If you think getting a visa to travel to Russia is difficult, you should try getting one to travel around the country. Living in Russia, I needed just such a Russia travel visa.
Russia Travel Visa
Unlike many countries, foreigners in Russia must declare on their travel visa where they will travel in the country. If they want to add a location, they have to get a new, temporary visa for the location. Basically, it is red tape and bureaucracy out the ying yang.
While living in Siberia, I was invited to speak at a human rights conference in the town of Tinda. I wasnt entirely sure where this was, but new I needed a temporary visa to get from my city to it. My host, Oleg Vladimirovich, told me getting one would be no problem. I shouldve known I was in trouble when our first stop was the liquor store.
Four vodka bottles in hand, we hit our first stop at the home of a retired customs official who was married to someones half brothers third sister and so on. We reminisced and drank shots for a half hour or so. Feeling no pain, the customs official called a friend and off we went to meet him while leaving the open vodka bottle behind.
At the new...