Sometimes a city totally overwhelms me with its beautiful architecture, laid-back vibe, and unique culture and I can't help but fall in love. But other times, my love for a city comes from the amazing people I meet there. Saint Petersburg was one of those times. Of course even ...
Suzdal, Russia: Charming or Absurd?
By the time we got to Moscow, Dan and I hadn't spent any time outside of a city since our stay at Lake Baikal. Now I do love cities, especially Russian ones, but by Moscow I had started to daydream about a quiet walk in the fresh air. Luckily just a few hours outside ...
The Truth About Moscow
I've traveled to a lot of places I had barely heard of before going, often with no idea what to expect, but Moscow was not one of those places. Literature, history, films, current events - talk of Moscow is everywhere. Some people say it's the best city in Russia, others say it ...
Peace and Puppets in Kazan, Tatarstan
Kazan wasn't originally on our Trans-Siberian itinerary, but after so many Russians told us that we had to spend a few days in the beautiful city (especially if we were taking time to see forgettable Omsk) we penciled it in. Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan, and proudly ...
Trans-Siberian: Omsk and Yekaterinburg
"Why are you going there?" Every Russian I spoke to had the same reaction to my plan to spend a night in Omsk. They dismissed it as an ugly industrial city that was gray and boring. But boy were they wrong! Okay, maybe they weren't completely wrong. Omsk certainly ...