Russia Travel Blog | All about Russia in English

Archive for December 2013

Dec/13

31

Happy New Year 2014

Despite the recent tragic events (acts of terror in Volgograd), we would like to wish you a Happy New Year 2014.

In the coming year, we wish you a lot of happy days and good luck in all your endeavors.

Happy New Year 2014

Tags: No tags

Dec/13

25

Chief Russian Father Frost visiting Samara

While people are celebrating Christmas in many countries around the world, we continue to share with you interesting and sometimes very unusual news and photos from Russia.

This scene could be seen in the city of Samara yesterday, December 24. Chief Russian Father Frost (Santa Claus) came to Samara from Veliki Ustyug town (his official residence). Special metal barriers were installed for “safety” reasons.

Chief Russian Father Frost in Samara, photo 1

Safety first?

Tags: 

Summing up the year, we would like to present to you top 7 posts about Russia published in 2013 (in ascending order).

#7 On the vast territory of Russia there are many abandoned military bases, airfields, summer camps and other structures. Sometimes you can find real treasure, for example this abandoned summer camp with a lot of retro cars.

Abandoned Summer Camp with Retro Cars, Moscow region, Russia

Our Top 7 posts about Russia

Tags: No tags

One of the most significant events in recent years has happened in Russia today. Former head of the oil company “Yukos” Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the main political prisoner of the country, has been pardoned by order of Vladimir Putin and released from prison.

Khodorkovsky spent more than 10 years in prison (since 2003). The whole story of his release looks like a complex operation, covered with a veil of secrecy. State propaganda is already saying that his petition of clemency means that he admits his guilt, while in all his statements made before he refused to do it.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky

some thoughts on the topic

Tags: No tags

Not so long ago, in St. Petersburg, a new attraction “Grand Model of Russia” has appeared. It is the largest model in Russia (800 square meters) showing cities and towns, forests and seas, people and animals, roads and railways.

The exposition has all key and typical objects of every Russian region. You can see different scenes from the life of the country: moving trains and cars, naval base, spaceport, a shepherd with a flock of sheep, ships at sea, etc. Here is just a small part of the models presented. Photos by deletant

Grand Model of Russia, photo 1

Russia in miniature

Tags:  ·

Dec/13

15

Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games

We have made a special page devoted to the upcoming 22nd Winter Olympic Games in Sochi to gather all the interesting facts about this Olympics.

Sochi 2014 Alpine Center Rosa Khutor

Tags: 

Dec/13

12

The Second Highest Dam in Russia

Chirkeisk Hydro Power Plant (HPP) is standing on the Sulak River near the village Dubki, in the Buinaksk district of Dagestan Republic. It is the largest HPP in the North Caucasus.

This power station has the second highest dam in Russia (232.5 meters). Also, it is the highest arch dam in Russia. Chirkeisk HPP is located in the narrow gorge bearing the same name.

Chirkeisk Hydro Power Plant, Dagestan, Russia, photo 1

magnificent views

Tags: 

Why Russians rarely smile? This is one of the questions foreigners often ask about people living in Russia.

The following article about Russian smile and its features reveals this mystery.

Russian Smile - Not the Time to Smile

Tags: No tags