Since Mt. Elbrus was not within my reach (for now), I was worried that my one-sided liking of Russia would turn into something sour. Because you know, there's no hiking involved and that means I will be stuck within the boundaries of ‘things to do in Russia'. A combination of a visa run, a birthday celebration, and a trip to end my personal slash psychological Sabbatical break, I found myself in Russia, the largest country in the world with the most memorable travel story of all time at the worst possible time of my life.
So what did I really do in Russia? Don’t stop reading as I tell you my travel story about how Russia seduced me and left me wanting more.
Ethical Note: This post is a personal travel story about my trip to Russia and it is intended purely for storytelling purposes. It does not engage in political discussions and I encourage readers to approach travel decisions thoughtfully based on their individual perspectives.
Another Interesting Read: What it's like to travel to Russia in 2024: Safety Concerns, Travel Sanctions, and Highlights
Love at First Night.
Upon my arrival at the hostel in Moscow, I was suffering a merciless migraine and napped the afternoon away. When I woke up, it was time for me to meet someone. 'Great, I wasted the whole afternoon and I am off to a bad start' was my first thought.
Mr. A (keeping his name for privacy) led the walk around the city from Christye Prudy and boy, it was worth wasting the afternoon for. As we crossed one of the bridges along the Moskva River, the city revealed itself to me in full glory. Illuminated by lamp posts, historical buildings with their individualistic architecture appeared one by one. I've seen a few Stalinist skyscrapers, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, and the famous Kremlin. As a multi-tasker, I shift my focus between sightseeing and listening to Mr. A's entertaining narration of the city's history. Unfortunately, I failed you as a blogger and have no photos of that night. The sight remained vivid in my memory though.
The traditional Pelmeni (Russian dumplings) and Nastoika (Russian bar drink) kept us warm and full midway. Indeed, Добро пожаловать в Россию!, or Welcome to Russia!
A bit of cold air was around us but instead, I felt something indescribable yet warm as we continued our walk. We passed by some restaurants, the Tretyakovskaya Gallery, and then the Trees of Love. After crossing another bridge, we ended up in Alexander Garden next to the famous Kremlin to bid the day goodbye.
Role-Playing as a Tourist in Moscow.
The next day was spent living up to my role as a tourist, although I'm not good at it. Slow travel is still my forte and ticking off the bucket list just isn't my thing. Fortunately, I still managed to see the famous Red Square and Saint Basil's Cathedral. I missed the famous yet overcrowded (as I heard) Arbat Street but I'm happy to spend my time inside the famous Sanduniy Banya instead.
With Mr. A's thoughtful guidance, I also delighted in savoring more traditional Russian dishes including some Georgian food. They say you can't visit Russia without trying Georgian food. And to be honest, what I've tried in Moscow was way better than the one we tried in Tbilisi back in 2019. Odd, but very telling.
There and then, I knew that Russia had more to offer than just the mountains that I'm always after. And I've only been to Moscow so far. Two days in and yet a new place broke down my walls easily once again.
Go Big in Saint Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg, is originally a meeting place between me and Artemy, a Russian I met in Skazka Canyon in Kyrgyzstan. Due to an unexpected conflict in his schedule, I ended up exploring the city alone. A blessing in disguise, I had all the time to myself which is a travel style that I have enjoyed the most for the last few years.
Seeing the stark contrast between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, both cities radiate a novel beauty and can't be compared with one another, like an apple and an orange.
Not being bothered by 'things to do in Saint Petersburg', I walked aimlessly around the city to my liking. While I was hiking Mt. Elgon in Uganda (read the story here), I thought to myself that at least once in my life, I deserved a vacation where I could just go big. Eat food that I like, buy things that I want, and just do stuff to relax and have fun.
Finally, Saint Petersburg made that happen. There's no pressure to conquer any mountain or reach a certain elevation. I happily dated myself on own my terms. I even made sure that my heart was full and secured, before opening it up to someone else, just in case. 😉
At the end of my short stay in Saint Petersburg, no one can deny the city's lavish architecture mostly designed by Italian artists. The city screams opulence, grandness, and elegance. No wonder it is loved by many, now add me to the fandom!
Autumn beyond the Arctic Circle.
Moving to the third leg of the trip, I headed to a place not so many Russians take advantage of. The largest city beyond the Arctic Circle where you could possibly see the Northern Lights? Sign me up!
Heard about this place from Dilmurad (my guide in Big Chimgan in Uzbekistan), I just couldn't wait for my chance to visit it myself. Short but sweet, Murmansk was the birthday venue this year and it has a promising forecast of the Northern Lights. Unfortunately, the mighty Aurora couldn't show herself due to a never-ending rain. Rain wasn't in the forecast three weeks before so many of us had no choice but to leave Murmansk without seeing her.
However, rain is considered a blessing on birthdays, so I enjoyed every bit of it. Given my current life status, it was such a privilege to be able to step foot inside the Polar Circle. Claimed to be the end of the Earth as beyond it is the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean, I also made it to Teriberka! Credits to Arctic Russia Tourism for that lovely piece and you can read the article here.
Now that we're done freezing (it's only Autumn though), let's go back to Moscow!
Letting go in Moscow.
After enjoying a 'vacation' in Saint Petersburg and Murmansk, I'm finally back in Moscow. At the same time, I am back to programming myself to produce some 'blog material pieces'. Two days in and nothing seemed to go my way. Wasted 4 hours on laundry (my mistake), the rain and the 'grey' weather, plus the fact of how turtle-slow I was every morning (you can't blame my love for slow mornings), you get the picture. No blog material and I realized I was putting myself under a lot of pressure.
In the end, I finally let go of all my inhibitions similar to what I did during my personal pilgrimage to Israel back in 2022. I mean, how can I also cover a thousand years' worth of history and culture in a matter of three days?
The moment I finally let the pressure go was the moment I felt a crashing wave of heartwarming emotions. Now under a different lens, my travel story in Russia was filled with nothing but authentic experiences that no tour companies could offer.
The slow mornings in Dolgoprudny, meals in Russian canteens called stolovaya (столовая), sightseeing in Timiryazevskaya and even watching a local boxing match. Mr. A planned everything for me and I felt a sense of tranquility and comfort in these places while tucked away from the madness of the world. Which is exactly what I'm looking for, a beautiful retreat from my reality.
Opening the Pandora's Box in Russia
It wasn't the Red Square, nor the Moskva River who swept me off of my feet completely. Not even the romantic night from Christye Prudy nor the lovely walk around Timiryazevskaya. Nor the charming Saint Petersburg and the chilly Murmansk.
It was Mr. A and the people who genuinely cared for me everywhere I went and even went the extra mile to make sure I reached safely. Add to it the dramatic change in landscape despite being under one country and the beautiful sound of the Russian language.
Of course, we will address the ongoing political matters, language barriers, and even limited career opportunities. But at one point, I was deluded into thinking, that I could be part of this place. That someday, like my longing to call Bishkek home, maybe I could also call Russia 'home'.
I thought I was finally ready to start another chapter of my life in the glitzy yet fast-paced city of Dubai. But Russia, with its rich history, culture, and heritage along with its delectable cuisine, seems like it had a different plan for me. Here with me, is a newfound place that made my heart waver into pieces and I found myself torn and confused once more. But while I find my way how and when to take that courageous jump, let me drown myself in longing knowing that someone, and someplace, is waiting for me to come back home.
That's all for this trip's travel story and let's say goodbye to Russia, for now. До свидания!
