The picturesque village of Verkhniye Mandrogi is perfectly located on the bank of the Svir River and sits between lakes Ladoga and Onega. It serves as a touristic hotspot, attracting visitors in both the winter and summer months and gives visitors a chance to experience peasant life from centuries past. Various excursions, master-classes and educational programmes help to take guests back in time to learn about the history of the area. The Russian Travel Guide’s Rumiya Niyazova explored the inside an old peasant hut and also found out what dishes visitors seem to love and order most in local restaurants. She even got to try her hand at making one of them – duck with an apple stuffing.