speaking from experience.

 

[Zebra]

@ the churches of Kungur

Most of the churches there have been turned into prisons.
A sorry sight.

But one church I found there that had been given back to the Russion Orthodox Church.
When I saw it in 2003, it was still a building site.

But when I returned there in 2012, it had become a wonderfully beautiful church.

 

[Zebra]

@ Lost in the endless Russian forests, around midnight

It was like a Swedisch Midsommernight, so it was not totally dark.
And I met a few friendly Russians, how tried to help me find my way back.

I asked them about a certain adress.
They did not know exactly where that was.
But always gave me to understand, that I was in the right direction.

Until finally I was there, a bit late, but there.

 

[leftwinger]

Once I took the Trans-Sib by mistake, from Kungur to Perm, without knowing at first that the train I had entered was the Trans Sib.
I had only a very simple ticket that looked more like a tiny tramway ticket.
The conductor said: "What's this? I have never seen such a ticket in my life! Please follow me to the conductors' compartment ..."

I have written a few short stories, about this case and my other adventures in Russia.
They are all in German, so I can't copy and paste them here.

But I could translate just the headlines in English, to give you some idea.

What did you and him do back there? Fag much?

Please follow me to the conductors' compartment ..."

 

[Zebra]

who else has been to russia?