Passport, what information does it store

[midliferider]

Excellent. I was about to post advice, not noticing this thread was a week old.

I think it's complicated because it was complicated during soviet times, and there are some bribe paying people who are still making money out of how difficult it is to travel there.

I've been the twice, once in 2000 or 2001, and then in 2011. It's a strange, hide bound country, very hard to read. And a real mix of danger and safety. Luckily both times we were staying with Russians, so got an insight into local life we wouldn't have got otherwise.

Thanks for that.
What did you do in Russia? Cycle? With whom?
Many tell that it can be dangerous. But I don't know what they refer to.
What should I be careful about?