Russia was not a country that was at the top of my travel bucket list. However, after working for a Russian family for several years, the history, culture, and undecipherable language of Russia became a fascination.
The iconic bucket list adventure on the Trans-Siberian Railway moved to the top if my bucket list, and this brought me to snowy Russia in February 2014. Red Square was a very white square, and thanks to a marathon of hand gestures I bought vodka hidden in black plastic bags from Babushkas on the frozen stations.
TIME FRAME?
St Petersburg – two to five days is perfect. This is my favourite city in Russia, with Imperial charm and colourful canals. A day in the Hermitage is essential, if you can allocate two days to this museum it still would not be enough time!
Moscow – one to two days. This was not my favourite city: the sheer size of it and the lack of romantic tourist attractions felt pales in comparison to St Petersburg. That said, Red Square and the Kremlin are a must-see, and I was left feeling like you could have an incredible visit to Moscow if you are happy to splash your cash to mix with the socialite crowd or know a local. Hopefully one day i’ll do just that!
TRAVELLING RUSSIA?
I walked for hours around St Petersburg and Moscow, although both have modern underground train systems. I like wandering cities on foot personally and in Russia there is a considerable lack of English signs on the streets and all transportation.
In the end I had to match the Russian letters to my map to figure out which direction the train was heading, hey, that’s half the fun of travelling! The train stations were incredibly beautiful so I do recommend getting lost in them!
TRAVELLING RUSSIA?
I walked for hours around St Petersburg and Moscow, although both have modern underground train systems. I like wandering cities on foot personally and in Russia there is a considerable lack of English signs on the streets and all transportation.
In the end I had to match the Russian letters to my map to figure out which direction the train was heading, hey, that’s half the fun of travelling! The train stations were incredibly beautiful so I do recommend getting lost in them!
MY BEST ADVICE?
I have a lot more I want to explore on my next visit to Russia, it was however, one of the hardest countries to travel in terms of the language barrier! I have visited some far-flung corners of the earth, and can usually find a local who can speak a few English words but this was not the case in Russia!
I tried speaking to young Russians who looked to be in high school or university, thinking this would be my best option, but they were also shrugging and smiling kindly. A Russian friend explained to me that although English is taught in school, it is predominantly reading and writing, and there is less emphasis on speaking skills.
In the end, I found some charades and mime got me a long way, and though people I asked for help often replied in Russian, their return charade movements got me to where I needed to go!
Don’t expect smiles from the locals! That same Russian friend suggested that I shouldn’t take the cold interactions on the street to heart. ‘Smiles are for friends’ was how she put it – people don’t mean to be rude, they just don’t know you.
The best icebreaker with strangers I soon discovered was sharing some vodka or strong black tea laced with sugar – I made many friends on the train ride through these drinks. Apparently, local custom is to smell your shoe or armpit after taking a shot of vodka, it was fun to do, and it did distract me from the inferno sliding down my throat!
DID YOU KNOW?
NEED MORE ADVICE? KEEP READING…
So who am I…? Hi! My name is India.
I am a nomadic Australian who has wandered the world full time exploring over 60 countries and 5/7 continents.
After ten years on the road, I have launched my own website – Travelling Notebook – to share the knowledge I have gained on the road and the images I have collected over the years with fellow adventurers. Keep reading…
I am a freelance travel writer, photography and videographer, based in London. If you need specific travel advice or would like to collaborate please send an email my way!
Always say yes to adventure!
x India
