Russia Holiday
Hitler couldn’t take it, the Romans couldn’t seize it – capturing Russia is not an easy task.
Blending ancient extravagance with post-war bleakness, bitter snowy winters and ripe, hazy summers, Russia never seems able to decide what side of beautiful it wishes to sit.
The country's turbulent, bloody and often heartbreaking past is encapsulated in its people, its buildings and most notably, its weather.
From the might of the Tsars of the Russian Empire, who seized control of much of Eastern Europe and Asia over three centuries, to the rule of Lenin and brutal dictatorship of Stalin in the 20th century, the Russian people and its economy have fluctuated between happy, content and miserable.
After Stalin's dominance over the Soviet Union, which cost hundreds of thousands of lives, the Cold War with Europe and the US led to an animosity with the rest of the world that continued until the break-up of the Communist USSR in 1991.
Since then, Russia's leaders have attempted to instil a democratic political system to the burdened country, making steady progress on an economic front – although the bloody thorn of Chechnya and its rebels is still firmly wedged in Russia's side.
Nevertheless, the country is still a remarkable travel destination, with Moscow, the heartland of Imperial Russia, beating the rhythm of Russian development.
Modern skyscrapers stand side-by-side with ancient historical monuments, the Kremlin and Red Square standing in the centre of the circular rings of streets that radiate from it.
St Basil's Cathedral, with its swirling domed roofs, is one of the most striking images of the Russian national identity.
The waterway-streaked city of St Petersburg to the north offers the traveller yet another chance to see both sides to Russia's countenance; beautifully grandiose relics, offset by the barren raggedness of buildings from the Stalin era, create a delightful confusion of the senses in an unforgettable city.
Although the very thought of a Russian winter may send chills down the spine of many, St Petersburg's Russian Winter Festival offers one very good reason to brave the cold. Running from late December to early January and including folklore tales, dancing and of course, lots of vodka, the festival is a literal highlight of a long winter.
To the east, the staggering vastness of Sibera calls daring adventurers to the fore, with its surprisingly populous cities of Tomsk, Irkutsk and Novosibirsk matched by the clear forests and plains of the countryside.
Visitors to any of Russia's cities can enjoy the bustling markets and buzzing nightlife akin to those found in most developed nations, with Moscow and St Petersburg claiming the best of the vodka bars.
The best time to visit both cities depends on the traveller – vodka-warmed winters can be found in either city, although St Petersburg is notoriously windy, and Moscow is bitterly cold.
Summers hit a peak of around 20 degrees in the north, whilst Moscow has been known to top a sizzling 39 degrees.
Chances are whatever time of year you decide to travel to Russia, be prepared for a fairly cold climate, albeit with a very warm reception. Modern Russians are welcoming, generous and hospitable…and they certainly know how to drink.
