Re "Naslednik" and your post # 434: Thanks for your thoughts/impressions re the "Nicholas II/M. Loubet" recording. Who REALLY knows? There is even controversy about the authenticity/assignment of the "Nicholas II" recording thanking his troops ("Brothers") for a good military review/maneuvers.
I regret that I am late in responding to your kind questions of your post # 433. To answer: Yes, Williamsburg, Virginia (USA) is "canned" (or "scripted"), but the vast majority of such sites are, of necessity I suppose. I have visited Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (USA) a number of times, but prefer Williamsburg as that time period/era is more closely aligned with my interests.
As to "bells": Yes, one can hear bells at a number of places in Russia. I think the bells of the Moscow Kremlin are quite distinctive. To me, excepting the deeper tones, they have always seemed to produce a rather "silvery" sound, a bit higher pitched than one would first expect.
I certainly hope that you will get to travel to Russia to see for yourself places such as the Yaroslavl Oblast. Also when there, try to visit the city of Uglich, an interesting place in its own right, especially relative to the early demise (murder?) of the young Prince Dmitri Ivanovich.
With best wishes to you and yours for the New Year, AP.