Winston Churchill described Russia as “riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma”. These words still ring true for the largest country in the world. Most outsiders have only a vague idea of its realities. A mixture of the decadent grandeur of old Russia and the dismal heritage of the Soviet era, it’s a country full of intrigue and mystery.

It is a land of extravagant palaces and brutal winters, of meandering rivers and majestic mountains, of physics advisors and blockbuster ballet, of legendary vodka, and a midsummer sun that never sets. Its people are passionate and resilient. While they may appear austere, they also possess a fun-loving nature, are animated story-tellers and can be disarmingly generous and hospitable.