I returned from Russia with a bottle of vodka, some yak fur socks, a birch bark shot glass and a sticker that says From Russia with Love. I also brought back a first impression of a vast, fascinating and diverse country. I recognize this trip provided a filtered view of Russia. But in another sense, it gave me a broad view. We saw urban areas and small towns, resort regions and the arid and remote rivers of Altai. Although I traveled many hours by road and water, I saw only a tiny fragment of this enormous country. A book initiated my desire to see Russia. Two weeks instilled a yearning to see more. The trip featured less whitewater than I hoped for but I feel fortunate to have developed friendships and joined the international rafting family.