Having grown up in an era of overweening ambition, Misha dreamed of nothing else but living in a big city. In 2003 he left his village for Moscow, ready to conquer the world. Years later, he realized that the world is not enough for his Russian soul, so he came back and settled in a quiet Russian village to play his harmonica and raise his three children.
Anna Novikova
Anna Novikova: In Pursuit of the Maslenitsa!
Argophilia’s Anna Novikova, in pursuit of the traditional Maslenitsa and the perfect blini (pancake) in Yaroslavl, Russia.
Faces of Russia: Artist Valeriy Selin’s Colorful Black & White World
Anna Novikova profiles Yaroslavl artist Valeriy Selin, a color blind painter living in a black and white world. The Argophilia “Faces of Russia” series.
Yaroslavl’s Sergei Pimenov: Defying the Physics of Life
Yaroslav’s Sergei Pimanov was a physics professor once, but the fates and a bad system abandoned him to a different fate. Today he teaches love and life, selling his magnets and magnetic charm on the streets of the city.
A Calm Winter Exile in Sochi
In search of a place of beneficial exile of late, my sight turned to Sochi. Though I had never been there before, the idea of visiting has been lodged in my head for quite some time.
The Lost Art of Traveling
For the willful traveler, can the pleasure of not knowing overcome the pleasure of acquiring knowledge? Here is a thoughtful questioning on the merits of travel for the sake of total discovery.
Moscow Winters Past and Present
Winter. It is the season when thousands of beach-loving Russians head to the tropics to escape the greyness and what seems like the never-ending cold. I, however, enjoy the fleeting magic of the white kingdom where every day is different and when you can stay comfortably wrapped in a woolen plaid and sip hot tea watching the snowflakes twirl outside the window like elegant ballerinas.
A Window Into the Russian Soul: An Epiphany 2017
“Where are we going to?” I asked my brother this morning, as he was driving in an unknown direction with a cheeky grin on his face. When no reply seemed imminent I asked; “Are you going to tell me?” Finally his response was; “To wash off our sins in the Volga”.