Approaching the Urals

Exaterinburg

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March 31st 2006
We arrive in Exaterinburg during the evening and are met by no less than three people who take us and Matt to our hotel, the Bolshoy, which is massive and feels more like a block of flats. The seemingly oppulent lobby gives way to basic but functional rooms. We venture our to find a bar. Gordon's (the Irish bar next to the hotel) has very high prices by Russian standards, wo we reject this and go ... read more

Europe » Russia

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Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was able to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding principalities. In the early 17th century, a new Romanov Dynas... ... read more