- The Volga persists in a lag of time, a cruise on the river revealing the jewels and the scars of centuries past. In partially visible towns flooded by the Soviets, cathedrals rise from the water eerily intact. Medieval Orthodox monasteries are still in use on the riverbanks. Otters, herons, and bald eagle give life and motion to the passing scene. Revealing the “real Russia,” a cruise down the Volga River, the country’s lifeblood, offers a rare glimpse into Russia’s colorful past and enterprising future.