A Russian banya is similar to a sauna though considerably more humid. They come in all shapes and sizes from a simple shed in your garden to large public baths. I have been to 3 different banyas and the 3 things they all have in common is a steam room, an indoor ice plunge pool… Continue reading Banyas and Beatings!
Tag: Travel
Finishing the Golden Ring – Kostroma, Plyos and Palekh
Our time in Russia is coming to an end and so the race is on to finish off our bucket list of things to see and do. Therefore a couple of weeks back we decided to complete our tour of the Golden Ring. Getting in the car we drove for a couple of hours stopping… Continue reading Finishing the Golden Ring – Kostroma, Plyos and Palekh
Across Russia on The Trans-Siberian Railway
Where to start? Actually where to stop? Two weeks on one of the worlds most famous railway journeys – I could go on for far too long, and probably will! Suffice to say that it was everything I hoped it would be. So get a cup of tea and sit back for a long read!… Continue reading Across Russia on The Trans-Siberian Railway
Murmansk – Capital of the Arctic
When my husband said he was going to a two day conference in Murmansk I seized the chance to go with him. “But what will you do all day” he asked? I assured him that I would be quite happy walking around the town and visiting museums on my own – i’m a big girl… Continue reading Murmansk – Capital of the Arctic
In Search of Arthur Ransome – in Russia
Yup it’s not a mis-print, Arthur Ransome, most famous in Britain as the author of the children’s book Swallows and Amazons, spent time in Russia. When I was 9, my Aunt gave me Ransome’s book ‘Old Peter’s Russian Tales‘ for Christmas. I still have it and brought it to Russia with me when we moved… Continue reading In Search of Arthur Ransome – in Russia
Golden Ring Part 3: Rostov to Yaroslavl via Uglich and Rybinsk
In April, when winter was truly over, we decided to spend the Orthodox Easter break visiting a few more towns on the Golden Ring. We set off on the Yaroslavl highway in the pouring rain, passing Pereslavl-Zalessky, sight of a previous trip. We headed on until we reached the small town of Rostov on the… Continue reading Golden Ring Part 3: Rostov to Yaroslavl via Uglich and Rybinsk
The Golden Ring Part 2: Pereslavl-Zalessky and Sergiev Posad
A month after our trip to Vladimir and Suzdal (see part 1) we ventured off to a couple more towns on the Golden Ring. First up was Sergiev Posad, home to the Trinity monastery of St Sergius, founded in 1340, which is today one of the most important spiritual sites in Russia and an active… Continue reading The Golden Ring Part 2: Pereslavl-Zalessky and Sergiev Posad
An overnight train to Kazan
I have always liked going on foreign trains and especially overnight ones – it seems like such an adventure and a great way to see some of the countryside. But I do wonder if writers who say things like “I was gently lulled to sleep by the rhythmic sounds of the wheels on the track… Continue reading An overnight train to Kazan
2 Days in Yekaterinburg
I Am Back and blogging again! After a longer than planned stay in the UK, I am finally back in Russia! On the first day of freedom from my 2-week quarantine we got on a plane and flew to Yekaterinburg (also spelt Ekaterinburg). The city is the 4th largest in Russia and sits in the… Continue reading 2 Days in Yekaterinburg
Siberia part 2 – Lake Baikal
The drive from Irkutsk to Olkhon island is 4 hours. We set off at 10:00 heading north out of town. Slowly the city sprawl and the villages strung out along the road gave way to a vast nothingness. Mile after mile of a gently undulating, muted, two tone landscape; brown trees, brown grass, brown earth… Continue reading Siberia part 2 – Lake Baikal
Russian Reflections 