This 1964 Bob Dylan song seemed appropriate to illustrate how in just one picture you can see how much things have changed in Russia since the time of the Soviet Union. In a seemingly insignificant corner (even if it is in fact a round corner) of a Moscow street we see two elements that symbolize as... Continue Reading →
One of the biggest culture shocks I've had in Russia is the (almost) complete absence of recycling. The only recycling I've found prior to 2017 was a series of small volunteer-based (I believe) organizations that leave containers outside of building entrances to collect batteries and then come and take away on a semi-regular basis. After... Continue Reading →
So, it would seem that Russian pizza chains don't watch Dr. Sheldon Cooper's "Fun with flags" (from the TV sitcom The Big Bang Theory), but they should. Let me tell you how I came to that conclusion. A little while ago I was taking some pictures (no surprise there) around Moscow's Kremlin and the Red... Continue Reading →
I have wanted to write about this for a while, but for a long time I didn't know whether finding caviar in a fast food was more of a culture shock (it certainly was!) or a travel tip (certainly worth following!). In the end I decided it was definitely both and so I put this... Continue Reading →
No trip to understand Russian culture would be complete without a visit to a country shed, or its urban equivalent: the garage. The shed and the garage are a heritage of Soviet culture, which has survived in modern-day Russia. An interesting social study and explanation of how the shed became such an important part of... Continue Reading →
I am always amazed at how past and present coexist in today's Russia. On example of that are funfairs, especially in smaller towns. There you can almost always see old Soviet relics (like 50-year-rusty old mini ferris wheels or decrepit bumper cars, which not only violate each and every safety standard, but also look like they could literally fall apart at any given time), next to stands with virtual reality goggles and mobile 4D cinemas. The truly amazing thing, to me, is that children always go from one to the other and/or vice-versa without a second though.
The Museum is located about 15 minutes walking away from the Maryina Roshcha metro station (at the exit of which you can see the Planeta VKN Youth Center): Being rather far from the city center is not a popular tourist destination. On one hand this is a shame, because it is definitely worth visiting, but on the other hand this offers you the definite advantage of seeing such an interesting place almost devoid of other visitors, especially during the week.
After yesterday's mega post on such a worrying matter, today I wanted something peaceful and serene! So I found this image I took this past winter in Tver. I wrote in another previous blog about the danger of walking on frozen rivers, but this is different. Ice fishing is a very strong tradition in Russia and the best places and times and modes to fish on the ice are generally passed from father to son. These guys know what they are doing, they know the river, they know the ice.
Russians really, really, REALLY love their cucumbers. Fresh or pickled they are almost omnipresent in Russian recipes. It's a fundamental ingredient in the famous Olivier salad (also known as Russian salad in other countries, but not in Russia!) and the "snack" of choice to much on when drinking a shot (or two) of vodka. During the summer months especially cucumber water and cucumber lemonade have been popular drinks in Russia for a long time.
