I had envisaged (and, in the past, experienced) border guards to be severe, authoritative, suspicious and humourless. But I figured that it comes with the job, anyway the UK guards have the same reputation, and border guards are just one of those trials that any traveller has to face. I had especially dreaded the Russian border guards, cynically imagining they might be particularly hostile, an opinion based on nothing but stereotypes.. However, every border guard I have encountered so far has been friendly and unproblematic, and the Russians were positively charming. In some cases, almost fun. One found it hilarious when instead of saying I speak Russian "only a little", I accidentally said "only slowly". And they were considerate in checking passports at the beginning and end of the overnight train journey, rather than waking us
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