One of the regions we rode through was predominantly Muslim and the people did not look like what is typically portrayed as “Russian”. We quickly realized that Russia spans many cultures and has diverse regions.

Russia has also had some of the most friendly people we have met on the trip. We usually don't speak the same language but that has not stopped anyone from being kind. Maybe the people are shocked (in a good way) to see tourists. One evening, I was looking for a hotel that we found on Google while Austin waited with the bike one evening and I asked a guy at a shop if he knew of the hotel. He said he knew it and instead of pointing to where it was, he walked me there which was about a five minute walk.

Dress code (even men had to wear long pants!):