Affectionally known as the “butter week,” Maslenitsa is an extremely tasty and quirky week-long festival that is celebrated in many Eastern European countries, including the Russian Federation. It is a goodbye for winter, and a hello to the spring. It is also the week before Lent, when many Christians try to rid themselves of what […]
Maslenitsa: Mardi Gras of Russia? Read More »
Despite having access to two massive rivers, Nizhny Novgorod does not really have a lot of “on the go” spots for fish-centric dishes. There is a lot of seafood going around, but most is consumed at home, or at decent restaurants. As some of my readers may know by now, I feel more comfortable eating
Pescetarian Nizhny: Budget Friendly Fish Sandwiches Around Town Read More »
For a foreigner, the term “business lunch” may not mean much or mean something that it does not really stand for in the Russian Federation. Here, the term is used to refer to certain restaurants’ lunchtime deals that allow you to sample their cuisine at a fraction of the cost. Anyone, not only those that
A Guide to Business Lunches in Nizhny Novgorod: “Slavic” Edition Read More »
I do not sing, nor do I play an instrument, and given the fact that I can hardly write with a pencil at hand please do not even get any ideas about my painting skills… Doodling was the best that I could do as a kid, and that should tell you a thing or two
Feeling Artsy in Nizhny Novgorod: Art Museums of Nizhny Read More »
Those that are not familiar with Russian cities are sometimes confused to hear about “kremlins,” yes, in plural. It is a common misconception that Kremlin is a landmark of Moscow, the country’s capital. Some red and cool place for tourists to hang out and take way too many selfies. In reality, the word simply translates
Nizhny Novgorod’s Kremlin Read More »
Pizza is pizza. It is impossible for me to put what I truly feel about it into words. There were times when I was a huge sucker for ramen, or for lahmacun. Those all came and went. I am not saying that I do not enjoy them anymore, it is just that the “craze” or
Pizzerias of Nizhny Novgorod Read More »
Finding out what to do in a free weekend can be, at times, an overwhelming experience if you are in a country or city that you are not familiar with. You do not necessarily know “the good spots” let alone the “hidden gems.” This is made harder if the local dialect is alien to you,
Keeping Up with the Nizhny Novgorodians: Online Catalogues for Events in the City Read More »
Some people are shocked, if not a bit annoyed, when I say that walking is a hobby of mine. They likely assume that I am talking about a short daily commute, but in reality, what I mean by walking being a hobby of mine is that I can walk for 30 kms and upwards a
When Walking Around Becomes a Hobby: Parks of Nizhny Novgorod Read More »
We all know that falafel comes in many different sizes, portions, levels of crunchiness, and just overall style. Nizhny has its fair share of interesting falafel offerings, three of which I wanted to share with you fine folks. These are certainly a great alternative to the mostly meat-oriented budget eats that one can find around
Falafels of Nizhny Novgorod Read More »
Last week we went over some of the finest shawarma spots in Nizhny Novgorod. It goes without saying that, traditionally, these delicious wraps all have some meat products in them, often chicken or beef. Interestingly though, or should I say interesting for me coming from Turkey, there are in fact some vegetarian shawarmas in Russia
Vegetarian Shawarmas of Nizhny Novgorod Read More »