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Post by LHR02 on May 30, 2003 17:36:10 GMT -5
Anyone out here been there? It's a place I have long wanted to visit and with Pres. Bush's visit and all the news of the 300th anniversary it has whetted my appetite. Have always been fascinated with Russia and the tsars. Had a trip ready to go while living in Germany....husbands military security clearance put a quick stop to that (this is late 80's)! Not an easy place to get to I know, but just wondering if there were any first person accounts among our members.
ging
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Post by Kim on May 30, 2003 18:49:29 GMT -5
No, but the boyfriend is chomping at the bit to go to Russia so maybe we'll join you! Kim
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Post by LHR02 on May 30, 2003 19:29:45 GMT -5
Great! No interest here for Moscow, just St. Petes and the Siberan railway and sights along the way. Thinking of going when? g hasn't anyone been here?
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Post by Patrick on May 30, 2003 19:43:33 GMT -5
I'd love to hit St. Petersburg next time I'm in europe, but it's not super high on my list. Last summer I saw some 1/2hr travel show and one week it featured st. petersburg... it looked pretty nice.
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Post by 4DTravel on Jun 1, 2003 1:16:27 GMT -5
I spent 35 days in St Pete in 2001. Had a blast. May-june. Just at the start of the "White Nights" season. As always, I took a lot of photos. I have ONE day (May 25th) of that trip on line at www.4dtravel.com/ (right hand column)(let me know if you have trouble getting to the journal/photos for that day It happens to be the day I (and a friend) encountered the St Pete Park Police - plus a muscial later that day. I made a CD with all the pictures and journal and misc scanned stuff plus URLs that I was going to sell - but marketing isn't my strong point. ----------- FWIW: I found an apartment for rent over the internet - directly across the street from the American Embassy - $600 USD for a furnished 2 bedroom apartment for 35 days (pics of the flat are also on-line) - I was there for all 35 days - a frend was there for 2 weeks in the middle I can't speak ANY Russian I had a great time.
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Post by bethilda on Jun 25, 2003 12:01:25 GMT -5
I lived in St. Petersburg for close to two years back in 1993, so I can tell you that I absolutely LOVE that place. While there, be sure to see the following: *Russian Museum (my absolutely favorite museum in the city--the only truly "Russian" museum. *Hermitage (Peter's winter palace)--it is huge and overwhelming, but a must see for tourists. Sometimes they have concerts on the grounds outside during the summer. But don't expect to take a quick run through. It would take you years and years to explore it all. *Mars Fields--eternal flame burns in honor of those who died in the war. It is a beautiful place located near the summer park (across the street from it). *Piskaryovsky cemetary--in honor of those who died this is a very amazing place with many unnamed gravestones of all nationalities. *Peter and Paul fortress--on one of the islands, it is a fun place to go to. *Nevsky monastary--gravestones of many famous Russians in the church cemetary (Tchaikovsky, Dostoyevsky, etc.). *Savior on the blood cathedral--reminds me of a miniature of St. Basil's cathedral in Moscow. *Peterhof (Petro-dvorets, Peter's summer palace)--outside the city by train about 45 minutes or so, it is well worth the trip. This is my absolute favorite place to go and if I could get a visa in time, I would go just to return to this, my favorite site. Here is a great website I found with some virtual tours of most of these places and more: www.saint-petersburg.com/sightseeing/index.aspYou will want to plan to spend at least 3-5 days just strolling along Nevsky prospect, as there is much to see on this famous main street. Many would say that Nevsky IS St. Petersburg and if you hit all the attractions along the street, you would get a good look at the city. Enjoy your trip. When are you going to be there? Wish I was going, too .
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Post by bethilda on Jun 25, 2003 12:12:11 GMT -5
Oh, yeah--forgot to mention . Don't forget to attend the ballet and the opera at least a few times while you are there if you are into the cultural stuff. When I went back in 1996, I was able to go to the ballet almost every night for about $2-6 a pop. Do plan to spend more at the Miriinsky theater on ballet or opera (as much as $40-60), but it will be well worth it one time if you can afford it. For opera I suggest either Ruslan and Ludmilla (my all time favorite) or the other one I suggest is Eugene Onegin by Pushkin. Don't miss out on the theater, it is a must see in Russia!
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Post by BigRay on Jun 25, 2003 19:55:53 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips, Bethilda!
Ging, I am hoping to make a trip over there sometime this summer. It's not too far from Prague!
If anyone has plans to go this summer and wants to meet up, let me know.
Ray
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Post by LHR02 on Jun 25, 2003 20:13:47 GMT -5
Thanks for all the tips! This gal is an opera lover from way back...no way I would not include that in my trip. Still in the 'thinking' stages of this but just may decide to do it after all. Ray....if I go it will likely be early Sept time frame...or next year all together.
Is it better to try and hook up with some sort of 'group' for this neck of the woods or is it somewhere like western Europe a solo backpacker could manage?
What sorts of problems should I think about in planning such a trip??
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Post by 4DTravel on Jun 26, 2003 8:43:34 GMT -5
if you LIKE groups go ahead - possibly it depends on how long you're going to be there. If for a reasonable stay you might try the St Petersburg Times Classified for apartments (http://www.sptimes.ru/cgi-pages/realest.cgi) or maybe www.waytorussia.net/Travel/Apartments.htmlor stay with a family via webcenter.ru/~hofa/--------------- Probably the biggest pain is "Visa Support" - I found the people at www.OstWest.com to be very friendly/helpful. I didn't know about them until AFTER I arrived in Russia and had to deal with the "visa support" provided by the company in Houston. (I haven't used them - but I will next time) Regards Rich
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