What it's like to travel in Russia
I don't understand this country. It makes no sense. And that's why I love it.
I don't understand this country. It makes no sense. And that's why I love it.
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It doesn't seem so long ago that the Russian capital, mighty, mysterious, brutal, was out of bounds for the ordinary traveller.
It's nearly 10,000 kilometres long, traverses seven time zones and has now been running for 100 years.
Paul Edwards leaves Moscow for the sweeping flatlands that even today offer solace and romance in a time of upheaval.
Almost without exception, the European rail trips that rate highly for scenic splendour are relatively short.
What's the most effective way to travel from Barcelona to St Petersburg?
Enjoying Russia's capital, a huge, dynamic city of 12.5 million people, can take a bit of work. But if you're willing to put in the effort, the rewards are abundant.
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The largest country in the world has a lot to offer the intrepid traveller. Start with the unparalleled candy coloured spires of St Petersburg and the surrounding Red Square. Diverse landscapes, strange old resort towns and the most desolate place on earth, Siberia, beg to be explored. Don't miss sweating it out in a public banya (steam bath), sailing across Lake Baikal, or a trip to the ballet.