The Alternative Guide to… Russia
Russia at a Glance
Capital city: Moscow
Population: 143.4 million
Local currency: Russian ruble (£1 = 95 rubles)
Famous face: Leo Tolstoy, author of War and Peace and Anna Karenina.
5 things you never knew about Russia
The Moscow Metro (main picture, above) is unique. Unlike any other underground in Europe, stations are opulently decorated with ornate, gold detailing, high ceilings, great art and large chandeliers. There’s also reportedly a second, secret Metro…
We complain at the slight bit of snow over here, but in Russia it’s considered wimpy to turn down the flaps of your ushanka (fur hat) until the temperature falls below -20°c. Brrr!
The country is so vast that you travel through nine different time zones when going from one end to the other. St Petersburg is two hours ahead of London but Anadyr is 11 hours ahead of London.
Having the longest railway line in the world wasn’t enough… Russia has built the world’s highest and longest pedestrian bridge, spanning 439m over Krasnaya Polyana Valley in Sochi. You can also bungee jump off it.
Russia has a couple of odd, good-luck traditions. Firstly, never buy an even amount of flowers for your loved one, unless it’s for a funeral. Secondly, see if you can find the bronze dog statue in the Ploshchad Revolutsii Metro station, gives its nose a rub - it's said to bring good luck.
National dish
Pelmeni. These meat-filled dumpings are not totally dissimilar to ravioli. The traditional Siberian version calls for a mix of minced pork and beef.
If you see one thing in Russia, make sure it’s…
... the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood in St Petersburg. This red-brick wonder rivals the Cathedral of St Basil in Moscow.