(Me on my first visit)
1986 - My first visit was made, I readily confess, because it was inexpensive. But once I got there, I found the whole experience to be totally fascinating. We visited Moscow, Tiblisi, Baku, Sheki, Yerevan and St. Petersburg. The bus journey from Tiblisi to Yerevan was especially interesting as it allowed us the opportunity to talk to ordinary Russians in the villages we passed, which in those days when Glasnost had just started, was not something which the villagers were used to.
1988 - This visit was to the cities of Central Asia, Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Amaty. To stand at 6 a.m. in the main square in Samarkand watching the sun rise and the city slowly come to life was a magical experience.
(Me, in 1986, in front of the temple of Garni in Armenia))
1990 - I had read the book 'The House by the Dvina, by Eugenie Fraser who had a Russian Father and Scottish Mother. She was born in Archangel in 1905, and the book described her childhood there. Then this year I was able to visit Archangel and see for myself the places described in the book. We were the first group of tourists to visit Archangel, which had been a closed city. I remember perticularly the vodka session with Edward in the seaman's club, the visit to the children in the pioneeer camp, the wooden houses beside the river in Soltimbaya and the concert from Archangelsk jazz band.
1992 - A dream was fulfilled as I traversed the whole of Russia on the Trans Siberian Express. It was a unique experience. Lake Baikal is surely the most impressive place I have ever been to - and definitely the coldest water in which I have ever swum! I met a student, Yura, on the train, and we still keep in touch regularly by Email. One day soon, I hope to go to Tomsk to visit him.
1994 - In an attempt to learn the language, I went to Tver on a language-learning holiday. We stayed with a Russian family, had classes each morning, and went on excursions each afternoon. It was a real insight into the life of a Russian family. Unfortunately my ability to speak Russian is still very limited.
2001 - Andrew and I visited Moscow and St Petersburg. It was great to be back. St Petersburg was fabulous as usual and the weather was great. Yura came all the way from Siberia to meet us and to show us around. It was wonderful to see Yura again and to meet his wife and young son. My only regret was that I had forgotten most of the Russian language which I had previously learned.
