When I think of Russia, I think of acceptable weather (I'm from a part of Canada that gets just as if not colder than Moscow and St-Petersburg) and wonderful architecture (both the modern and the historic).

Their history facsinates me, particularly the transitional period after the liberation of the cerfs.

The Russian people I perceive as being friendly and immensely proud of their country, even from emigrants. The top 20% of beautiful Russians are, IMO, more beautiful than the top 20% of any other country. The uglies 5% may also be worse than than the ugliest 5% of any other country too, though.

How can a thread about Russia not have a single mention of its literature? Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Turgenev and Pushkin have all created works that will entertain, inspire intellectual curiosity, and give comfort to those who seek redemption for as long as humanity has eyes to read.

Russia, I will walk your soil someday as a tourist.

I think people don't like literature anymore..Or it has to be Harry Potter, Lord Of the Rings etc...

And I agree that it looks their are a lot of beautifull woman but that is something that always caught my attention Colder countries have more beautifull woman..

 where did u hear that?

We'll see if Harry Potter and LOTR are still read and taught in academia 150 years from now as I am sure the above mentioned works will be. Time has an amazing gift of weeding out what is only popular and leaving only what it culturally significant. There is no way to tell right now if HP and LOTR will stand the test of time, but selected works of 19th century Russian literature have proven that they can still be relevant 150years after they are first published. I wholeheartedly agree with you on the cold weather and hot women comment. BTW, Konnichiwa, I want to thank you again for confirming, through your words, that today's Russia is a place I trully want to visit. :)

 It is not a fact but my opinion.  It is also something I hear a lot in Europe. 

People like woman from Scandinavian countries (Danemark, Norway, Sweden, Finland) and Russia and those countries are known for their cold temperature.

@ Dogs Rul:

I don't think those books will be taught in academia (HP , LOTR) but do you know so many young people who say..'Ah now I want to read one of the great works of Tolstoy, Chekov etc.'  =p.

Not sure but isn't LOTR already 50 years old?  I can see that people will still read 100 years later;.

I hope you will have a great time in Russia Dogs Rule :).

well, fascism is a political theory advocating an authoritarian hierarchical government. To me that sounds like the current government. Putin consolidates governmental powers and the country accepts that. He appears to have the support of the majority of the country who seem to want him to stay in power as much as he would like to stay in power. There are various possible reasons for that, but are irrelevant here. Putin will likely still be controlling the country through his chosen successor.
You seem to have taken it as some sort of insult to your country, which it isnt. Authoritarian governments arent inherently bad things. Problems arise from corruption and abuse. (which still plagues some parts of the russian governmental system and may be part of the reason Putin wanted more power). I think Putin wants the best for Russia(what he sees as the best for russia, of course). Having journalists killed and poltical activists detained because they oppose you isnt a very good sign though. As well as having people poisoned with radioactive materials.
Power corrupts as they say, which is why authoritarian governments generally end up failing their people. Putin has done some good though so perhaps its only a minor setback on a more democratic path. Which i dont beleive, though, as Revelations suggests otherwise.

I just read an article of Putin marrying a 24 year old Gymnast. She is really hot but to bad they are saying it is untrue.
http://www.moscowtimes.ru/article/600/42/362152.htm
O yea and the news paper company that published it had to close down.

Digital,
monarchies are autocratic forms of governments. Meaning Supreme, uncontrolled, unlimited authority, in a single person. Not necessary for fascism(although certainly helpful). It could just be an Ultra Socialist government though. Autocracies can be fascist, but fascim is not always autocratic.
Cuba, for example, is fascist. One of the better running ones.

You have confused Nazism with fascism. Fascism is simply about a governmental struture. Our countries fought Nazis.