Eternal Russia! A deep dive into rural, provincial, and everyday Russia... (page 2 of 3)

Putin has boosted the economy, salaries and pensions have increased, and life for Russians is better.

hmm, we’re straying a bit from the main topic, but Russia has already spent over $320 billion on military expenses to wage war for more than two and a half years. So over three years of war and conflict, it must obviously be even more... In terms of public spending, 40% is dedicated to war-related expenses. All that just to fight over a tiny territory of barely a few dozen kilometers compared to the vastness of the Russian Federation. 40% of public spending on war means that much less money to maintain infrastructure, which risks falling apart. Given that Russia’s GDP is just over $2,200 billion annually, at this rate, the Russian public sector will eventually be ruined.

Oh, and great photos, Triptrafic! I’ve never been to Russia, but the Orthodox churches remind me of Poland and Romania

Looking for trouble? Go live in Russia and see if Russians think they live in a democracy and that Putin is a nice president who doesn’t execute his opponents!

I never wrote that Russia was a democracy. Nor that I supported the Russian attack against Ukraine. You have to read what’s written, not what you want to believe.

The world isn’t divided between democracy and dictatorship—there are quite a few states between those two extremes.

Putin isn’t a democrat, but an autocrat. And Russia isn’t a democracy; the fact that people vote or that there’s a parliament isn’t enough to qualify a regime as democratic.

It just so happens that I lived in Moscow for 3 years, so I think I know this society a little. I have Russian friends I talk to often

Looking for a fight? Go live in Russia and see if Russians think they live in a democracy and that Putin is a kind president who doesn’t execute his opponents!

I lived there for 3 years—that gives you a slightly different perspective than a tourist who just repeats Western propaganda without any hindsight. I mentioned that Russia has a parliament and elections, but that doesn’t mean it’s enough to call Russia a democracy. Seems like nuance struggles to exist on social media...

Would "democrature" fit to describe the current Russian regime?

Thanks to Triptrafic for this report that gets so close to the people. 🙂

From the moment power is seized by a small group of people, you can call it a dictatorship. Otherwise: Putin turned the economy around, salaries and pensions increased, and life for Russians got better. That was true during his first two terms, but it’s not the case anymore (let’s not forget he’s been in power for 25 years, with the Medvedev switcheroo being nothing more than a sleight of hand).

I also have quite a few friends in Russia. While Putin had broad public support during his early terms—and the lightning-fast annexation of Crimea (without war, let’s remember) sent his approval ratings soaring—these days, Russian opinion is much more divided, and I doubt a majority still supports Putin (though reliable numbers are impossible to come by, and for good reason).

I lived there for 3 years, which gives you a slightly different perspective than a tourist who mindlessly repeats Western propaganda. I wrote that Russia has a parliament and elections, but that doesn’t make it a democracy. The nuance clearly struggles to exist on social media...

It’d be great if the forum weren’t hijacked by off-topic chatter, but regarding democracy, it doesn’t exist anywhere—except maybe for local matters in Iceland. The EU isn’t a democracy, nor are the regimes that make it up. In France, there was recently a historic moment in the history of French republics (since 1789, with long interruptions): a clear legislative result was completely ignored by the regime. Macron formed a government while completely disregarding the ballot results. In Romania, a presidential election was canceled because the leading candidate was anti-NATO. The term "democracy" is just hot air—a facade for those in power.

In terms of practical freedoms, Russia is more liberal than France or Germany.

Otherwise, it’s amusing to see the question of "democracy" brought up in relation to Russia on a travel forum. Because the crowds flocking to all-inclusive resorts in sunny destinations don’t ask themselves that question, nor do the trendy hipsters traveling to Uzbekistan or the Pamirs. And we’re not even talking about the oil-rich emirates, with tourism in Dubai.

Russia is being mistreated for a very normal reason: its troops have invaded part of Ukraine.

Oh, come on. Since when have American or Israeli citizens been mistreated for Serbia, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, the genocide in Gaza, etc.?

this conflict that’s keeping us from returning

? Russian e-visa online: https://evisa.kdmid.ru/ Flights then bus: - Kirkenes -> Murmansk - Tallinn -> Narva/Ivangorod -> St. Petersburg - Riga -> Pskov - Gdańsk -> Kaliningrad (flights to St. Petersburg ~5000 RUB)

Since this year, with a finally unified visa regime: - Vilnius -> Belarus (Lida-> Minsk or ->Minsk) then Smolensk or Moscow, etc.

it would be good if the forum weren't hijacked by off-topic chatter, but when it comes to democracy, it doesn't exist anywhere,

hmm, you're the "do as I say, not as I do" type, aren't you.

The EU isn't a democracy, nor are the regimes that make it up.

could you explain why the EU isn't a democracy? the EU because, simply put, the EU has no political existence—it's primarily a free economic trade zone.

It’d be nice if the forum weren’t hijacked by off-topic chatter, but when it comes to democracy, it doesn’t exist anywhere,

hmm, you’re the "do as I say, not as I do" type, aren’t you.

That was just a simple reminder of a trivial fact, not a debate. And it’s in relation to the fact that no one bothers to check whether Morocco is an absolute monarchy or a democracy before heading off on holiday to Marrakech. Which makes the EU’s stance on Belarus, for example, so absurd—where you supposedly shouldn’t go because it’s a nasty (boo!!!!) dictatorship.... By that standard, we’d have to ban holidays in two-thirds of the world’s flip-flop-and-shorts destinations.

The EU isn’t a democracy, nor are the regimes that make it up.

Can you explain why the EU isn’t a democracy?

Very simple, by its statutes: the so-called European Parliament CAN’T propose laws. Yet that’s the primary role of a parliament in the definition of parliamentary democracy. The European Parliament is just a rubber-stamp chamber for laws that can only be proposed by the Commission, which isn’t elected by anyone.

The EU has no political existence—it’s primarily a free-trade economic zone.

You’re confusing the former EEC with the EU...

The EU is a legal and political entity above the states that make it up. The laws stipulated by the EU Commission take precedence over national laws, and national constitutions were amended between 2005 and 2007. In Ireland, by referendum—and when the result was "no," the Irish were forced to vote again after a year of intensive propaganda to shape the vote in the desired direction. A typical response from governments to populations protesting laws being imposed without their vote: "It’s an EU directive, so we have no choice"....

Since this is a travel forum, a practical effect of EU directives is the higher cost of Europe-Asia flights, or the lack of direct air and rail links between the EU and Russia. Why? Because the Commission banned Russian flights in the EU. A whole series of drastic measures were taken by the EU Commission in March 2022 without ANY prior national consultation.

You're confusing the former EEC and the EU...

Don’t get so worked up—I was just asking a question. Then, from the moment the EU (the term you’re using) has a material consistency—basically a democratic assembly with representatives of the people who make it up—well, in my opinion, that undermines the immutable principle of non-intervention in the internal politics of each member state. What you’re writing is very true as of April 1, 2025, but it won’t necessarily be true fifty years from now. The political constitution of the EU will likely have changed, especially in this era of unlikely alliances... just as the form taken by the Russian Federation will evolve from a constitutional standpoint. Put another way, these are political entities that aren’t set in stone—they can very well be metamorphic rocks, by analogy. If you want to discuss this further, start a new thread.

You're confusing the former EEC with the EU...

Don’t get so worked up—I was just asking a question.

??? Simple answer. The EEC was a mercantile treaty. The EU is a political entity with state-like characteristics.

From the moment the EU, the term you use, has a material consistency—briefly, a democratic assembly with representatives of the people who make it up—well, in my opinion, this violates the immutable principle of non-intervention in the internal politics of each member state.

Not the term *I* use. "EU" is the usual abbreviation for the official French term *Union Européenne*. On French passports, for example, the cover says "Union Européenne" and below it "République Française."

The EU Parliament *is* made up of elected representatives. There are elections. But just because... they exist. When a state holds elections, voters often go to the polls. It’s mechanical. Turnout varies and sometimes drops below 50%. Especially since voters have no real connection with these MEPs.

But as mentioned earlier, the European Parliament CAN’T propose laws. It can only approve laws proposed by the Commission. Yet the primary role of a parliament in a democracy is to propose laws based on what representatives know about their constituents' desires and problems.

The political constitution of the EU will likely change form, especially in this period of unlikely alliances...

Political and legal statutes do evolve over time—obviously—and Europe’s map changes every century. The U.S. and the EU are moving toward war with Russia. It’s inevitable in the medium term. The so-called Western process is totalitarian and has crossed a point of no return.

If you want to discuss this further, start a new thread.

No, *you’re* the one bringing it back up. I was just pointing out the off-topic tangent, mixed with nonsense—like the supposed nature of a political regime influencing travel decisions, or some pseudo-ethical angle.

The so-called Western process is totalitarian and has crossed a point of no return.

So what you're saying is that the EU is a totalitarian political space if I understand correctly?

Good evening,

When will you stop ruining this great thread started by Tiptraffic? Have the courage, one or the other, to open a new thread to discuss the topic that interests you. Thanks

Well, there you go... you’ve managed to get Cricri out of his rut...😏

Back in the USSR

I’ll keep it short.

In the late 1970s, after driving around the Middle East, I hauled freight through the Soviet Union in a TIR truck.



I started in Leningrad, where L'Oréal was setting up new production lines. Then on to Moscow for the 1980 Olympics. I delivered equipment for the hotels under construction—mostly plumbing, loaded in Luxembourg at the Villeroy & Boch factory. Finally, runs to Тольятти (Togliatti), near Samara on the Volga. FIAT had built a car plant there producing copies of the Italian 124. I’d pick up machine tools at FIAT in Turin and deliver them to АвтоВАз (Avtovaz).

Turin to Volga, as the Italian camionisti used to say ;)

Here, my colleagues from Совтрансавто—the aristocracy of Soviet truckers. The only ones allowed to drive in the West.



I only knew the Russians from below—drivers, mechanics, factory workers, secretaries, shop assistants...

How does a Western trucker get accepted by his Soviet colleagues?

By doing what they do :D

Two conditions: Keep quiet, don’t ask questions, never criticize authority in public. Endure the group’s initiation ritual—the vodka culture.

Luckily, an old Polish driver gave me the keys to handling the alcohol.

You do what the Russians do. Between each shot, you eat potatoes and herring. The potatoes soak up the vodka, and the salty herring makes you drink water, which dilutes the alcohol. Otherwise, you’ll collapse. In the morning before hitting the road, eat an onion so the cops don’t smell the alcohol on you.

Once accepted by the group, I experienced the intimacy of Russians’ relationship with vodka. Like all men for centuries, it’s the mandatory rite of passage into manhood. And the only moment when, after the tenth shot, they drop their guard and reveal their truth. That’s when—and only then—you find out what they really think!

Today?

Our last trip through Russia was in 2020.



In the evenings at the busy Tirpark stops, the drivers weren’t just drinking orange juice ;)

There you go—no need to say more ;)

Best regards,

Thanks, I was familiar with your journey as a truck driver and the reasons why you chose an "anonymous" van.

Today? Our last trip to Russia was in 2020.

My last trip was summer 2023 via Torfyanovka. The complete closure of the Finnish border has shifted traffic through Estonia. But otherwise, Russia has temporarily closed the Ivangorod road crossing for renovations (reopening planned for 2026), so traffic now goes through Luhamaa or Koidula in Estonia. Through Latvia, it’s very slow. Since Poland has reduced its crossing points with Belarus, this doesn’t help traffic coming from the West.

Despite a significant drop in road freight, there’s still a flow of private cars (mostly Russians with Schengen nationalities and Baltic Russians). The catch is road freight to Kazakhstan and neighboring countries. The EU is forced to maintain some of it, but the route to the lower Volga and then the Kazakh steppe via Ukraine is no longer passable.

In August 2023, I left without a plan, and since I live about 450 km from Stockholm, I take the ferry from there. This time, it was to Åbo, so a 4-hour drive to Torfyanovka. I stopped in Vyborg, then Saint Petersburg, then Staraya Ladoga, and toward the Svir River at the edge of Lake Onega, where the region rich in old wooden churches begins. There’s the village of Rodionovo:



The Varangian influence in the founding of Russia can be seen in details, like the dragon heads on prows, as here in Belozersk:



The signs at city entrances vary in interest—Belozersk’s sign evokes the importance of this place a millennium ago, an ancient founding principality and thus also an old ecclesiastical center:



10 days on this route:



Well, rural life and "depth" can be found in any countryside corner.

the hipsters who are all the rage in Uzbekistan or the Pamir.

Well done, you’ve hit the hipster bingo! One free carousel ride for every hipster mention.

And we’re not even talking about the oil emirates, with tourism in Dubai.

You should see the crowds of Russians shopping there. Probably Putin-loving hipsters.

the hipsters who are all the rage in Uzbekistan or the Pamir.

Well done, you’ve won the hipster bingo! For every hipster post, one free carousel ride.

Hipsterism is a real thing. Some destinations become touristy in different ways: mass tourism for the working class, hipster tourism, luxury tourism, student tourism, etc.

Not to mention the oil-rich emirates, with tourism in Dubai.

You should see the crowds of Russians shopping there. Probably Putin-loving hipsters.

That’s it—apparently a lot of Russian hipsters, plus a small proportion of immigrants working there, and the usual crowd of the ultra-rich. By the way, about Dubai, when you pay for the Russian e-visa, it’s in dirhams through an Emirati bank.