Russian interest links, with emphasis on alternative and independent travel

March 13, 2010

Shortcuts:
General info

"Russian soul"

Moscow

Travelogues, blogs, photos

Russian travel forums

Backpacking / budget / adventure / eco-travel / travel with a cause

Free accommodation

Cities & Regions

Health & Safety

Request to add links to ORIGINAL and RELEVANT page/site are welcomed. Note that descriptions that consist of vague general phrasing like "we offer accommodation for any budget" or linguistic atrocities such as "interesting attractions" (the author of one the recent requests hit me with this one) will be rejected. If I feel your site is getting stale I'll remove the link but by all means re-submit it after you do an update.. e-mail paul_voytinsky@yahoo.com

Back to =>

MAIN INDEX
www.cheap-moscow.com
www.russian-horse-rides.com
www.moscowdrivers.net
www.staritsa.info
www.oldmanfriday.com

Olesya's site:
www.russiangirlfriday.com

Marisha of Chisinau, Moldova:
www.marisha.net

contact info

Central & Eastern Europe & The Baltic:
www.euromost.info

Link Exchange Requests to be included from the owners of RELEVANT and QUALITY resources welcomed. Please note that this is NOT a perfunctory links page for the sake of raising the rating but an attempt to compile informative or otherwise valuable resources. Lots of pointers to this page from my sites. Real submissions welcomed. Spam-like offers are NOT.

Visas & Registration See www.cheap-moscow.com for Russian visa links. Positive feedback I come across on Russian visa support gets added there. TALK TO ME ABOUT YOUR VISA SUPPORT NEEDS!!

THIS PAGE IS OVERDUE FOR A MAJOR OVERHAUL. IT IS GOOD TIME TO SUBMIT LINKS TO FRESH RESOURCES. SITES THAT LOOK AND FEEL STALE ARE BEING DELETED.

Uncle Pasha's hand-picked and regularly updated collection of
RUSSIAN TRAVEL RESOURCES
in English

General info

www.ru/eng/index.html - A catalogues of Russian sites in English.

"Russian Soul" Related categories: Language and Culture

www.sovokoftheweek.com Nostalgic musing on the USSR times by Russian emigres in the US. Links to "alternative" Russian travel resources. Active as of March 13 2010.

Daniel Rancour-Laferriere, Slave Soul of Russia. Buy it

www.elenafilatova.com Stories of motorcycles travel throughout the Chernobyl zone. Photos and stories of prison camps.

Moscow

www.passportmagazine.ru A compilation of practical resources: embassies, airports, wi-fi spots, events, metro map etc. etc.

www.expat.ru - A dynamic resource. Active forum with topics ranging from finding a room to disposing of old car batteries to Russian divorce procedures. As of March 2010 I especially recommend this site for accommodation searches.

www.metro.ru/map/2003/metro.ru-2003map-big1.png - Moscow Metro map, with stations in Russian and English.

Travelogues, blogs, photos, maps

www.elenafilatova.com Bike trips through the Chernobyl area, Ukraine.

www.chistoprudov.livejournal.com/11244.html#cutid1 A spectacular - and I don't often use adjectives of that sort - panorama of Moscow from the top of the Federation Tower on a clear cold night in February 2009.

www.infoservices.com/moscow/map/ - Maps of central and touristy Moscow, in English

Russia-related forums and boards (especially for looking for accommodation)

www.ruadventures.com This forum is greatly recommended to Russian bride seekers. Lots of good advice for those who already have a woman but need to bring her home. (ALSO LIST UNDER RUSSIAN BRIDES)

www.expat.ru As of March 2010 www.expact.ru has one of the most active forums on Moscow.

www.virtualtourist.com/f/90a60/ A forum where travellers to Russia help each other. Local service providers not allowed so don't go there in search of accommodation or other support.

http://masterrussian.net/mforum/ - The focus is learning Russian. The only forum with an active section on IMMIGRATING TO RUSSIA

http://moscow.craigslist.org/ ACTIVE, INFORMATIVE, EASY TO OPEN AND READ, NO PROBLEM TO POST RESOURCE. RECOMMENDED!!!!!

englishrussia.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=4 Mostly chat. Politics, history, entertainment.

Backpacking, budget, alternative, adventure, eco-travel, travel with a cause

www.bootsnall.com March 22 2010: site down.

http://www.we-friends.com/lists/Russia_Federation.shtml - March 22 2010: site down.

http://ecotravel.ru/eng/ - Ecological Travel Center with focus on Siberia and Lake Baikal. Lost of organized eco/nature/volunteer tours.

www.miramed.org - An organization dedicated to preparing Russian orphans to independent adult life. Some volunteer opportunities.

http://www.thebackpacker.net - Quite a few entries on Russia.

http://www.rctc.ru/index.html - Russian Cycling Club. Offers of trips and tours.

http://www.geographicbureau.com/ - Biking, mountain climbing and such in the more distant corners of the post Soviet space.

http://www.waytorussia.net/Transport/Domestic/Hitchhiking.html - Some general advice on hitch-hiking in Russia.

Free accommodation; house exchange
(also see Stay in Moscow for Free at www.cheap-moscow.com )

http://www.globalfreeloaders.com - Free accommodation. Nearly 700 offers from Russia as of March 2010.

www.hospitalityclub.org - A free accommodation resource.

www.stay4free.com - Several dozen of free/home exchange accommodation offers from Russia.

www.place2stay.net

www.couchsurfing.com - Lots of invitations from fun sounding people. Attention Russian bride seekers: 3/4 of them are women in the 20-30 age range.

www.belodged.com

www.sleepinginairports.net/europe/moscow.htm - Sleeping at the Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow

http://www.innsite.com/ - A directory of Bed & Breakfast offers. A couple of listings for Moscow and 5-6 for Saint-Petersburg.

www.bestofhorses.com - Several links to riding holidays in the Altai region.
(See my www.russian-horse-rides.com for more)

www.adventuretraveltips.com - A compilation of verified links, about 10 of which related to Russia and a couple dozen more to neighbouring countries.

Regions

www.marisha.net - The famous Marisha of Chisinau, Moldova

LINKS BELOW HAVEN'T BEEN CHECKED IN YEARS. DON'T GO THERE

http://www.euroave.com/maps/frame1.php?xcity=moscow - Said to have plenty of good maps of Moscow. CHECK OUT!!

Moscow subway map: www.metro.ru

Train schedules: http://www.poezda.net/en/index

New!! Satellite maps that include the area between Moscow and St. Petersburg: http://www.mapmart.com/scripts/hsrun.exe/Single/MapMart_New/MapXtreme.htx;start=HS_Handler

http://www.russian-hotels.net/maps/moscowmap/index.en.html?kk=89d6563d1e - Said to be the best map of Moscow

Russian Language, Culture, History...

On-line Russian lessons

Russian Language Courses in the Voronezh State University

Learning Russian - Reference tool for Russian language study. Forum for the learners of Russian.

Communicaid - Russian language and cultural awareness courses for the corporate world. Training centers in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Warsaw, New Delhi, New York, Philadelphia, Madrid, Milan, Amsterdam.

http://www.russianlessons.net/ - Online Russian lessons.

http://listen2russian.com/ - Audio courses of Russian online

http://langintro.com/rintro/first.htm A recommended place to learn the Russian alphabet.

http://www.funet.fi/pub/culture/russian/

East Slavic languages from Wikipedia

History of the Russian language

Russian Cinema
Hi, I found your page very informative.
I have a reference site dedicated to Russian Cinema:
http://www.geocities.com/rusatg/dir.htm
It contains rated listings of Russian movies, films for children, awards,
actors, directors and alphabetical catalog pages.
And I would like to ask if you would find it appropriate
to add a link to my site on your link page.

Rural living: www.csica.com/selyanka/ruralvideo.htm

www.alincom.com/russ/

Museums: http://www.museum.ru

http://gromco.com/music/rim_archive/ - Modern music scene, including description of groups and sound files

www.slavophilia.net - culture and music oriented site Down March 10, 2003

http://ingeb.org/catru.html - a huge russian .midi and .wav collection with lyrics

Sher's Russian web - http://www.websher.net

guide to Russian literature http://waytorussia.net/WhatIsRussia/Literature.html

http://www.mtu-net.ru/rrr/bill.htm - Genealogy: Researching Russian Roots

Books from Russia
e-shop LIRA Books, audio, video, software and souvenirs for all Russian-speaking population of the world. Delivery in 7-12 days by air around the world. All major credit cards accepted. Contact info@lira.ru or +7(095)280-8624

Russian literature blogs: http://blacksquare.blogspot.com/

Pasha,

I like your language link. Nice teaching tool. Here is my favorite Russian alphabet page link. Its a word game and requires a little thinking, but it makes it more fun to learn the alphabet. http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/russian/language/alphabet.html

The bucknell page also links to signs you would see in Russian. http://community.middlebury.edu/~beyer/RT/pages/signs/signs.shtml

My favorite big website for Russian is www.masterrussian.com

John

Russian Translation USA

www.raga.org A collection of good and perceptive analytical articles on Russian history and politics. Also translation and interpreting services.

www.masterrussian.com Learning Russian. Active discussion forums, one of which is dedicated to IMMIGRATION TO RUSSIA

http://www.suite101.com/course.cfm/18808/overview An on-line course on Russian culture

Let me take this opportunity to once again urge beginning Russian students NOT TO BOTHER WITH SMALL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SPELLING AND PRONUNCIATION. Just read what you see how you see it. Of it is "o", just read it as "o". "Pozhaluysta" is just that, not "pAzhal-sta". Often trying to be "correct" will take your attention away from things more important. Remember that most Russian courses are designed and taught by Russian teachers and professors, who are a pedantic breed ready to forego the communicative function of language for the sake of observing "rules".

Teaching English in Russia

http://www.eslcafe.com/ An extensive and growing compilation of resources on ESL teaching in Russia.

http://angl.by.ru/forum.htm (in Russian, a good place to post your ad)

http://www.language.ru/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi (same)

http://www.interced.ru/forum/ (same)

http://www.visarus.co.uk/community/index

"Russian brides"

http://happierabroad.com/ Famous Winston Wu's guide to international dating, with a lot about Russia and Russian women

www.tverangels.com - Good reputation, personally known to me. Located in Tver, away from Moscow's rush and greed, yet easy to access.

Elena's Models: www.elenasmodels.com. Extensive discussion of Russian Brides scam. Lists of known scammers. (Speaking of scam, I've been getting a lot of scam-related inquiries as of recent and decided to make scam control services official - see Russian brides and scam control)

http://womenrussia.com/ - A collection of articles on Russian brides, written/compiled by Elena Petrova of www.elenasmodels.com

NEW!! Added August 20, 2008.

www.russianwomenbook.com - Russian Bride Guide is a new book for any marriage-minded man who wants to find, meet, court and marry the perfect Russian bride. The husband and wife team of Olga Maslova, a Russian psychologist, and English author Stuart J. Smith used their own experience of a successful cross-cultural romance to write the truth to all who seek Russian women, while shattering the myths about �mail-order brides�.

www.ladagirl.com - Ladagirl is a small UK based agency offering introductions to Russian women, translation, three way telephone calls and verification services and scam checks for American and European men.

RS Russia Today - General information on Russia geared towards Russian bride seekers: e-mail forwarding, flower and gift delivery, translation, how to bring your Russian bride home etc.

Background checks: Graham and Natalia (speaks Russian too) at Visaplus in London, Great Britain. http://www.visaplus.co.uk/

http://www.americanwomensuck.com - A lot on Russian women and the Russian brides fashion there.

Winston's Guide Traveling and Dating in Russia
http://www.geocities.com/wwu777us/Winstons_Guide_To_Traveling_and_Dating_in_Russia.htm
Paul, by the way, here also is the link to my online photo journals of Russia. If you like, you can link it to your site too:
http://hometown.aol.com/wwu777/myhomepage/travel.html

http://www.americanwomensuck.com/travel_logs/wwu777/index.htm See also his articles on woman-hunting. They are presently lost somewhere in my sites but are likely to surface up someplace in Olesya's department at www.russiangirlfriday.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UK-FSUsupportgroup/ Said to be an active and recommended group.

Flower and gift delivery, entire ex-USSR. Physically located in Ekaterinburg, same day delivery there and you can probably ask for other favours: http://www.asap.ru

A database of scammers: www.anti-scam.org

An forum on scam: http://www.russianmeetingplace.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=86

http://russianwomenshome.com/

New, to be checked:

www.ruadventures.com
www.russianwomenbook.com
www.ladagirl.com

http://www.russiandatingcenter.com

Russian food

http://www.resnet.trinity.edu/aferraro/

Drink

The Russian page of the Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine has links to Russian wine-related resources in English.

Russian prices

Examples of prices for everyday commodities - I don't mean to appear immodest but this little page remains the only clear and comprehensive resource on the subject.

Tickets and visa support

Jettrav@com2com.ru, www.jettravel.ru, Inexpensive and hassle-free to deal with. (095) 207-9008, 207-1800, fax 207-1876, Sretenka 16, office 48, Moscow 103045. [E-MAIL NOT VALID - NOV. 2003]

Sharma Travel - In Ottawa I and my friends always bought from Sharma Travel - 36-174 Colonnade Road, Ottawa K2E 7J5, (613) 224-4447. They can get real deals.. [will anybody tell me if they are still alive?? - March 17 comment]

AS OF RECENT WE GOT INTO BUYING EX MOSCOW TICKETS ON YOUR BEHALF AT LOCAL PRICES PLUS $25 SERVICE FEE

Olesya's page www.russiangirlfriday.com/trans-siberian.htm

For a list of visa support agents see www.cheap-moscow.com.

Public transportation - live and up-to-date sites

http://www.poezda.net/train.htm - Train schedules. These stay same for years.

?????? - Bus schedules. These are less reliable, don't totally rely on them.

For actual arrival times at the Moscow International Sheremetyevo Airport see www.moscowdrivers.net/airport_tips.htm

Travellers with special interests

Vegetarians - http://www.vegsource.com/travel/europe/

Vegetarian restaurants in Moscow - www.happycow.net

More vegetairans - www.vegetariansabroad.com
Lots more on my Vegetarian Moscow page

Gay and lesbian - http://www.gay.ru

More Gays and Lesbians - http://www.guides.gay.ru/index.shtml

Gays and Lesbians who are ALSO vegetarians: http://www.vvgg.freeserve.co.uk

Physically challenged - http://home.comset.net/voi/english/indexen.htm

Travelling with pets - http://www.moscowanimals.org/advice/moving.html

Lots of into on specialty travel world-wide, with good regional sections - http://www.4travelinfo.com/

Adoption, helping orphanages

www.russiatravel.org

www.littlemiracles.org

See also my own little project somewhere at www.unclepasha.com/staritsa_eng.htm

http://www.russianadoption.org/

Another site with a focus on Russian orphans: http://www.orphanadvoc.org/

Charity

........

Mail order brides

See Olesya's Russian Women Page

Concerned about scam? You may want to read www.russia-scam.org

Leaving Katya by Paul Greenberg. A must to read for anyone contemplating a Russian-American love affair.

Information, hints, discussion: www.global7network.com

A discussion of Russian women on Way_to_Russia: http://waytorussia.net/WhatIsRussia/Women.html

http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/04/1072908963038.html.....

http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/08/08/russia.internet/.....

http://sandiego.fbi.gov/2003/mccoy.htm

www.russia-scam.org

Leaving Katya by Paul Greenberg. A must to read for anyone contemplating a Russian-American love affair.

Information, hints, discussion: www.global7network.com

www.russianfoods.com/russian-women/

Periodicals in English

The Russia Journal www.trj.ru

The Moscow Times - www.themoscowtimes.com

New not sorted out: (in the process)

www.destinationrussia.com - "Welcome to Destination Russia, the world's
Russia Travel information / news portal and the most comprehensive guide
to the Russian Federation." [something non-descript, keep for the sake of link exchange]

www.Hotelsrussia.net - Hotels Russia provides online booking and
reservations for DISCOUNT Russia travel accommodation including hotels
and apartments across Russia [same as above]

Minor search engines: http://rank.stars.ru/

Major search engines: http://www.aport.ru/

Aviso Online Classifieds-Russia http://www.aviso.kiev.ua/aviso/eng/
AY Search Engine-Russia http://www.au.ru/
Azerbaijan Search Engine-Russia http://www.search.az:8101/
BR Search Engine-Russia http://www.br.by/
Brama Web Directory-Ukraine http://www.brama.com/index.html
BrightonBeachAve Search Eng-Russia http://www.brightonbeachave.com/
CIS Enterprises Directory Russia http://www.trifle.net/cis/e_index.html irrelevant
Fair Index-Russia http://www.fair.ru/site/ dead
FarEastern Russian Index http://www.fareast.ru/ irrelevant, kill
Hayastan Search Engine-Russia http://www.hayastan.com/ - Armenian portal, English
Holms Search Directory-Russia http://www.holms.ru/ irrelevant, kill
Ivan Susanin Search Engine-Russia http://www.susanin.net/ empty, delete
Job Online BBS-Russia http://www.yourbbs.com/v2/?bbs=3836 dead
Kharkov Search Engine-Ukraine http://search.kharkov.ua/ dead. delete
Kopilka Search Engine-Russia http://chirinsky.virtualave.net/ delete, irrelevan

http://reenic.utexas.edu/reenic/countries - Brief reviews of CIS countries

Krygistan Online-Russia http://www.online.kg/   Live, English,
LinkMaker Directory-Russia http://www.ipclub.ru/linkmaker/ - Irrelevant to Russia but hosts catalogues
List Of Russian Webservers-Russia http://weblist.ru/   Dead May 2003
List.RU-Russia http://www.list.ru/   Live, search engine/directory, Russian
Mafias Top Rated Directory http://www.mafia.ru/top100/   Dead as of May 2003
Meta Ukraine-Ukraine http://meta-ukraine.com/defeng.asp Ukraine, English
Newman Search Engine-Russia http://search.newman.ru/ remove
Ping Search Engine-Ukraine http://www.topping.od.ua/ Ukraine, Russian
Rahoo Search Engine-Russia http://yahoo.kts.ru/ Give a chance to open up (establish category) then remove.
Rambler Search Engine-Russia http://www.rambler.ru/ move to Russian search engines, in Russian
Reenic Directory-Russia http://link.lanic.utexas.edu/reenic/Countries/Kazakhstan/kazakhstan.html Chang eto http://reenic.utexas.edu/reenic/countries/russia.html   University of Texas. Comprehensive.
RegionRU-Russian Directory http://www.region.ru/ remove????
Russia on the Net(Search Engine-Russia Only) http://www.ru/   Move under Russian search engines. English.
Russia Today Classifieds-Russia http://www.russiatoday.com/classifieds.php3 Alive, fairly weak, English

Russian Cities On The Web http://www.city.ru/   Alive. Add URL doesn't work
Russian World Directory http://www.serve.com/andrey/russian/business/add.html Dead
RussianLondon BBS(Russian) http://www.russianlondon.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.html Irrelevant, remove
RussianStar Search Engine-russia http://www.russianstar.com/index1.htm dead
Russkie Search Engine http://www.russkie.com/ Dead
Search Kit-Russia http://www.alf.ru/search/1.htm   \Dead
Sensa Ukraine Search Engine http://www.uazone.net/sesna/ Ukrainina search engine, English
Susanin Search Engine-Russia http://www.susanin.com/   Russian directory
Tamapcmah Index-Russia http://www.kcn.ru/tatweb/grepsrch/srch.cgi/tatweb/tatweblist Tatarstan, in Russian, run by the Kazan State University, slightly stale as most official projects (move under Regional)
UDM Search Engine-Russia http://search.udm.net/ Search of Udmurtia Region, the Urals, Izhevsk (that's where Sverzhy Veter operates and seems to be doing a good job attracting visitors to Izhevsk)
Ukraine Meta Search Engine http://www.meta.kharkiv.net/ Active, in Russia, based in Kharkov (Kharkiv)
Ukraine.com Web Guide http://www.ukraine.com/ No content, remove
Ukrania Resource Web Guide http://www.ukrania.com/ Alive and IN ENGLISH!!
Ukranian Homepage Directory http://search.uar.net/ Does not exist as of May 2003
Uzonline Search Engine-Russia http://www.angelfire.com/ak/Uzonline/ Does not exist as of May 2003

Wanted.RU Directory-Russia http://www.hochu.ru/ - Mostly Russian (place under Russian search engines, recommended if you are looking for something exotic and very un-turisty, so 98% of you have no business here)

Yahtka Search Engine-Russia http://www.ulitka.ru/ - Mostly Russian, more of a directory than a search engine. Alive May 2003

Yandex Search Engine(Russia) http://www.yandex.ru/ - Mostly Russian language resources, alive May 2003

Zubr Search Engine http://www.zubr.com/eng/ - Alive as of May 2003, specializes in Belarus, in English (move under search engines)

CIA World Factbook - Russia - http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rs.html
Presents general facts on the country and focuses on its economy, government, people, transportation, communications, and geography. - Too perfunctory, remove. (general info)

Russian News Network - http://www.russiannewsnetwork.com. Statistical and historic briefs on CIS and Baltic states, in English. Don't expect to find "new" news there however.

. - live and active as of May 2003, specializes in news coverage, English.

Little Russian Gate - http://home.earthlink.net/~bikbov/
Collection of Russian web sites, message boards guide. An informative, cozy and totally non-commercial in feel. Don't be fooled by it, many powerful resources out here lack commercial lustre. (classifications??, mark as my pesonal favourite)

Russian Phone Search - http://russianphonesearch.hypermart.net/
Searching phone numbers by address and addresses by phone number in Russia. - Site alive. Anybody tried that service?

ASMO-Press - Encyclopedia - http://enc.ex.ru/cgi-bin/n1fsrc.pl?lang=2
Information about Russian manufacturers. - Seems rather dead as of May 2003. Check back in a year.

Russian Cities on the Internet - http://mitglied.lycos.de/Cityweb/Worldwide/Europe/Russia/russia.html
Collection of links of Russian localities. - Many links outdated and in Russian only but could be an excellent resource if updated.

WorldSkip Guide to Russia - http://www.worldskip.com/region.asp?RegionID=ru
Links to news, information, products and services from Russia. - does not open, remove

FreeGK.com: Russia - http://atlas.freegk.com/world/europe/russia/russia.php
Including map and overview of history, culture, economy and currency. - too supeficial and perfunctory, to be removed.

http://www.einnews.com/russia/classifieds.php3 - You can place your classified there. Not much Russian content, mostly spam, but shows up well.

CHECK:
Zamoskvorechye map
Map and description of Zamoskv.
Metro system, in English
Visa and registration issues

Uncle Pasha's hand-picked and regularly updated collection of
RUSSIAN TRAVEL RESOURCES

"Russian Soul" Related categories: Language and Culture

http://www.bigrussiansoul.org Good-natured fun poked at the "Russian Soul" concept. [June 4/09 - DOES NOT OPEN]

www.sovokoftheweek.com - Nostalgic musing on the USSR times by Russian emigres in the US.

Daniel Rancour-Laferriere, Slave Soul of Russia. I can't find the link to the text but you can buy the book here.

www.elenafilatova.com Stories of motorcycles travel throughout the Chernobyl zone. Photos and stories of prison camps.

Moscow for tourists and expats

Just noticed www.passportmagazine.ru A fresh compilation of practical resources of use for an English-speaking traveller. Embassies, airports, wi-fi spots, events, metro map etc. etc.

August 5, 2007 www.expat.ru seems to be emerging as a leading information resource. Especially recommended for accommodation searches.

NEW! Added March 21 2009

www.CapitalTourist.Com
Hire us to support you on your Moscow trip and manage it safely.
Avoid any problem and unforeseen
circumstances on your Moscow journey.
Have fun not troubles.

Travelogues, blogs, photos

NEW!! April 8, 2009 www.dusktodawntv.com A car trip from .... to Japan, with a visit to my dacha in Staritsa.

NEW!!! March 23 2009. http://elenafilatova.com/ Bike trips through the Chernobyl, Ukraine area.

http://accidentalrussophile.blogspot.com

Belly Button Window on the World: http://www.bellybuttonwindow.com . A wealth of information, from riding public busses to radical groups to electrical adaptors. Most articles on Russia are from 2001-2005.

www.travelhog.net

www.friends-partners.org Especially recommended for .....

www.crazytranssiberian.net - Site established in the spring of '04 and thus contains fresh info.

http://www.travel-library.com/travelogues/europe/russia/ - A collection of travelogues. Some are on extreme budget travel. Recommended.

www.travel-library.com has a couple of travelogues, including one on cycling in Russia. Although dated with 2005 the story is obviously form mid-90s. A lot has changed since then. Prices went up. The tendency by motorists to disregard bicycles is way down however. May have something to do with the fact that a trendy bike these days is comparable in price to a used car.

Added Feb. 13, 2009 A panorama of Moscow from the top of the Federation Tower on a clear cold night of February 2009 - http://chistoprudov.livejournal.com/11244.html#cutid1

Backpacking, budget, alternative, adventure, eco-travel, travel with a cause

www.sv-agency.udm.ru - The "Svezy Veter" ("Fresh Wind") guys did an admirable job turning Izhevsk, Udmurtia, an industrial town famous for its Izh and Ural motorcycles, and Kalashnikov machine gun, into a Mecca for volunteer English teachers. I regularly hear good things from people who went to Izhevsk under their programs. All-around support: visa invitation, tickets, host family matching etc. etc. [CHECKED APRIL 2009. UP AND ACTIVE.]

www.bootsnall.com - Packed with independent traveller information. An example of how detailed and in-depth some of www.bootsnall pages are: through them I found Moscow's only laundromat (Vavilova 11, Tram #39 from M. Leninsky Prospekt or M. Universitet, open 7am to 10pm Mon. to Sat.). Lots of active boards, with frequent messages on Russian travel. [CHECKED APRIL 09]

http://ecotravel.ru/eng/ - Ecological Travel Center with focus on Siberia and Lake Baikal. Lost of organized eco/nature/volunteer tours. [ACTIVE - APRIL 09]

http://www.we-friends.com/lists/Russia_Federation.shtml - As of April 8, 2009 about 40 offers of homestay accommodation in Russia and about 20 requests for accommodation. [JUNE 21/09 - SITE DOWN]

www.miramed.org - An organization dedicated to preparing Russian orphans to independent adult life. Some volunteer opportunities. [ACTIVE - APRIL 09]

http://www.thebackpacker.net - Quite a few entries on Russia. Direct contacts of hosts. My major complaint is their beer board where Baltika No. 9 is recommended. Don't!! Read my Beer and Vodka page and be safe and well both during and after your drinking binge.

http://www.sv-agency.udm.ru - Svezhy Veter ("Fresh Wind"). Izhevsk, Udmurtia, the Urals Range. Teaching opportunities, real-life immersion tourism, informative interactive site, good feedback from my clients in Moscow on their way to and especially from them. [WORKING - APRIL 09]

Cycling Club - http://www.rctc.ru/index.html [ALIVE - APRIL 09]

http://www.geographicbureau.com/

http://www.globalfreeloaders.com - free accommodation, a few offers from Russia.

www.hospitalityclub.org - more free accommodation

WWW.TRAVELROOMERS.COM - another free accommodation site

More free accommodation sites: www.couchsurfing.com, www.globalfreeloaders.com, www.stay4free.com, www.place2stay.net

http://www.LostLuggageTales.com">Lost - A compilation of resources for budget travellers.

http://www.sleepinginairports.net/europe/moscow.htm - Sleeping in Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport

http://www.couchsurfing.com/ - a database of people who offer a free place to stay in exchange for same.

http://www.hospitalityclub.org/ - Hospitality exchange, no money involved. LOTS OF ACTIVITY, RECOMMENDED

NEW http://www.familytravelboards.com/ has just been called to my attention. Family travel, as the name suggests. Three generations, pets, scooters. I see these once in a while. These are almost always budget and time-consuming clients but I don't mind because working with family types is easy and relaxing. One exception was an American ex-military type who told his children to smile and be happy or else they won't get their ice cream. As a former Utilitarian after the John Stewart Mill sort I was overwhelmed by the simplicity of approach. Took me a week and a couple of bottles of vodka to recover.

http://www.thegreenguide.com

http://www.ecoclub.com

http://www.unotravel.com "Travel with a heart" concept.

http://www.unotraveler.com/ New site, mostly empty at the moment (Jan. 2005). Check back.

http://www.innsite.com/ - A directory of Bed & Breakfast offers. A few from ex-USSR countries, nothing from Russian so far but I'm sure it is coming in the next year or two. The time is right, the demand is there, and Russians are about to overcome their fear of opening their homes to "strangers". One of these days I'll compile a list of silly reasons why a starving babushka with a 4-room flat in the center of Moscow would not run a small B&B operation.

http://www.iwf.ru/index_en.shtml - A site dedicated to the concept of "deep tourism". Mostly in Russian and for Russians, who seem to represent a rather sophisticated market for things extreme and outworldly but have a few English pages.

Hitchhiking in Russia:

waytorussia.net - some general advice
hitchhikers.org
mosnews.com - a Moscow News article on Russian style of hitchhiking
reitsma.ru - a story by a Dutch hitchhiker in Russia\

www.bestofhorses.com has a few links to riding holidays in the Altai region. See my www.russian-horse-rides.com for more.

www.adventuretraveltips.com is a big compilation of verified links, about 10 of which related to Russia and a couple dozen more to neighbouring countries. To be reviewed soon.

Russian search engines, or search engines with good Russian content.

www.rambler.ru - of the the biggest
www.yandex.ru - Presently seems to be the market leader
www.list.ru
www.weblist.ru???

www.weblist.ru
www.stars.ru
www.www.ru - in English!!
www.google.ru - turn off cookies before going there or else you will be taken there whenever you want google.com

Cities and regions - see "outside of Moscow" page at www.cheap-moscow.com

Moscow and St. Petersburg

General information and touristy photos: www.russiatrek.org

These two are sufficiently covered so I will not bother except perhaps pointing to this excellent collection of Moscow maps by Traveller's Yellow Pages: http://www.infoservices.com/moscow/map/

Maps of Moscow: http://www.moscowmap.ru

New: Organizations for/by expats, or expat-friendly - This page is meant as an answer what to do with yourself and how an English speaker can integrate socially into the Moscow scene

Maps of Moscow, in English, very detailed: www.eatlas.ru.

Links to mostly English resources on cities, including pretty obscure little places, throughout Russia: www.city.ru

A new (noticed in April 2007, looks

North-west of Moscow, including Tver, Novgorod, Rzhev, Pskov, Valdai, Staraya Russa, New Jerusalem, Volokolamsk, Torshok...

Pskov: http://oasis.fortunecity.com/bali/526/pskow/pskcity.htm Check!!

Another Pskov site: http://members.xoom.com/avkl/gallery/pskov/english.html (link dead July 22 2002)

Tver: http://www.tversu.ru/archives/tverarch.html

Novgorod: www.novsu.ac.ru/city/travel/tourism.html (dead July 22, 2002

Yaroslavl: http://clib-r.yars.free.net/

Suzdal: ftp.funet.fi/pub/culture/russian/religion/monasteries/Suzdal.html

Vologda: http://necco.net/category/regional/russia/vologda.htm and http://www.vologda.ru/~avo/Eng/HomeE.htm

Staritsa: www.unclepasha.com/staritsa_eng.htm (and the Village of Dubrovki)

Latvia: http://www.nexteurope.com/tourism/

Siberia
(see also the Master List, Train Tickets, Tomsk...

Olesya's page on buying Trans-Siberian tickets and other practicalities and technicalities of the Trans-Siberian and other Russian trains: www.russiangirlfriday.com/trans-siberian.htm )

Trans-Siberian Railroad - http://www.trans-siberia.com

Moldova

The famous Marisha of Chisinau (also check out her forum)

Making contact: Russia-related forums

NEW!! Added August 20, 2008.

www.ruadventures.com - Russian & Ukrainian Adventures discussion forums - RUA!
This is the place for information & discussion about relationships with Russian & FSU women.
Ask and answer questions about finding Russian brides, traveling, trip reports, applying for a K1 fiancée visa, living with a Russian woman, and more.

Russia.com Web Guide - http://www.russia.com/ Some of the most active Russia-related forums are here. You have to register, which is a minor pain, the the board is alive which is the main thing.

http://www.russianmeetingplace.com/forums/index.php - Active forums. The point of the site seems to be Western men and Russian women.

http://www.expat.ru - Has a few ads but you can only reply them via Private Messages which, for all practical purposes, means no contact unless you are a habitual of this their forum. August 5, 2007 - THE PROJECT IS ACTIVELY PROMOTING ITSELF; RECOMMENDED ESPECIALLY FOR ACCOMMODATION SEARCHES IN MOSCOW JAN. 2008 - NOT MUCH ACTIVITY.

http://www.virtualtourist.com/f/90a60/

http://www.vivreenrussie.com/forum - French forum

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ - Lots of practical questions on travelling within Russia on this forum. Active and NO HASSLE TO LEAVE YOUR POSTING. RECOMMENDED.

http://masterrussian.net/mforum/ - This forum has an active section on IMMIGRATING TO RUSSIA

http://moscow.craigslist.org/ ACTIVE, INFORMATIVE, EASY TO OPEN AND READ, NO PROBLEM TO POST RESOURCE. RECOMMENDED!!!!!

Health and safety
(the safety issue is periodically raised in Uncle Pasha's Message Board)

Petty street crimes, incl. money exchange - http://www.kidalovka.narod.ru/
(in Russian, but a must to read nevertheless; on request I'll happily do a review with my clients..)

My own musings on the safety aspect of Russian travel. [to be added; the main idea is that Russia can be remarkably safe or otherwise, depending on who you are, the objectivist world-view fails utterly here; examples of my own and other's experience]

http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/scams.html - Tourist scam alerts, mostly apply to western Europe, but it would not hurt knowing them if you are on your way to Russia

Official and semi-official platitudes and truisms

US government information for Russia-bound travellers

Official City of Moscow

More banalities at http://ru.orientation.com/eg/home.html

www.russiatoday.com/

Maps, schedules, pictures ==>> WILL SOMEONE RECOMMEND A LINK TO A GOOD MAP OF MOSCOW?!!!
(Check out our own VIRTUAL WALKS AND DRIVES IN AND AROUND MOSCOW)

Moscow - http://sunsite.sut.ac.jp/asia/russia/moscow.jpg DOES NOT WORK

Interactive map of Russia - http://www.cs.toronto.edu/~mes/russia/photo.html NO MAPS THERE

Photos - http://redsun.cs.msu.su/moscow/main.html

The Kremlin photos - http://www.online.ru/sp/cominf/kremlin/english/

http://www.metro.ru/map/2003.html - Subway (metro) maps

http://www.euroave.com/maps/frame1.php?xcity=moscow - Said to have plenty of good maps of Moscow. CHECK OUT!!

Moscow subway map: www.metro.ru

Train schedules: http://www.poezda.net/en/index

New!! Satellite maps that include the area between Moscow and St. Petersburg: http://www.mapmart.com/scripts/hsrun.exe/Single/MapMart_New/MapXtreme.htx;start=HS_Handler

http://www.russian-hotels.net/maps/moscowmap/index.en.html?kk=89d6563d1e - Said to be the best map of Moscow

Russian Language, Culture, History...

On-line Russian lessons

Russian Language Courses in the Voronezh State University

Learning Russian - Reference tool for Russian language study. Forum for the learners of Russian.

http://www.russianlessons.net/ - Online Russian lessons.

http://listen2russian.com/ - Audio courses of Russian online

http://langintro.com/rintro/first.htm A recommended place to learn the Russian alphabet.

http://www.funet.fi/pub/culture/russian/

East Slavic languages from Wikipedia

History of the Russian language

Rural living: www.csica.com/selyanka/ruralvideo.htm

www.alincom.com/russ/

Museums: http://www.museum.ru

http://gromco.com/music/rim_archive/ - Modern music scene, including description of groups and sound files

www.slavophilia.net - culture and music oriented site Down March 10, 2003

http://ingeb.org/catru.html - a huge russian .midi and .wav collection with lyrics

Sher's Russian web - http://www.websher.net

guide to Russian literature http://waytorussia.net/WhatIsRussia/Literature.html

http://www.mtu-net.ru/rrr/bill.htm - Genealogy: Researching Russian Roots

Russian literature blogs: http://blacksquare.blogspot.com/

Pasha,

The bucknell page also links to signs you would see in Russian. http://community.middlebury.edu/~beyer/RT/pages/signs/signs.shtml

My favorite big website for Russian is www.masterrussian.com

John

Russian Translation USA

www.raga.org A collection of good and perceptive analytical articles on Russian history and politics. Also translation and interpreting services.

www.masterrussian.com Learning Russian. Active discussion forums, one of which is dedicated to IMMIGRATION TO RUSSIA

http://www.suite101.com/course.cfm/18808/overview An on-line course on Russian culture

Teaching English in Russia

http://www.eslcafe.com/ An extensive and growing compilation of resources on ESL teaching in Russia.

http://angl.by.ru/forum.htm (in Russian, a good place to post your ad)

http://www.language.ru/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi (same)

http://www.interced.ru/forum/ (same)

http://www.visarus.co.uk/community/index

"Russian brides"

http://happierabroad.com/ Famous Winston Wu's guide to international dating, with a lot about Russia and Russian women

www.tverangels.com - Good reputation, personally known to me. Located in Tver, away from Moscow's rush and greed, yet easy to access.

http://womenrussia.com/ - A collection of articles on Russian brides, written/compiled by Elena Petrova of www.elenasmodels.com

NEW!! Added August 20, 2008.

RS Russia Today - General information on Russia geared towards Russian bride seekers: e-mail forwarding, flower and gift delivery, translation, how to bring your Russian bride home etc.

Background checks: Graham and Natalia (speaks Russian too) at Visaplus in London, Great Britain. http://www.visaplus.co.uk/

http://www.americanwomensuck.com - A lot on Russian women and the Russian brides fashion there.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UK-FSUsupportgroup/ Said to be an active and recommended group.

Flower and gift delivery, entire ex-USSR. Physically located in Ekaterinburg, same day delivery there and you can probably ask for other favours: http://www.asap.ru

A database of scammers: www.anti-scam.org

An forum on scam: http://www.russianmeetingplace.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=86

http://russianwomenshome.com/

New, to be checked:

www.ruadventures.com
www.russianwomenbook.com
www.ladagirl.com

http://www.russiandatingcenter.com

Russian food

http://www.resnet.trinity.edu/aferraro/

See www.unclepasha.com/vegetarian_russia.htm for Russian + vegetarian

Drink

The Russian page of the Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine has links to Russian wine-related resources in English.

Russian prices

Examples of prices for everyday commodities - I don't mean to appear immodest but this little page remains the only clear and comprehensive resource on the subject.

Tickets and visa support

Jettrav@com2com.ru, www.jettravel.ru, Inexpensive and hassle-free to deal with. (095) 207-9008, 207-1800, fax 207-1876, Sretenka 16, office 48, Moscow 103045. [E-MAIL NOT VALID - NOV. 2003]

AS OF RECENT WE GOT INTO BUYING EX MOSCOW TICKETS ON YOUR BEHALF AT LOCAL PRICES PLUS $25 SERVICE FEE

Olesya's page www.russiangirlfriday.com/trans-siberian.htm

For a list of visa support agents see www.cheap-moscow.com.

Public transportation - live and up-to-date sites

http://www.poezda.net/train.htm - Train schedules. These stay same for years.

?????? - Bus schedules. These are less reliable, don't totally rely on them.

For actual arrival times at the Moscow International Sheremetyevo Airport see www.moscowdrivers.net/airport_tips.htm

Travellers with special interests

VEGETARIANS

Vegetarians - http://www.vegsource.com/travel/europe/

www.veganforum.com Verified active as of May 14 2010. Regular messages on travel to Russia.

Vegetarian restaurants in Moscow - www.happycow.net

More vegetairans - www.vegetariansabroad.com
Lots more on my Vegetarian Moscow page

Gay and lesbian - http://www.gay.ru

More Gays and Lesbians - http://www.guides.gay.ru/index.shtml

Gays and Lesbians who are ALSO vegetarians: http://www.vvgg.freeserve.co.uk

Physically challenged - http://home.comset.net/voi/english/indexen.htm

Travelling with pets - http://www.moscowanimals.org/advice/moving.html

Lots of into on specialty travel world-wide, with good regional sections - http://www.4travelinfo.com/

Adoption, helping orphanages

www.russiatravel.org

www.littlemiracles.org

See also my own little project somewhere at www.unclepasha.com/staritsa_eng.htm

http://www.russianadoption.org/

Another site with a focus on Russian orphans: http://www.orphanadvoc.org/

Charity

........

Mail order brides

See Olesya's Russian Women Page

Concerned about scam? You may want to read www.russia-scam.org

Leaving Katya by Paul Greenberg. A must to read for anyone contemplating a Russian-American love affair.

Information, hints, discussion: www.global7network.com

A discussion of Russian women on Way_to_Russia: http://waytorussia.net/WhatIsRussia/Women.html

http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/04/1072908963038.html.....

http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/08/08/russia.internet/.....

http://sandiego.fbi.gov/2003/mccoy.htm

www.russia-scam.org

Leaving Katya by Paul Greenberg. A must to read for anyone contemplating a Russian-American love affair.

Information, hints, discussion: www.global7network.com

www.russianfoods.com/russian-women/

Periodicals in English

The Russia Journal www.trj.ru

The Moscow Times - www.themoscowtimes.com

New not sorted out: (in the process)

www.Hotelsrussia.net - Hotels Russia provides online booking and
reservations for DISCOUNT Russia travel accommodation including hotels
and apartments across Russia [same as above]

Minor search engines: http://rank.stars.ru/

Major search engines: http://www.aport.ru/

Yahtka Search Engine-Russia http://www.ulitka.ru/ - Mostly Russian, more of a directory than a search engine. Alive May 2003

Yandex Search Engine(Russia) http://www.yandex.ru/ - Mostly Russian language resources, alive May 2003

Zubr Search Engine http://www.zubr.com/eng/ - Alive as of May 2003, specializes in Belarus, in English (move under search engines)

Russian News Network - http://www.russiannewsnetwork.com. Statistical and historic briefs on CIS and Baltic states, in English. Don't expect to find "new" news there however.

. - live and active as of May 2003, specializes in news coverage, English.

Russian Phone Search - http://russianphonesearch.hypermart.net/
Searching phone numbers by address and addresses by phone number in Russia. - Site alive. Anybody tried that service?

ASMO-Press - Encyclopedia - http://enc.ex.ru/cgi-bin/n1fsrc.pl?lang=2
Information about Russian manufacturers. - Seems rather dead as of May 2003. Check back in a year.

WorldSkip Guide to Russia - http://www.worldskip.com/region.asp?RegionID=ru
Links to news, information, products and services from Russia. - does not open, remove

FreeGK.com: Russia - http://atlas.freegk.com/world/europe/russia/russia.php
Including map and overview of history, culture, economy and currency. - too supeficial and perfunctory, to be removed.

http://www.einnews.com/russia/classifieds.php3 - You can place your classified there. Not much Russian content, mostly spam, but shows up well.

CHECK:
Zamoskvorechye map
Map and description of Zamoskv.
Metro system, in English
Visa and registration issues