Close to Distinct
The RBTH newsroom is made up of editors; we work all day with someone else’s text, photos and videos. But sometimes we just have something to say! Hence, this blog, which gives RBTH editorial staff a chance to comment on the news, tell the world about something they find interesting or just talk about life in Russia – always keeping in mind that while we are all unique, our experiences prove that we are more alike than different.
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Reflecting on a madcap journey to a fear eastern outpost
The Expedition Trophy off-road race is over. RBTH reporter Artem Zagorodnov packs his crampons and his one-of-a-kind stories. He’s going home
Getting reflective at the end of the line
While the Expedition Trophy race came an end, RBTH's Artem Zagorodnov reflects on Khabarovsk, the most European city in Russia's Fast East
Trains to the East: A two-minute stop on Trans-Siberian Highway
RBTH's Artem Zagorodnov continues to share his off-road adventures during the Expedition Trophy race
Driving day and night beyond Baikal
RBTH's Artem Zagorodnov continues to share his off-road adventures during the Expedition Trophy race. This time he talks about the initiative undertaken by the “Our Alaska” team which takes reporters to visit a village school in Russia's Far East
Plunging into the icy waters of Lake Baikal
Finally, RBTH reporter Artem Zagorodnov gets out of the car and crashes a wedding party on the ice of Lake Baikal, all in a day’s work
Understanding the spirit of Expedition and the gifts of boredom
On the way to Lake Baikal with the first-place team, Artem Zagorodnov discovers some kind of inner peace
Driving to Russia's entrepreneurial mecca Ruyan
It was morning when we entered Expedition founder Alexander Kravtsov’s emerald city. After a grueling night, driving through a storm that refused to abate, we pulled into Ruyan
Space objects remain elusive, but we escape arrest
RBTH's Artem Zagorodnov shares more drama from his off-road adventure with Expedition Trophy 2012
Learning to love the Kazakh steppe
The Kazakhs, I discovered, do not take our newly formed Customs Union as much of an excuse to be lax about border crossings; nor do they much care for the Russian ruble. But a snowstorm on the steppe led to a cozy night indoors
Taking the road to nowhere
Intrepid expedition reporter Artem Zagorodnov critiques Russia’s eastern road system and lives to tell the tale
Sophisticated rules revealed on the steppe
Half-frozen, teams blunder their way through the Expedition and a reporter finds hot food on the Russian highway
Expedition Trophy: Off the road again to cross Karelia
Any romantic vision I had about this off-road adventure is being debunked. It’s going to be rough and tumble, all right. It’s also going to be dirty and downright chaotic
Expedition Trophy: God bless jeeps!
This year a team of priests from the Russian Orthodox Church joined the 2013 off-road tour. Before the race begins, one priest reads a somber prayer before blessing every jeep with holy water.
Expedition Trophy get started!
Flying to Murmansk to start my great adventure by jeep, I realized that from Moscow, it’s faster to get to New York than to Vladivostok on Russia's East Coast—where I’m headed by car!
Chasing the dream of the off-road express
As an editor with wanderlust and an adventurous alter ego, I will join one of the off-road teams and embark on a two-week expedition across the eastern wilderness of Russia. I promise some thrills and excitement along the way…
Russian-US reload beyond the politics
Knowing that I was a journalist from Russia, my American colleagues were relentless: is it true that Pussy Riot... that Putin... that censorship...?
Do women carry heavy bags in Russia?
Each Russian man has a clear perception of the things women should and shouldn’t do in Russia. Sometimes foreigners may find it shocking. Is it a lack of feminism or cultural disconnect?
Make stereotypes work your favor
When you can’t fight stereotypes, you have to turn the situation upside down
In pursuit of quality
Why do Russians love to buy the best stuff in the world, but can’t produce it themselves?
Getting to know you
The more Russians and Americans interact with each other, the more likely we are to get past any disagreements and misunderstandings