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First Time Travel To Russia
I'm taking a much anticipated vacation... my first trip to Russia, and it feels like the most exotic tourist destination I can imagine. I will be cruising from Moscow to St. Petersburg via the rivers, lakes and canals that make up the Volga-Baltic waterway. Between Moscow and St. Petersburg our ports of call include Uglich, Yaroslavl, Goritzy, and Kizhi Island, where the entire island is an outdoor museum and UNESCO world heritage site.

Full of eager expectation, it comes as a bit of a jolt that I get off to a rocky start. I am ticketed from Los Angeles to Moscow, via Detroit and then Amsterdam, on a Northwest/KLM code share. A burly Northwest flight attendant with earrings, shaved head and colorful tattoos peeking from his shirtsleeves, smiles sweetly as he serves me a Bloody Mary and a teensy bag of nuts. The smile is a peace offering.

The flight is full, and the American predilection for hauling suitcases into the cabin and calling them carry-ons, has hit a sour note with me. My modestly stuffed backpack has been unceremoniously pulled from the overhead rack where I stowed it a half hour ago to make room for the large trunk-on-wheels of the last passenger aboard, a mousy, gutless individual who has been digging and prodding at my bag for a few minutes, hoping I will offer to remove it to accommodate his. In the final seconds before take off said flight attendant sweeps my bag out of the overhead bin and shoves it forcibly under the seat in front of me, where I had been hoping to put my feet.

The reason I don't bring a large bag on board is so I can utilize what little leg room there is, especially important on long flights like this one to Russia, and now even that has evaporated. Nothwest Airlines customer service takes a precipitous dive in my estimation, but truly, how much lower can any of them go?

Luckily I will be transfering to KLM in a few hours for the Detroit to Amsterdam transatlantic segment of the flight, which turns out to be a delight. Fifteen hours later, at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport I am glad to be met by two lovely reps from the cruise line who are there to scoop up a dozen of us from the Amsterdam flight and get us to the boat. And thus my Russian adventure begins.
 

MOSCOW ST. PETERSBURG

 

Russia National Day

By: Jane S. Roseen

Russia Day is one of the newest holidays celebrated by the Russian people. This does not mean, however, that it comes without due pomp and circumstance. Although it’s still young, Russia Day is evolving into a holiday revered by the Russian people.

On June 12, 1990, the Russian parliament formally declared its sovereignty from the Soviet Union. The National Sovereignty Declaration set the wheels in motion for the creation of what is now known as the Russian Federation, or more commonly Russia.

Russia Day was officially recognized by Boris Yeltsin in 1991 as a national holiday. As the new federation developed over the next decade, the holiday wasn’t truly celebrated in any other method than the Russian people having a day off of work. There just wasn’t any large national unity around the day.

This changed, however, in 2003. For the first time in 47 years, warplanes flew over the Kremlin to celebrate Russia Day. After a magnificent parade reminiscent of the Soviet military parades on Revolution Day, President Vladimir Putin watched from a stage in front of Lenin's tomb on Red Square. Dozens of dignitaries including Boris Yeltsin joined President Putin as the 10 military jets flew in triangular formation overhead.

"On this day, we honor our motherland, our Russia. We honor the country of a thousand years history and unique heritage, the country which united on a huge space many peoples, territories and cultures," Putin said in an address to the crowd on this historic Russia Day.

This celebration set the tone for Russia Day festivities since. Bands often play some of the most popular songs in Russian history, including tunes from the Soviet era. Cavalrymen gallop across public squares (including Red Square) wearing uniforms from the early 1800’s, prior to the Russian Revolution. Historical parades feature the uniforms dating from other periods of Russia's military glory, including during the reign of Peter the Great and Catherine II.

In addition to the show of military magnificence, people choose to use Russia Day to celebrate the history of their individual communities within Russia. Representatives from various regions show off the distinctive dress and dance styles of their respective communities, highlighting Russia's cultural and ethnic diversity.

These shows are staged throughout the country, not just in Moscow. It’s estimated that one million people have attended Russia Day (or Independence Day) celebrations in recent years, a number that’s only expected to grow as Russia Day evolves into an even more beautiful celebration of Russia past and present.

About The Author:

Jane S. Roseen is the Owner and President of Harmony Sweets, an international gourmet chocolate shop. Harmony Sweets' mission focuses on individual consumers purchasing gourmet chocolates from around the world for their friends and relatives, as well as corporate gift giving. Gourmet chocolate gift baskets and personalized chocolates are also available.

Website: www.HarmonySweets.com

Courtesy of www.articlecity.com
 

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