You'd think, from the press it gets, that Russia is some evil place full of terrible people. The truth is, most of the people are hard-working, kind and humble. They'll give you the food from their tables and go hungry if they think you need it.

Russians are proud of their country and they have every right to be. You have only to see Peter the Great's winter palace, walk through the Hermitage art museum or stand for a few moments in Moscow's Red Square to realize that this is a country of immense cultural wealth. Indeed, Russian scientists and engineers, writers and musicians are among the best in the world.

Russia isn't easy for U.S. and Canadian citizens to experience. It's the only Baltic country where we need a visa to enter. The Russians are just as strict as their North American counterparts about drugs and security and that can seem forbidding. Russia uses an unusual (to us) alphabet that impedes our efforts to read the street signs. If you have a bent for languages, it's not so difficult to master but you don't absolutely need to because plenty of people speak English.

Don't be afraid to go to Russia just because it gets bad press. So does any great country--including ours. Admittedly, you'll want to avoid Chechnya, Ingushetia and other trouble spots. But visits to Russia near the Baltic Sea are ones you'll remember all your life.

Russia is the largest country in the world. This map shows only the edge that touches the Baltic Sea.	The Russian flag uses the same red, white and blue as the U.S. flag but the colors are arranged in horizontal bands with white on top.

 
 
In a Nutshell...