At last I was to set foot on this hallowed ground, even if only on a quick in and out trip to its capital, Barnaul. I hated the place. Admittedly, the pretext for my visit was depressing.

Barnaul (2,934 kilometers from Moscow) is the capital of Altai Territory and a transit hub for those going to the mountain resorts in Belokurikha, the city of Biysk or to the Altai Mountains.