Travelling over Russia

"Russia is dear to me, with its snows and frosts, rivers and birds, applauding trees under the open skies - Northern, Far-Eastern, near-Baikal - this is forever".
Vladimir Feoktistov

And I am adding that this is forever too. This will be incomprehensible for those who have never got away from cozy and comfortable atmosphere of a city or a farmland, who have never come out face to face with nature leaving the former life behind and plunging into the unknown. But even if everything were on the contrary, the other way round - it would not be an advantage, it would be just another life. The life you choose.

Believe me, and if not me than, at least, Vladimir, that Russia is big enough, God grant, for you to travel over only one fourth of it for the whole of your life. And not just for nothing, but enjoying it to the full: contemplating the nature, learning our history and communicating with other people (so different that sometimes it seems that they are as different as the representatives of other countries and races). And even enjoying risk. On the whole, all that things many are looking for in distant lands. And they are right, though: Vladimir is looking for that too, but before his first trip abroad (to Peru) he had completed about thirty water and foot-water trips in Russia (rivers Timpton, Indigirka, Allakh Yun, Sagandzha), Central Siberia (Podkamennaya Tungizka River), Pre-Baikal region (Snezhnaya River), Far East (Kema River), Arkhangelsk region (Kozha River), Komi (Yarenga River), Karelia (rivers Vyg, Yanga) and the Caucasus (rivers Tekhury, Kodory, Aksaut, Bolshoi Zelenchuk and Urukh).

In August - September 1993, Feoktistov took part in Russian-American expedition "Through Russia on foot" together with Tom Stone and Vladimir's two compatriots - travelers Mikhail Afanasiev and Vladimir Zhuravlev. Their route began in Vyborg and passed through St. Petersburg, Novgorod, Valdai, Tver, Dmitrov and other towns. The information about this event is available here.

Yes, Russia is very hospitable country - it is ready to open up to everyone, enchant you, teach and attach to itself. Forever. But do not think that if you live in Russia you always have all the time in the world. Better use the time you are granted, now, because the most interesting things are right under your very nose!

Please write and ask us for further information, if you are interested. We are much more interested in explaining something that touches somebody in particular rather than writing just for filling blank space.

We are always willing to share our experience.

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