Blogs from Siberia, Russia, Europe

Unfortunately, I have had more than my share of bad Russian vodka. Here is my experience: According to Pictures in History: It's a fact that seems too wild to be true, but it's actually real: Russia ran out of vodka celebrating the end of World War II. On May 9th 1945, after Nazi Germany had surrendered, Russians celebrated with such enthusiasm and vigor that they drank all of their vodka reserves dry! It was an incredible display of jubilation from a country that had endured so much suffering during the war years, and one that will never be forgotten. The celebration also marked the beginning of a new era for the Soviet Union, as they emerged victorious in the conflict and began rebuilding their nation. So next time you raise your glass to toast a special ... read more

From Mental Floss: Any natural body of inland water that feels bigger than a pond can constitute a lake. The lakes of the world vary greatly, with some sites closely resembling seas in many ways. This applies to Lake Baikal in southeast Siberia. The Unesco World Heritage Site is the deepest lake on Earth, measuring 5387 feetat its maximum depth. Lake depth can be measured in two ways: By the distance from the surface to its deepest point, and by the average depth of the lake as a whole. The Russian lake holds the world record in both these categories. Its mean depth is 2486 feet,... read more

Most of you know that I love train travel. I have taken Amtrak's cross-country trains, as well as the Trans-Siberian Railway. I try to use public transportation whenever I can, particularly in Japan, Europe, and here in the U.S. Along the way, I have met some of the most interesting people. And what better way to really see the country you are visiting? Let's explore some lesser-known facts about train travel. You might be surprised to hear that the US has the largest railway network in the world, and by a large margin. With a total route length over 155,342 miles (250,000km), it's two-and-a-half times longer than the second-largest network in China. It's the US freight rail network that makes up 80% of the staggering length while passenger rail, run by Amtrak, is comprised of m ... read more

You probably want to hustle over to Japan, if not for the pandemic. Why? Not the Olympics. But for Cup of Noodles. We’re all familiar with Nissin’s classic url=https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cupnoodle.jp%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C7e54dd8ab06244a168b608d93c9b5df1%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637607460856706772%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=mSKLGMgin4QDJhz4l3eCm6Pz6CLTSgOsmzHFXRpQEIA%3D&reserved=0Cup Noodle brand for its plethora of affordable flavours that you can easily find at your local supermarket or convenience store. The original instant ramen is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with url=https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.timeout.com%2Ftokyo%2Fhotels%2Fkeio-plaza-hotel&data=04%7C01%7C%7C7e54dd8ab06244a168b6... read more

After my little review of famous mountains, why not review some famous lakes? There is something magical about both. Lakes tend to evoke a more tranquil feeling, for the most part. The bluest of blues can be seen in many of the lakes I have visited. Lake Tahoe Close to home, and a year around destination, Lake Tahoe's water level seems to rise and fall with regularity. It is pretty any time of year. I have fond memories of taking the chairlift to the top of Heavenly Ski Resort, and looking over my shoulder at the most beautiful blue water, in contrast to the snow covered mountains. A recent article featured a man who helps recover bodies from lakes, from a depth of over 1500 feet! Crater Lake One of Oregon's famous landmarks, I found it ... read more