The major downside to going right now is that there are no flights in or out, you have to go by train, car, or bus from mainland Russia, which is time consuming if visiting from abroad.
Over the last two weeks I saw Sevastopol, Yalta, and Kerch, and there is much more to see if/when I come back in the future.
Russians are typically courteous and patient with tourists. If you look lost or disoriented, someone will probably stop and ask if you need help.
In big cities like Moscow or St Pete, it seems like just about everyone under 40 knows at least a LITTLE English and is excited to practice his language skills with a native speaker. But I have noticed that the farther away you get from the Tsar, the number of people who know English dwindles.
For example, I was in Crimea for the past two weeks and did not meet a single person who tried to engage me in English, not even one. I think that was actually the first time that’s happened, which was a good thing because it forced me to not be lazy and speak to people in Russian the whole time. My ability to read and write to my friends has gotten pretty good, especially in the past few months, but my listening and speaking skills are still pretty terrible.
Then on my last night in Crimea I ran into a family of tourists from Krasnodar, and the woman wanted to try English, and said my Russian was very good😁
All that said, it is prudent to install a reliable translation app on your phone and be familiar with how it works before your trip. Also make sure that the Russian dictionary is downloaded so the app will work in offline mode. You might find yourself trying to communicate in a remote area with poor cell tower service, or maybe inside a building with thick walls.
You can’t learn a whole new language in a few months, but you CAN learn basic “survival phrases” needed to get through very simple interactions like with a cashier at a grocery store. I strongly recommend you do this.
Pictured: me in Sevastopol and Kerch
Here are some of my favorite photos, not particularly well organized, just from flipping through my phone.
Sevastopol:
Yalta:
Kerch:
Ian Kummer
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Thanks.
Just curious, as a self proclaimed US Marine, have you considered to actually go and spend some time in Ukraine, and see the actual truth, not just the putinist propaganda you keep spewing? And Ironically on Quora, always have comments blocked. If you truly are and American and a Marine, it seems you would have to courage to visit BOTH sides, and try to see the conflict objectively. Then, if you even partially opened your eyes and mind, you would likely see a very different reality. I challenge you. I have. I lived in both countries for years. Have family in both countries still. And I was planning to retire in property I owned in Crimea outside Cebastopol towards Hersoness….(which has since been stolen)
Because it wouldn’t be very smart to visit the Kiev entity with a passport full of Russian visas and stamps.