My first impressions of Kazan were not anything positive. It was a very mercantile city, with its people and buildings both reflecting that inside and out. Money ruled, and that was clear everywhere. Petrodollar rich teens flaunting their wealth in their brand-new Ferraris certainly did not help with that view. Unlike some other cities (Budapest […]
The True Highlight of Kazan: Temple of All Religions Read More »
Tatarstan is pretty much a country within a country, with its own government, own mix of ethnicities, own food, and even own flag that is used quite generously around Kazan’s many streets. It is like a new destination Russians can visit without using an external passport, which has its advantages for its tourism industry. It
I suppose no one really goes to Kazan to see a ton of Soviet era architecture or “Communist” relics. At the end of the day, it is an “ethnic” destination within the Russian Federation that is more often than not frequented by local tourists who want something a bit different. They have those “ruinous sites
Though I low-key feel like a fraud for writing such an article, it is a must to say a few words about what to eat in a city that I visited for almost a week. The truth is, with this specific one, I did not have the chance to eat outside of my hotel and
Eating Out in the North: Where to Feast in Arkhangelsk Read More »
Arkhangelsk itself, and by that, I mean the city, is a little Soviet gem tucked deep inside Russia’s vast northern territories. Unfortunately, that in itself is hardly an alluring enough reason for many to see the city. What if you want something more “natural” out of your trip, that you want to become one with
The story of my unexpected trip to Arkhangelsk is a wild one. Hearing about a conference one day, applying to it the other, and hearing back from them that I am in a few weeks later was what got me there. That was it, pure luck. With my ticket at hand and my backpack on
Nizhny Novgorod, much like most other Russian cities, is home to a plethora of venues for music lovers. It should not come as a surprise to anyone that for a city with an extremely long winter, these precious indoor areas provide a much-needed escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life for those with
Musical Nizhny Novgorod: Finest Spots in Town for Music Lovers Read More »
Being known as a student town, as well as a blue-collared city, all the while being regarded as the youth capital of Russia, it should not come as surprise to anyone that Nizhny has a ton of pubs to hang out at. Sadly (for me), their tables are almost always extremely small, making it nigh
Nizhny Novgorod is a highly industrialized city, producing both military and civilian products with a rather impressive variety for quite a long time. It also has a long history of being a center for technical innovation and improvement, thanks to its many universities and research centres, as well as its “close to Moscow but further
Disclaimer inbound! I am not a huge fan of sweets. Desserts I like are sometimes not even considered as “sweet” by certain cultures, like milk porridge. I just love my milky and not too sugary treats. With that being said, we all crave something sweet every now and then and thus during the eight months
Sweet Nizhny Novgorod: Bakeries and Cafes in Town Read More »