Well, since the fall of the old Soviet Union, Russia has been a strange place. Furthermore, Russia is so expansive it is almost impossible to speak of all the various Russia(s) at the same time. Visiting the great cities, for example Moscow or St Petes, is nothing short of exciting and uniquely interesting. I'd avoid country travel though, I was part of a convoy where the tail end was blocked off and then raided for belongings, perhaps by the mafia or some impoverished peoples.