ROSSIYA... To a westerner's eye it's a strange land with strange people where the very past is unpredictable and vague, almost like it really changes with the time. Does it? What was considered true is now declared a lie, but don't bet on it yet. Time will pass, and these heralds of truth today will be declared liars tomorrow. It does not matter where your information about Russia comes from. Western sources speak with authority about Russia like they really understand what's going on there, but turn and look at at the original, and nothing holds. Everything is shaky, quaint, weird...

For centuries westerners sneered at Russia's inefficient government and drunk population... At least that's what they saw. Or should they have tried to look again? For them it was a colossus on clays legs, ready to fall and break at any time. They waited for it to fall, to come, to share the land and resources, but it continued to stand. Three times Western Europe was unable to stand the temptation sending their united armies to take what looked to be ripe for one willing to reach only to break down like waves break over stones at the base of a lighthouse on a stormy night before they fall back into the sea. Each time, Father Frost - the Russian St. Nick who is normally engaged in delivering presents to children on New Year's Eve - took charge and threw the conquerors away. At least, that's what those few who got back said. Not too many. Whole armies disappeared over the course of history in enchanted forests and steppes that are not Asia yet, but not considered as one of their own by Europe either.

The last time the West did not attack. They waited. Maybe because they became wiser, or maybe because the picture the mist chose to show was more intimidating this time. Does not matter, because they were right. They waited, and Russia changed again.

This site contains stories, truths, myths... Who knows, which are which? I don't. Russians don't share the westerner's arrogant belief of owning the truth. Well, for the last century they sort of did, and the West did not like it a bit. Some stories here may look like truths, but they may be myths. And some stories may look like myths or jokes, but the may be truths. You read it in westerner's language, so you may be disappointed. You want the truth. But you aren't getting any. Because the reality itself is thin here, revealing the quaint canvas on which it was drawn. Because the ultimate truth may be the very...

Mists of Russia.