Russia

[Anastasiya]

Have you ever been to Russia?
Anyway, what do you know about this country?..

Likes/dislikes, opinions, free thoughts are welcome =)

[samak]

Often, speak Russian.
If you say why you want to know (just travel or work or curious) I can tailor some comments more accurately for you.

[abstibus]

Studied in Minsk when it was part of the Soviet Union.
Loved the people, hated the system, the surveillance, the ever-present KGB in their sharp suits and the control they had over decision-making and ordinary peoples' lives.
Visited Moscow, Kiev, Leningrad (as it was then).
Can't stand the weasel Putin or any of the trashy oligarchs who came to the top of the slime after glasnost and perestroika.
I have a friend from Ukraine whose father has business interests in Europe - they would never refer to themselves as 'Russians' and despise the behaviour and reputation of the nouveaux-riches.

[mike11111]

"Studied in Minsk when it was part of the Soviet Union."

Me too.

[abstibus]

Hi, Mike
Was it in the Pedagogical Institute?

[mike11111]

Spot on! Минский Педагогический Институт Иностранных Языков (1974).

[mrs_overall]

I went on a school trip many, many years ago. There was a moustachioed woman sat in every corridor in the hotel. The girl I was sharing a room with made a joke about the room being bugged so we checked it out. We were checking out the TV when the phone rang - it was reception and they told us to stop messing with the tv. It proper spooked us.
As I said, it was many years ago so things have probably changed - but Moscow was a place where I didnt feel very safe.

[mike11111]

Sorry, Минский Государственный Педагогический Институт Иностранных Языков

[LoftyLottie]

My Father in Law was from Minsk and my Mother in law from the then Lenningrad. I have never been to Russia, but I have known a fair few of Russians, particularlly the one I am married to!!

[LoftyLottie]

Oh and all the Russians I have met in this country have been very hospitable people who like Vodka for breakfast.

[mike11111]

And lunch, and tea, and dinner, and supper!

[abstibus]

Hi, Mike (again)
I was there is '79/'80. I couldn't convince people I wasn't from Poland, which led to some very surreal conversations. Also was told I once couldn't go into a Beriozka because I was Russian. Had a little run-in with the security services in Kiev, who assumed (quite wrongly, I asssure you) that I was a Russian prostitute.
I had high cheekbones in those days (now not nearly so pronounced); eyes still green.
I can remember galloping from the classroom down to the bread shop to make it in time (they loved to slam the door in your face), and the caviar for breakfast.The only jam was plum, and they hadn't worked out how to transport peas from Moscow.
Happy days!
Did you have to learn 'Ivushka'?

[abstibus]

Samogon!

[mike11111]

I don't remember Ivushka, but I do remember having to learn a ridiculous song about a crocodile who played the accordian!

[Anastasiya]

annemollie and mike11111, you've find each other))) I'm glad!

[spudqueen]

I went on holiday to the Soviet Union way back in 1985. I visited Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev and Yalta. It was a very interesting place to visit, but I would have hated to live there. I

btw Mrs Overall, my friends and I found a bug in every hotel room we stayed in!

[spudqueen]

Blimey, how did I manage to post that? I hadn't finished writing! Anyway, I was going to say that I imagine that it's slightly different now!

[Anastasiya]

Ok. But are there any people who've visited Russia resently, not in 1970s))?..

[tamborine]

This is the way to see Russia

http://www.russianempirecruises.com/

[Anastasiya]

thanks)

[spudqueen]

Oh, are you asking for advice because you would like to visit there? You didn't really specifiy that in your question, and your first reply, by samak, actually asks why you want to know. Some more details from yourself would have been appreciated!