Real Life Photos Taken in Russia

When you mention Russia to foreigners, the first thing that comes to mind is either the Soviet Union (which doesn’t exist anymore) or vodka. But, there’s much more to this massive country than people who have never been there realize.

There’s so much more to this amazing country than the strict political figures of the past and a few imported drinks. So, here are some real-life photos taken in the motherland that will help you see a different side of Russia.

Russians Are Your Knights in Shining Armor

Much like the New York City subways in the Western world, Russian subways can get pretty weird. So you never know who you’ll run into. You might even get to meet a medieval knight on your way to work.

Russians Embrace Japanese Culture

The photo was taken at a cosplay event called the J-FEST in Moscow. And it proves that Japanese culture, particularly anime, is highly celebrated in Russia.

Besides cosplaying, the festival also has drummers’ parades, calligraphy and a tea ceremony. It’s practically an anime and manga mecca.

Street Art is Prominent in Russia

Art is very important to Russians. It’s expressed in music, ballet and other forms such as street art. In fact, there’s an entire event called the Urban Morphogenesis Street Art Festival that’s dedicated to street art.

And this particular mural was done outside an apartment in the town of Odintsovo.

The Fountain Is One of the Coolest Tourist Spots

The Friendship of Nations fountain at the Ostankinsky District in Moscow has been attracting tourists since 1939.

But during the cold winter months, the area transforms into an enormous ice skating rink that turns this ordinary tourist attraction into something extraordinary.