Top 12 Cultural Experiences in Russia

Russia is the largest country in the world so it is no wonder that there are many interesting and unique Russian cultural experiences to see and participate in.

Russia is home to 160 different ethnic and indigenous groups. This diverse population has influenced everything from Russian language and literature to the arts, music and dance to the Russian lifestyle and traditions, food, architecture, and the media.

There are unique cultural experiences to be had in every corner of this amazing country.

1) Cooking Lessons

Get a hands-on taste of Russian cuisine with a Russian cooking lesson. Understand how history, culture and cuisine influence each other and gain an appreciate the art of turning basic ingredients into tasty, heart-warming dishes.

2) Arts and Crafts

Watch skilled craftsmen at work creating Buryat tapestry and Altai wood carving. Go on a city shopping tour to hunt for classic collector's items like matrioshka (Russian doll), valenki (felt boots) and Siberian ceramics or see the wares of ancient communities in the art museum in Irkutsk, or in Krasnoyarsk's Cultural Historical Museum.

3) Russian Ballet Theatre

Although the Russian Ballet can be seen when the Ballet Company travels to world, experiencing the romance and grace in their home country is like no other experience. Russian ballet theatre is renowned the world over. Home to the world's most prestigious ballet schools, Russia has produced many of the world's most celebrated dancers. 56th Parallel can add a Russian Ballet experience onto any tour but is highly recommended in Moscow, St Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk.

4) Russian Ethnic Groups

Meet the locals in remote villages and participate in daily life. Meet nomads and their horses in an isolated camp on the great Siberian plains, or experience a warm traditional welcome and rustic food in an authentic rural Russian home stay. a visit to one of Russians remote communities will leave lasting memories.

5) Russian Banya

This invigorating tradition is one not to be missed. You will shed your clothes and enter the Banya room, where your sweat will begin to run freely from every pore in your body. Traditionally, the next step involves an invigorating and strangely pleasurable 'beating' with a bundle of birch branches, followed by a bracing dip in an icy cold plunge pool.

6) Russian Troika

One of the most enchanting images of winter in Russia is the troika ('trio'), a sled drawn by three horses harnessed side-by-side. A troika ride can be a gentle and scenic, or it can take you through dashing through the snow at speeds of up to 50km per hour. As an honoured guest you will be able to enjoy the comfort of a traditional, beautifully decorated sled, warm coats and the guidance of an expert driver skilled in horse-keeping.

7) Shaman Ceremony

Experience this ancient and mystical tradition. The indigenous communities of Siberia provide an extraordinary opportunity to witness some of the world's best preserved shamanistic and animist traditions.

8) Sightseeing

In Russia and Siberia there is no shortage of widely known sights to visit. Each Russian sightseeing tour includes an informative guide who can answer all your questions and take the stress out of seeing the popular sites. 56th Parallel's new Moscow and Saint Petersburg tours make sure you get the most out of your time in each city, seeing the famous sites as well as visiting some lesser known but equally spectacular ones.

9) Try Traditional Food

Every 56th Parallel tour offers you the opportunity to enjoy some of the best cuisine Siberia has to offer. We are able to show you the best places to try traditional food because we have connections with local people and communities. Although food varies from region to region it is generally robust, filling and most importantly tasty.

10)Learn to Speak Russian

The best way to get the most out of your trip is to learn the basics of the language. Even the most basic understanding of the Russian language can be invaluable when trying to communicate and get around. We can organise Russian language lessons for you in major cities, either before or after your tour, or in your free time while on tour.

11) Experience Russian Festivals

Be a guest as Russian history and culture come to life in a colourful display of music and dance. As in other parts of the world, Easter, Christmas and New Years are major festival seasons in Russia. To allow you to experience these amazing festivals we try to align several trips a year with regional festivals such as the Baikal shaman festival, the summer festival in Yakutia, various ice sculpture exhibitions and ethnic music festivals throughout Siberia.

12) Russian Vodka Tasting

Distilled in Russia for well over a thousand years and intrinsically linked to celebrating, socialising and enjoying life, vodka holds a special place in almost every Russian's heart. A Russian vodka tasting experience will allow you to try different types of vodka from across the country. This experience is the perfect way to kick-start a night out on the town.

Russian Cultural Experiences

Discover more about these unique and awe-inspiring Russian cultural experiences to decide which ones you want to try on your next Russian adventure.

56th Parallel is a travel company specialising in adventure, culture and adrenaline travel and activities in Russia and Siberia.

Check out our blog, http://www.56thparallel.com/blog or like us on Facebook https://www.Facebook.com/56thParallel to discover more about Russian cultural experiences

Article Source: Misha_Schneider

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St. Petersburg Major Sights

Listed among UNESCO world heritage sites, St. Petersburg has an extraordinary architectural, religious, cultural and literary heritage, which makes it one of the most attractive cities in the world. Its attractions can impress even the most discerning travellers.

The Cathedral of the Resurrection (St. Saviour on the Spilled Blood) with its beautiful colourful domes is ranked number 1 on the list of St. Petersburg attractions. This magnificent church is clearly visible from the Nevsky prospect. It was built by Tsar Alexander III beside the Griboedov Channel on the spot of assassination of his father, Tsar Alexander II the Liberator. The Tsar's carriage was blown up on March 1, 1881 by a bomb thrown at by members of a revolutionary group calling themselves "People's will". The evil irony consists in the fact that this terrorist group assassinated the very Tsar who 20 years earlier had issued the famous Emancipation Manifesto liberating Russian serfs, as a result of which Russian peasants became free of serfdom. It is built in the Old Russian style and strongly reminds of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow. The church is richly decorated with beautiful mosaics both inside and outside. Services resumed here after the fall of the Soviet regime and are now held on a regular basis.

The Alexander Nevsky Lavra is a monastery located in the very centre of the city. In 2013 it celebrates the 300th anniversary since its foundation. The monastery, surrounded by stone walls and moats, is dominated by the Holy Trinity cathedral housing the holy relics of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky. The monastery is believed to have been built on the very spot where St. Alexander defeated Swedes in 1240 in the famous Neva battle. Saint Prince Alexander Nevsky is the Patron saint of St. Petersburg.

After the fall of the Soviet regime monastic life resumed in the Lavra and now regular services are celebrated in the cathedral. Several cemeteries are located within the Monastery grounds, with quite a few notable personalities: the genius scientist and poet M. Lomonosov, famous Russian generalissimo and army leader count A. Suvorov (one of the few generals in world history who never lost a single battle, having triumphantly won 63), great Russian writers and poets F. Dostoevsky, A. Goncharov, I. Krylov, V. Zhukovsky, great Russian composers P. Tschaikovsky, M. Glinka and M. Mussorgsky, Russian architects and sculptors V. Stasov, K. Rossi, P. Clodt and A. Kuindgy, politicians of former and modern times, members of the most prominent Russian noble families.

Among other attractions should be mentioned the Admiralty (its "golden needle" topped with a ship is the city's emblem), the "Bronze Horseman" (famous monument to Peter the Great, the founder of the city), St. Isaac's Cathedral (the largest cathedral in Russia with fascinating interiors and a splendid view over the city from the open gallery under the dome), the Twelve Colleges (the University), the traffic-free Palace Square, the magnificent Kazan Cathedral in Nevsky prospect, St. Nikolas Cathedral, Smolny Convent and Institute, Rostral Columns on the Spit (Strelka) of St. Basil Island, Mikhailocsky Castle (where Emperor Paul I was assassinated), the Summer Gardens, on the left bank of the Neva opposite Ss. Peter and Paul Fortress.

Enjoy refreshing walks in the city parks and along the embankments, boat trips on the Neva, Fontanka and Moyka rivers, visits to world-famous museums, theatres and concert halls, intense cultural life with numerous musical and drama festivals around the year, the diversity of high-quality cuisine in city restaurants.

Many exploring options are provided by the Gulf of Finland, with its sandy beaches, shore tours, naval activities, seaboat trips and visits to distant picturesque islands.

Some places in the surrounding of St. Petersburg are no less spectacular, with their neat mansions, fascinating palaces, opulent and elegant interiors, art collections, wonderfully preserved parks and gardens laid out in various styles. Don't miss visits to the former Imperial summer residences in Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin) and Pavlovsk, Lomonosov (Oranienbaum) and, of course, to Peterhof (Petrodvorets) with its majestic fountains operating without pumps! These places are easily accessible by rail, buses or taxi. Petrodvorets (Peterhof) can also be reached by boat (especially recommended in summer). Hydrofoils for Petrodvorets depart from the piers at the Senate (Decembrists') Square and opposite the Hermitage museum. The trip lasts about 30 minutes.

Anyway in case you are going to visit Saint-Petersburg you should learn russian. Specialized courses " Russian in Russia " providing by educational centre Vera will help you to learn russian in the shortest possible time.

Article Source: Maria_Lemish

The Pole of Cold - Could You Live in the Coldest Place on Earth?

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How would you manage living in a village with average January temperatures of -50C?

The valley of Oymyakon in northeast Russia is known as the 'Pole of Cold' and it is no wonder the village is the coldest permanently inhabited settlement in the world. This is the lowest recorded temperature for any permanently inhabited location on Earth and the lowest temperature recorded in the Northern Hemisphere. This area truly experiences the 'Russian winter' as it is know around the world.

The village is located around 750 metres above sea level and the length of a day varies from 3 hours in December to 21 hours in the summer. And despite its extreme cold temperatures in winters, in June, July and August temperatures over 30C are not uncommon. In August as the weather beings to change, the temperature can easily drop down to -15C or jump as high as 30C.

The Pole of Cold is located not far from Kolyma Highway (also known as the Road of Bones) which was made in the 1930's by Stalin's prisoners.. The road starts off from Yakutsk and heads off up to Magadan and surmounts three major mountain ranges, which in combination with other climatic factors create the unique climate of the area.

The village was, in the 1920s and 1930s, a stopover for reindeer herders who would water their flocks from the thermal spring. Ironically, Oymyakon actually means 'non-freezing water', but even alcohol freeze here.

Astoundingly, around 500 Siberian people make their homes in this seemingly uninhabitable environment, mainly engaged in traditional occupations such as reindeer herding, hunting and fishing. In the last few years, another small, specialised industry has emerged here, tourism.

Every year in March a traditional Russian festival is held in the Pole of Cold, the coldest place on earth. It unites experienced travellers and locals who can be regarded as true explorers of the World. Even Santa Claus, of Lapland, and Russian Ded Moroz, of Veliky Ustug, have visited and founded their residences here. These fabulous heroes meet their colleague Chyskhaan (the Lord of Frost) who is considered the Pole of Cold host.

During the festival, you visitors witness lively celebrations showcasing the traditional costumes, music and dance of the indigenous Evens people as well as reindeer racing, ice fishing, dog sledding and native cuisine.

The place is worth visiting! It is something to do at least once in a life-time. Those people who have been to this place can be called "True subjugators of Earth". Visiting Oymyakon in winter is arguably one of the most Russian things to do in Russia.

56th Parallel is a travel company specialising in adventure, culture and adrenaline travel and activities in Russia and Siberia.

Check out our blog, http://www.56thparallel.com/blog or like our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/56thParallel

Article Source: Misha_Schneider

Moscow Travel Guide

Moscow is not only the capital of Russia, but also its financial, political, and cultural centre. Throughout history, Moscow has played a central role in the development of the country and as such it offers a rich heritage including exceptional museums, beautiful palaces, a vibrant nightlife, and excellent food. This Moscow Travel Guide will help you get the most of your trip to Moscow.

Geography and Climate

Moscow is a very large city situated on the Moskva River and defined by a variety of ring roads. The climate is variable but the coldest months fall between November and March, and the warmest months between May and September.

The city is served by three airports: Sheremetyevo International Airport, Domodedovo International Airport, and Vnukovo International Airport. Currently, Domodedovo Airport serves the most international passengers. You can also arrive by train at various stations throughout the city.

Main Sites

Moscow is a large, old city with no shortage of interesting sites. Nevertheless, any trip to this Russian gem would be incomplete without visits to these main sites.

• Red Square is in the centre of Moscow, and the most popular destination for visitors. Around Red Square you'll find St. Basil's Cathedral, the State History Museum, and Lenin's Mausoleum.
• The Kremlin is a major fortified complex on a site that has been continuously inhabited since the 2^nd century BC. Check out the Diamond collection in the Armory, and take some time to visit some of the churches in the surrounding area.
• Old Arbat Street is an interesting street that gives visitors a feel for old Moscow. You'll find souvenir vendors, tourist cafes, and local artist shops. Prices for goods vary widely, so be careful not to be ripped off.
• Bolshoi Theatre is a famed theatre in Moscow where you can see shows for around 1000 rubles.
• The Tretyakov Gallery is one of the most impressive museums in the world. If you only visit one museum in Moscow, this is the one. You'll find a great collection of Russian art from many of the countries artistic icons including Illya Repin.
• The Pushkin Museum houses a great collection of Western art including Impressionist and Post-impressionist works.

City Parks

Moscow also boasts some truly lovely parks. If you'd like to spend a leisurely day outdoors, visit one of these many fine parks.

• Gorkiy Park is home to some really nice cafes and restaurants and offers free WiFi throughout the park. Rent a boat or bike and spend the day enjoying the scenery.
• Kolomenskoye is a former imperial estate that has become a popular destination for Muscovites. You'll find some lovely churches and architecture that dates to the 16^th and 17^th centuries.
• Park Sokolniki is a recreational park that also features an exhibition centre. Experience Russian nature without venturing too far from Moscow's centre.

Travel to Moscow with East West Tour's tour of Moscow. Book it now!

Article Source: Alex_Pupkin

 

2 Days in St Petersburg, Russia - Top Things to Do

Saint Petersburg is Russia's second largest city. Nearly 5 million people live in Sankt-Peterburg as the city is called in Russian. Former names were Petrograd and Leningrad. St. Petersburg is located on the Baltic Sea at the Neva River. Saint Petersburg is one of the top cultural centers in the world. The historical architectural buildings are in the UNESCO World heritage list. You can spend there a week without getting bored, but if you only have 2 days to visit, these are the must things to do:

Visit the Hermitage Museum

The Hermitage is one of the oldest art museums of the world. You'll find the Hermitage in the city center and won't be able to overlook it: It has a size and diversity you probably won't find somewhere else: In 6 buildings they are displaying their collection of art paintings, graphic works, sculptures and archaeological finds. I have to disappoint you, but in 2 days you won't make it to see all their paintings. The main building - the Winter Palace - was the former state residence of Russian emperors.

Watch a ballet show

Saint Petersburg has a huge cultural life and it is famous for its ballet schools. The Petersburg School of Ballet is probably one of the best in the world. Dancers like Eifman or Makarova are responsible for the excellent reputation Saint Petersburg ballet schools achieved in these days. Even if you're not interested in dancing to watch a ballet performance is one of the must things to do in Saint Petersburg.

Arrange a private tour with a local guide

Saint Petersburg is a big city and many locals don't speak English. Hiring a local tour guide is a good way to experience the city of Saint Petersburg of the eyes of a local. He can show you the real culture and can also translate for you. Ask him for his favourite restaurant to eat typical Russian food, let him show you his favourite places and ask him about Russian history and culture. The best is to search a local guide before you go, because the good guides are really busy and so fully booked.

There are several websites that offer private tours in Istanbul. Ensure that you get to know your St Petersburg tour guide before you book, because you won't enjoy your St Petersburg private tours if the guide isn't likable and knowledgeable.

Article Source: Chris_Logat

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