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 ...
Trans-Siberian: Visiting Tomsk – a Winter Wonderland
My favorite stop along the Trans-Siberian route isn't actually on the Trans-Siberian train line. We had to switch trains in the middle of the night to go up to Tomsk, something that might have seemed like a hassle had Tomsk not turned out to be my favorite city not only in ...
Confession: I Travel Like A Girl
Some of you guys have shrewdly observed that I’m now traveling with a boy. What?! I know, it’s a change. Now I no longer have to ask strangers to help me lift my bag into absurdly high luggage compartments, I have access to an iPod with good music (his, not mine), and not ...