One of my favorite countries! Russia crosses 11 time zones (Europe and Asia) and touches three oceans (the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic). It is the largest country in the world covering one 17 million kilometres with over 146.2 million people.
90% of my touring has been in Russia – sometimes I think I’ve seem more of Russia than the US! I’ve become very fond of it and it’s felt like a home away from home. Below is a snapshot of some of the cities I have traveled through.
St. Petersburg is the second-largest city in Russia with approximately 5.4 million residents. It’s on the Neva River and interlaces with over 100 tributaries and 800 bridges crossing them. (which are gorgeous anytime, but especially in the winter! see below) It is the fourth-most populous city in Europe as well as the world’s northernmost city with over 1 million residents. St. Pete is known as the “Cultural Capital of Russia”.
Next stop… Chita! I was fortunate to visit during the winter and quite literally visit the ice castles.
Chita is in Eastern Siberia and is one of its largest cities. The Trans-Siberian railway passes through here, connecting Europe and Asia. It was once a restricted military city, and western tourists are not very common. (which is why I loved it.) Most of the region is covered in forests, in fact Siberia makes up 77% of Russia but only has 27% of its population.
Winter’s in Chita are, as you can imagine, quite cold. In December for example, the average low is -18°F and the average high is 4°F. I remember the day we took these pictures, I had two sets of gloves on and I was still going numb. (wrong gloves, maybe? 🙂 but bitter cold? yes!)
The Cathedral of Kazan Icon of Mother of God in Chita is the largest and most famous Orthodox Church in Chita. It’s also known as the most famous attraction in Chita.
The City of Yaroslavl is located on the Volga River, which is the longest river in Europe. The architecture in Russia is surreal. The buildings, the colors, the history, it’s pretty incredible. I also ran into this ‘bell garden’ while I was there – which was kind of perfect as it was around Christmas.
The home where Lenin, Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, grew up in Yaroslavl. He was the first and founding head of government of Soviet Russia from 1917 to 1924 and of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1924.
Magnitogorsk is known as an industrial city in Chelyabinsk Oblast. While this city never went to war, they made tanks and products for war…this statue was put as a reminder that while they were never at war, they stood to protect themselves.
Vladivostock means ‘Lord of the East’ or ‘Ruler of the East’. The city was founded 1860 as a Russian military outpost after the Treaty of Aigun and the Convetion of Peking. In 1872, the main Russian naval base on the Pacific Ocean was transferred to the city, and Vladivostok began o grow.
Vladivostock is the largest Russian port on the Pacific Ocean, and the primary economic, scientific and cultural center of the Russian Far East.
This was my last moment in Vladivostock – the light globe floating up Into the sky while the brightest sun started slowly falling under the frozen river.
It’s hard to summarize Russia in this one post, I’ve seen so many incredible places! We’ll revisit. Closing out with some other fun moments.
Taking the stage at Europa Plus.
So, in closing… yes, go! Russia is unlike any other place I’ve ever been. The architecture and history is on another level, and it’s sometimes so cold you can’t feel your hands, it’s larger (literally and figuratively) than any other country, the food is amazing (Borscht!), the people all have unique stories and history. It’s just one of those trips you need to do. Do your research before going, understand the cultural guidelines but go! H x
