Tula - Yasnaya Polyana (05.2010)

A three hour drive from Moscow, the city of Tula (population 480,000) is renowned for its priyanki (Russian honey cakes) and samovars, both of which were essential to traditional Russian tea culture. The city is also known for its production of weapons, which dates back to the time of Peter The Great. Tula has the status of "Heroic City" for having held back the Nazis during WWII. A short drive from Tula is Yasnaya Polyana, the estate of the legendary Lev (Leo) Tolstoy.