Plyos is a quiet, old city tucked away in the dense forests in Ivanovo Oblast on the right bank of the Volga River. Even six centuries after its founding the city has managed to preserve the original beauty that the forests and water have to offer. Plyos’ breathtaking landscapes have caught the eye of many famous artists, however gained the most glory thanks to the work of Isaac Levitan, who painted many of his great works here. Nowadays Plyos is home to about 40 artists who all share the desire to be one with nature, capturing it firsthand at different times throughout the year.
Kaliningrad is the heart of the western most region of Russia and one of the best places to try the legendary Baltic eel. This snake-like fish lives and fattens up in rivers, then setting off on a long sea journey to lay its eggs. These eels head towards the tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean – the Sargasso Sea – a distance of almost 8,000 kilometres each way. Join a head chef from Kaliningrad and learn a tasty eel recipe on the Russian Travel Guide.