1) Largest nation in land area, has a population 140 million, steadily declining since collapse of USSR
2) Capital Moscow is Europe's largest city with
13 million
people, frequently ranks as 2nd most expensive city after Tokyo
3) Is mostly a democracy on
paper only
4) US dollars and Euros are used just as much as rubles
5) Owner of the
world's largest stockpile of tactical and strategic nuclear weapons
6) Has a very safe and successful space program
7) Struggles to maintain a vast military, while dealing with domestic terrorism daily
8) Has a thouroughly obscene obsession with
German sedans
9) Average worker makes only $200 a month
10) Is incredibly beautiful in the winter
When in Moscow, watch out for the
government (and not-so-government) luxobarges that like to drive on the opposite side of the road at triple digit speeds. Sphincter clenchingly terrifying, and makes Russian roulette look
like a kindergarten
game.