People watch a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of Soviet victory in the Battle of Stalingrad, at an embankment of the Volga River in Volgograd, Russia February 1, 2023. REUTERS/Kirill Braga 

A cross is set on the shallow water of the Volga river for celebrations of the Orthodox Christian feast of Epiphany in Volgograd, Russia January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Kirill Braga 

A man walks next to a cross after taking a dip in the shallow water of the Volga river during celebrations of the Orthodox Christian feast of Epiphany in Volgograd, Russia January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Kirill Braga TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

A vessel floats along Volga river in Astrakhan, Russia October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov 

Fishermen fish on the embankment of Volga river in Astrakhan, Russia October 16, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov 

A boat floats on Volga river in Astrakhan, Russia October 16, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov 

People sunbathe on a beach at the Volga River in Samara, Russia, July 6, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins 

Men exercise at outdoor gym on the banks of the Volga River in Samara, Russia, July 6, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins 

A man sunbathes on a beach at the Volga River in Samara, Russia, July 6, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins 

People on a beach at the Volga River in Samara, Russia, July 6, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins 

Pedestrians walk near members of a band as they play instruments on the banks of the Volga River in Samara, Russia, July 5, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/David Gray 

A woman takes a picture of a fountain during sunset at the Volga River in Samara, Russia, July 5, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Michael Dalder 

A statue is seen during sunset at the Volga River in Samara, Russia, July 5, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Michael Dalder 

People enjoy the warm weather as the sun sets by the Volga River in Samara, Russia, July 4, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez 

People play volleyball on a beach at the Volga River in Samara, Russia, July 4, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Michael Dalder 

People sit on a beach at the Volga River in Samara, Russia, July 4, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Michael Dalder 

People buy dried fish near the Volga River in Samara, Russia, July 4, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Michael Dalder 

A boat floats on the Volga River in Samara, Russia, July 4, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Michael Dalder 

People enjoy the sunset at the Volga River in Samara, Russia, July 4, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Michael Dalder 

People sit on a beach as others swim in the Volga River in Samara in Russia, July 3, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/David Gray 

Such was my haste in packing and ignorance of Russia that I nearly followed my wife's recommendation to throw in a woolly hat for the World Cup before setting off from Venezuela. Thank goodness I didn't, because it would have felt mighty silly having that in higher summer temperatures beside the Volga river than those back home on the Caribbean. It was not the only misconception that I, a Reuters reporter - and hordes of fans who had likewise never been here - had about a host nation stereotyped for cold weather and cold people. To our collective joy, edification and more than slight embarrassment, the Russia we found was hospitable, organised, modern, bending over backwards to help us - and ready to party. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach SEARCH "SIDELINE REUTERS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY. Matching text: SOCCER-WORLDCUP/SIDELINE 

A soccer field is seen atop a building, from a cabin of a cable car traveling over Volga river to Bor, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia July 1, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj 

People picnic on the banks of the River Volga in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia July 1, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Darren Staples 

Visitors take a cable car ride over the River Volga between Bor and Nizhny Novgorod, Russia July 1, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Darren Staples 

A couple poses for a photo in front of the Volga river in Kazan, Russia June 28, 2018. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares 

A man cools himself off in water during a hot summer day at the banks of Volga River in Volgograd, Russia June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

Women play with a ball during a hot summer day at the banks of Volga River in Volgograd, Russia June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

A man sunbathes during a hot summer day at the banks of Volga River in Volgograd, Russia June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

A group of men are seen smiling during a hot summer day at the banks of Volga River in Volgograd, Russia June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

People are seen during a hot summer day at the banks of Volga River in Volgograd, Russia June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

A woman is seen during a hot summer day at the banks of Volga River in Volgograd, Russia June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

A man is thrown up during a hot summer day at the banks of Volga River in Volgograd, Russia June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

A woman is seen during a hot summer day at the banks of Volga River in Volgograd, Russia June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

People are seen during a hot summer day at the banks of Volga River in Volgograd, Russia June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

People are seen during a hot summer day at the banks of Volga River in Volgograd, Russia June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

A man is thrown up during a hot summer day at the banks of Volga River in Volgograd, Russia June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

A girl is seen during a hot summer day at the banks of Volga River in Volgograd, Russia June 26, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

People sit near the bonfire at the banks of Volga River in Volgograd, Russia, June 24, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

Kids play around an old tank at the memorial museum of Stalingrad Battle at the banks of Volga river in Volgograd, Russia, June 21, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Jorge Silva 

People walk at the memorial museum of Stalingrad Battle at the banks of Volga river in Volgograd, Russia, June 21, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Jorge Silva 

Iceland's supporters take a picture in World War II era tanks on the banks of Volga river in Volgograd, Russia, June 22, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

Iceland's supporters take a picture in World War II era tanks on the banks of Volga river in Volgograd, Russia, June 22, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

Iceland's supporters take a picture in World War II era tanks on the banks of Volga river in Volgograd, Russia, June 22, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

A man wears a mosquito net as he poses in front of World War II era tanks on the banks of Volga River in Volgograd, Russia, June 21, 2018. As well as shooting all the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Sergio Perez 

A man wears a mosquito head net as he walks past World War II era tanks in the banks of Volga river in Volgograd, Russia, June 21, 2018. REUTERS/Sergio Perez 

A man wears a mosquito head net as he stands next to World War II era pictures in the bank of Volga river in Volgograd, Russia, June 21, 2018. REUTERS/Sergio Perez 

A couple is seen on the bank of the River Volga, in Volgograd, the host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Volgograd, Russia June 19, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

A woman plays frisbee on the bank of the River Volga, in Volgograd, the host city for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Volgograd, Russia June 19, 2018. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino 

The wing of a Siberian Airlines plane is seen above the Volga River as it heads out of Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, Russia, June 17, 2018. As well as shooting the matches, Reuters photographers are producing pictures showing their own quirky view from the sidelines of the World Cup. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson 

Soccer Football - World Cup - Samara, Russia - June 15, 2018. A general view shows the Samara Arena stadium and the Volga River in Samara, Russia, June 13, 2018. Picture taken June 13, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray 

Goalposts lay on the ground as people gather at a flooded beach on the bank of the Volga River in Samara, Russia, May 5, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov SEARCH "RUSSIA GOAL POSTS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES. 

A couple hugs on a flooded beach on the bank of Volga river in Samara, Russia May 5, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY 

People walk on a flooded beach on the bank of Volga river in Samara, Russia May 5, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov 

People stand on the bank of Volga river during the sunset in Samara, Russia May 5, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov 

A couple hugs on a flooded beach on the bank of Volga river in Samara, Russia May 5, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov 

Candidate in the upcoming presidential election, Pavel Grudinin, nominated by the Russian Communist Party, shakes hands with his supporter during a meeting in the Volga river city of Togliatti, Russia January 25, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin 

People applaud during a meeting with candidate in the upcoming presidential election, Pavel Grudinin, nominated by the Russian Communist Party, in the Volga river city of Togliatti, Russia January 25, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin 

An elderly woman waits before a meeting with candidate in the upcoming presidential election, Pavel Grudinin, nominated by the Russian Communist Party, in the Volga river city of Togliatti, Russia January 25, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin 

People wait before a meeting with candidate in the upcoming presidential election, Pavel Grudinin, nominated by the Russian Communist Party, in the Volga river city of Togliatti, Russia January 25, 2018. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin 

Candidate in the upcoming presidential election, Pavel Grudinin, nominated by the Russian Communist Party, meets with his supporters in the Volga river city of Togliatti, Russia January 25, 2018. The banners read, "Ulyanovsk for Grudinin", "Saratov region for Grudinin". REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin