Russia Culture
Wyatt Watts, Jacob Bailey, Alexus Woodford, Michael Thumann
Celebrations
Defender of the Motherland Day
also known as The Army Day, or Men's Day, is a tribute to all the generations of Russian soldiers to all those who courageously defended our Motherland from invaders. From boys to men, they receive special greetings and presents.
Russian Food
Pirozhki are a favorite Russian (and Eastern European) dish, often sold as fast food, but made at home as well. The stuffing can vary; meat, veggies, hard-boiled eggs, potatoes, cabbage, and fruit are common. A particular variant of pirozhki dough is made without yeast and fried in a pan (much quicker), but this version (my Aunt’s recipe) is my favorite and definitely worth the extra time. The dough can be frozen for use later. We ended up with extra dough and made some additional pirozhki with veggies and cheese and mixed berries with chocolate.
Hvorost – Deep Fried Pastries
The literal translation of “hvorost” is brushwood, due to the crunch they produce similar to dry wood. This is a traditional Ukrainian and Russian dessert that has been prepared for at least a few hundred years. There are many variations, as with all other old recipes, including versions that are prepared with cheese or mashed potatoes.
Shashlyk
Trans Siberian Railway
Lake Baikal
Many travelers on the Trans-Siberian railway make plans to stop at Lake Baikal, the deepest and oldest lake on Earth. Lake Baikal holds around 20 percent of the world’s fresh water. Located in Siberia, the 25-million-year-old lake is surrounded by mountain ranges. The lake is considered one of the clearest lakes in the world. Known as the Pearl of Siberia, Lake Baikal is home to several resorts, making the area a popular vacation destination.
Kremlin
Kremlin is a historic fort in the center of Moscow which built of brick in the 15th century. The length of the walls more than 2 km, the height to 19 m, width 3.5 to 6.5 m, breadth of 27.5 ha. The Kremlin has 20 towers. The most famous of them is the Spasskaya Tower (height 67.3 m) in diameter at 6 m. In the Kremlin there is such a long heritage churches. There is also a hall where there are weapons in a variety of heirloom items including horse carriages, crowns, clothing, jewelry and weapons belonging to the tsar. The Kremlin was once the residence of the Russian czar, but now is where the office of President.
Peter the Great
Peter the Great is Famous for devoting a large part of his reign to improving the condition of his country and his people. He made Russia prosperous, powerful, and respected. Russians were far behind in knowledge of the arts and the comforts of life, than the other nations of Europe before his time.
St. Petersburg's Parks and Gardens
Gorky Park
**Gorky Park is Moscow's most famous funfair, and attracts big crowds in the summer months. For toddlers, there's the well-equipped lunapark, with a number of simple but safe rides. For older children, there are rollercoasters, a house of horrors, the gravity-defying 'Fly Machine', and the Buran, a genuine space shuttle, shelved in the eighties, that now contains a flight simulator. In winter, the huge outdoor skating rink is extremely popular, but not recommended for younger children, whereas the pedal boats that come out on the ponds in summer are a staid but safe way to kill a half-hour in the sun.
Sokolniki
The funfair in Sokolniki Park is a genuine Soviet relic, with most of the rides dating from at least twenty years ago. Although worth a look just for curiosity value, it's probably only of interest to very young children. Nonetheless, the park is very central, and one of the best places in the city to bring kids for a walk or a picnic.