Our flight landed at 6am on Thursday (from what I understand, all flights travelling east from Moscow leave at night). The first views were of pine trees. The next were of houses. And then of cars, apartments, and dirt. We're visiting at the change of season (little snow and ice but no grass either).
Anastasia, a Chinese language teacher, and Nina, a Spanish language teacher, served as wonderful tour guides who were even willing to risk a stop on the bridge (poor Julie had to exit into traffic), so we could have views of the Barnaul sign, the city, and the river.