Dealing with tougher pandemic-related restrictions in Russia

Regional authorities across Russia have asked restaurants, bars, cinema halls and museums to only allow entry to those with QR codes, but this is Russia! There is always a way out of such regulations.

It looks like I left Moscow at the right time. The city is under a near-total lockdown and nothing except shops selling essential products and pharmacies are working. Things are a lot more relaxed in smaller cities, such as Astrakhan, where I managed to spend four days.

While planning our trip, my friend and I were told that hotels in Astrakhan would onl…