Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for russia
The Museum of Forgotten Flavors
By Linda Tancs
Kolomna is an ancient city about 72 miles from Moscow. In its heyday, it produced a marshmallow-like treat called pastila that gained popularity across Russia. When the town entered a decline in the early 1900s, so did its sweet treats. But thanks to some enterprising women, the old pastila recipes were resurrected from the 18th and 19th centuries in 2009, and the Museum of Forgotten Flavors was born. It’s a living museum where visitors can learn about pastila from actors in period costume and indulge their taste buds at the museum cafe. Originally an apple-based treat, production now includes pastila with pears, lemons, chocolate, strawberries and more.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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A Monument to the Mouse
By Linda Tancs
It isn’t easy being a mouse, especially for those giving up their lives for medical research. To honor their sacrifice, a bronze statue in Russia heralds their contribution to science. Monument to the Laboratory Mouse is located in Siberia in the city of Novosibirsk. It depicts a bespectacled, studious mouse knitting a double-strand of DNA. You’ll find it in front of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics at the Russian Academy of Sciences.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Babylons of the White Sea
By Linda Tancs
One of the oldest nature reserves in Russia, Kandalaksha Nature Reserve is located in the Kola Peninsula on the White Sea coast. Although the nature reserve itself is off-limits to tourists, the area boasts other attractions, like ancient labyrinths known locally as “babylons” found on Big Zayatsky Island. That’s one of six islands comprising Solovetsky Islands, the main tourist attraction in the White Sea. This time of year is ideal for beluga whale and seal watching. The most accessible place for observing belugas in the wild is on Big Solovetsky Island. The bearded seal, harp seal and Arctic ringed seal are also native to the region. You can get to the islands (located about 100 miles from the Arctic Circle) by a ferry/train combination originating in Saint Petersburg or by plane from Arkhangelsk.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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Russia’s Gate to the Orient
By Linda Tancs
In the 17th century, Astrakhan was developed as Russia’s gate to the Orient. As a result, it was settled by many merchants from Armenia, Persia, India and Khiva. To this day, it remains a hub for commercial activities, strategically located on the Volga delta where the river meets the Caspian Sea. It’s also where you’ll find the Astrakhan Kremlin, a fortress built in the 1500s at the command of Ivan the Terrible. Its walls and towers served as a blueprint for the development of other fortresses in the Russian State. During World War I there was an infantry regiment there; cannons arrived during World War II to protect the city against German air raids. Today this historical landmark serves as a museum.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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City of the Dead
By Linda Tancs
At first glance, the Russian village of Dargavs seems like an enchanting village of medieval stone houses hidden away in the foothills of the Caucasus mountains. That belies its actual function as a necropolis, the tidy stone houses being above-ground crypts for over 10,000 of the dearly departed dating to the 16th century. Other reports indicate that the crypts were used as a quarantine location for plague victims in the 17th and 18th centuries. Just over the border from the Republic of Georgia, the remoteness of the valley almost guarantees a serene experience. Although only 18 miles outside of Vladikavkaz, much of the drive is on gravel mountain roads and takes more than an hour.
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To limit the spread of COVID-19, attractions may be closed or have partial closures. Please keep those affected by the virus in your thoughts and be sure to follow the safety practices advocated by the Centers for Disease Control. Stay safe, and be well.
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A Symbol of Unity in Kazan
By Linda Tancs
Of all large Russian cities, Kazan certainly has its share of unique attributes, like the Kazan Kremlin, conquered by Ivan the Terrible in 1552. It’s also the site of the Temple of All Religions, a colorful conglomeration of architectural influences across religions. Established by philanthropist Ildar Khanov in 1992, the complex is still a work in progress, intended to stand as a symbol of respect for all religious traditions. The entrance fee is nominal, and a bus from the city center will get you there in about 30 minutes.
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The Yellowstone of Russia
By Linda Tancs
Second to Yellowstone, Russia’s Valley of the Geysers is one of the largest geyser fields in the world. Located in the Kamchatka Peninsula, it’s the only geyser field in Eurasia. Carved by the Geyser River, the canyon is 5 miles long, over 2 miles wide in places and up to 1,300 feet deep, packed with over 40 geysers as well as boiling springs, hot lakes, mud volcanoes and caldrons, thermal platforms and steam jets. Still appealing to tourists since the landslide in 2007, this steaming, bubbling and boiling force of nature is accessible via helicopter tours.
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Russia’s Underwater Showplace
By Linda Tancs
In the shadow of the Ural Mountains in Russia’s Perm region you’ll find Orda Cave, the largest gypsum underwater cave in the world. The clarity of its waters afforded by the gypsum makes it a diver’s paradise, but, due to its maze-like quality and freezing temperatures, the inexperienced flippered spelunker need not apply. Ongoing discovery makes its total length a moving target, but 15,000 feet is a fair estimate.
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Gateway to Lake Baikal
By Linda Tancs
The hub of Eastern Siberia, Irkutsk is a popular stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway between Moscow and all points east thanks to its vibrantly colored churches and array of theaters and museums. It’s also a popular gateway to Lake Baikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nicknamed the Pearl of Siberia. Begin your exploration at Irkutsk Regional Museum, the oldest museum in Siberia and the first provincial museum in Russia. The Moorish-style building contains a history of the museum itself, dating to 1782 before a fire forced its relocation in 1883. You can book tours of Irkutsk and Baikal in the museum.
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The World’s Oldest Lake
By Linda Tancs
Curving through southeastern Siberia for 400 miles, Lake Baikal is the world’s oldest and deepest freshwater lake. At that length, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s more of a sea, but one fifth of the world’s fresh water is located there. Originating 25 millions years ago and plunging to a maximum depth of over 5,350 feet, you can only imagine the life forms dwelling in this ancient lake. In fact, over half of its species are unique to this watery habitat, such as the freshwater seal and its favorite meal, a translucent fish called golomyanka.
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