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Russia’s greatest poet, and one of the most gifted and colorful people the country has ever produced, Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837), was taking part in a conversation at a party in Moscow’s high society. The topic was freedom in Russia, and someone enthusiastically exclaimed, “We are at the first station on the road to it!”

“Sure,” said Pushkin. “Right in Black Mud”.

Black Mud was the name of a well-known village that was the first station on the Moscow – St. Petersburg post road.

Proving his point, the Russian government never allowed Pushkin to travel abroad.

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