By Declan Hill, Ottawa Citizen, August 4, 2017
In Russia, at least the trains run on time.
Actually, at least the Russians have trains.
As the U.S. Congress passes more sanctions against Russia and the world gears up for another war of words between the two former super-powers, it is worth examining what the conditions inside Russia are actually like. Particularly because, for Canadians, there are a whole set of surprises.In a journey from south to north of Russia, it is clear that this is not 1989. Russia is not a shambling post-Communist state full of the impoverished. The stores are full. There are shopping malls. You can buy IKEA furniture.
http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/hill-even-russia-has-high-speed-train-travel-why-dont-we