You about covered it ;)
The fact is that the Russian people and most of us are more alike than even with the English - lot of shared genetics.
Before the election, I was thinking that were I not an ole great gramma, I would seriously consider learning conversational Russian.....and apply for a visa LOL
Communism did not go away - it just switched over here
Both sides won the cold war
“Before the election, I was thinking that were I not an ole great gramma, I would seriously consider learning conversational Russian.....and apply for a visa LOL”
You should. By all means at least take a summer tour. The Russians are very polite to seniors - old school respect, and you can read through a library and learn less about Russians than a week being there.
The regular people put me most in mind of our Midwesterners, and blue sky types like in Montana or Wyoming.
Elites are insufferable everywhere, so don’t let the nobs put you off.
Go look. You will not regret it. See St. Petersburg and Moscow at a minimum. St. Petersburg puts me off culturally, but there is SO MUCH to see!