..or sincerely cold..
In truth, it took a while for me to understand that. I actually prefer this because there is no hidden agenda. I can write a book on Russia from an American viewpoint and I've spent/spend a lot of time there. Hell, I work with Russians daily in my business and prefer to work with them because they are direct, work hard, and shit-can useless smalltalk.
WTS, It truly depends on where you are in Russia and it's difficult to form one opinion that fits all. Russian people are hard on the outside, but the exact opposite once you get to know them. But you have to admit it's hard to travel there if you're a foreigner?
I go there for business but fail to see why anyone would go there as a tourists unless you wanted to see St. Pete or Moscow. If you were going to go that far east and wanted to get a better idea on the culture, beauty, and history- completely avoid Russia and go to Yalta, Ukraine in the summer.
It's an old
historic beautiful black sea resort town that's a cross between San Fran/Croatia. The women are stunningly hot in comparison to RW. I had no reservations in the busy tourist season and stayed in a hotel a block from the beach (comparable to a Hyatt) for $60 a night plus buffet breakfast in 2008.
Americans can get a round trip flight from JFK-Odessa-Yalta- $1800. Plus you don't need to go through the hassle like Russia on getting a visa or travel permission to different cities. Another $2500 would cover most of your expenses (living good) for weekS if you know how to negotiate.
In short, I'd live there every summer if I were not married and a great place to go if you want to shoot content. This is coming from a guy who grew up in LA and hot women being the norm.