Russia trip advice

Has anyone here ever visited Russia? My brother has suggested the two of us go visit and I am up for it. My thought is we should do a day or so layover each way somewhere in Europe. A layover will be required since there will be no direct flights from our area, I'd rather lay over somewhere other than JFK. Also breaks up the 10 or so hour time difference.

Talking 12-24 months from now, and I am not all that interested in some big one-time event. We both like less-than-touristy things to see and do.

I recommend you ask this question at WoV. I think there were some eastern bloc folks on the board. I know some folks who have gone the touristy route. I don't know if any of them was fired up about a return trip. The impression I got from them was that it was relatively expensive, and not very "special".

Quote: Ayecarumba

The impression I got from them was that it was relatively expensive, and not very "special".

It's one of those trips where you say,
after it's over, what was I thinking.
Like going to FL in July. Or any
month, really..

I’ve gone. I’ll answer more in detail for you later. Did a few days in St Petersburg. Then cruise to Moscow with multiple stops along the way. Then a few days in Mosvow.

I had a friend that went and he had a blast. He went on some kind of exchange program and he was there to teach Ak. fishing practices to their crab fisherman.

Hearing him tell it is a treat. They would do boat stuff during the day, and hit bars at night. They hired a interpreter type of guy that doubled as protection.

The women were interesting.

Check the dating sites. Might try to locate your counterpart over there, you could have a fun time.

Is fishing with Vlad an option?

I would definitely like to see how their power company handles live line work.

Quote: petroglyph

The women were interesting.

Check the dating sites. Might try to locate your counterpart over there, you could have a fun time.

Looked at that years ago. Exchanged letters with one. Later had a Russian guy (Ukranian actually) working for me and asked his guidance. Thought the better since. My brother is married so doubt much happens there.

Keep the feedback coming.

Nowadays, with a little web research, you can pinpoint tourist areas of Russia to avoid as overpriced or tourist traps. Well, you can do that everywhere you go these days. Make for a happier trip.

Since Ak. was "settled" by Russians and we purchased it from them [Sewards folly, 7.2 million], there have remained Russian villages on the Kenai Peninsula. I believe Kenai has a sister city program and young students are encouraged to have pen pals with students in those city's.

https://www.yellowdogflyfishing.com/destinations/fly-fishing-russia

Depends on what you like to do? It has to be equivalent to Alaska fishing, which is good. Call me crazy, but if I was going I'd probably write a letter to Vlads pr people and see if he wanted to go along. If you go, take some trading stock and bring back some carved ivory.

There are many Russians/Russian Orthodox churches, Russian villages in Alaska today. It is much closer to Russia for Alaskans than it is to Seattle. I've known artifact hunters, and the artifacts on either side up there are the same. Alaskans [inc. Sarah] just don't feel the threat of them the same as the lower 48.

Zuga and miroslavlav on WoV are both over there, I think in Croatia. Both very friendly with good English, could be quite helpful. You might PM them.

My daughter has her third Russian
exchange student right now. They
have one thing in common, at the
end of their stay none of them want
to go back to Russia. They do because
of family, and because they have to.
But they get depressed just thinking
about it.