Christmas always seems to go by too fast, doesn't it? If you'd like to extend the holiday season, consider applying for a Russian visa. As Gadling reported earlier today, Russia celebrates Christmas about 2 weeks later than the United States, on January 7th. Gift-giving, however, happens tonight, as back when Russia was communist giving gifts on Christmas was officially frowned on. How festive is the Christmas season in Russia? Contrary to what you might expect, it's actually quite festive, as Gadling's Meg Nesterov discovered: "I arrived in Moscow last Friday (western Christmas Eve) to find the capital freezing but festive, with New Year's yolki (trees) decorated all over the city and various versions of Ded Moroz walking the streets, and now in St. Petersburg, locals are rushing

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Moscow is a beautiful city with some interesting historic attractions, like the imposing fortress of the Kremlin and the iconic onion-shaped domes of  St. Basil's Cathedral.  However, if you want to visit Moscow to see the sites, you will need to obtain a Russian tourist visa first. This is not as easy as it sounds. Russia has a visa system that the US Department of State's website calls "restrictive and complicated."  Here's a list of what you need to get a Russian tourist visa: Your passport. A completed visa application form 1 passport photo A copy of your airline tickets or a copy of your itinerary showing your flight number and the dates that you'll be in Russia. A tourist invitation from a Russian travel agency or hotel that can serve as your visa sponsor. The hote

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