After the Russian government’s call for mobilization, many Russians, especially young men, spontaneously discovered their patriotic urge to become very mobile indeed.
Considering that mobilization kicked off World War I, this is a bit disconcerting, though.
The Happy Hermit 
This is getting seriouser and seriouser. Glad to see many have made it out. Those left demonstrating have got courage, considering they could face a lengthy imprisonment.
Absolutely!
I am amazed by the courage of those who protest in Russia, knowing that they can easily face a decade in prison or in a labor camp.
And some of them are only teenagers. Big respect!
Part of me is shouting “get on the streets and demonstrate against the evil dictator” and the other half of me is saying “please stay at home, keep your head down and stay safe.”
Stop making me laugh it’s been just over 11 years now since I have been following your work.
I think you might have been one of the early travel influencers of the internet.
I did not start following travel and history videos on YouTube until 2017 and I believe people would come on blogs like these and use books like lonely planet and bla bla.
I’ve just remembered you and came to have a read and a laugh.
I do still use travel books.
But nowadays, it even happens that I go to tourist information offices, ask for a brochure and a map, and they want to give me an app instead. 😐
Anyway, I will stick to paper as long as possible. Even if it means that my backpack weighs an extra few kilos because of the books – including some of the ones you so generously sent! 🤗 (Your passport cover is also very useful, especially as I also still use that old yellow vaccine document.)
I don’t think I am much of an influencer, though. I mean, I have been telling people to take it slow, but they rush from one spot to the next. I advocate train travel, yet people destroy the environment by flying around. I try to get people interested in Montenegro, Romania and Slovakia, yet they all run after the crowds towards Venice, Berlin and Bali.