Travel Tips - Moscow & St. Petersburg? - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

	The Russian Meeting Place: A place to meet people and talk about all things Russian... International Discussions about Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Travel, Music, Russian News, Ukrainian culture, Belarusian Dating, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kiev and other intelligent topics about life in the former Soviet Union.

Pages: 1

Travel Tips - Moscow & St. Petersburg?
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: SteveLA

Hope the posting passes muster - gotta just jump in, I think.
------------
First, I want to thank everyone who has contributed to these forums. I have been informed (and amused!!).

I have been considering a trip to Russia for over a year and finally made the travel arrangements for a trip March 18th. I am really excited to see and experience what must be a great country with such a long history. It's something my parents would NEVER have been able to experience.

This is, of course, a tour group. But there is a fair amount of free time built into the itinerary.

I don't know much (ANY) Russian, but I will try to do something about that in the 2-1/2 months. (Da!)

Am I looking for romance? Maybe. Would I like to meet people and maybe, just maybe, find someone share my life with? Yes. (OK, that's a topic for another thread).

I got a list of cafe's from somewhere else....what about nightlife, semi-social situations, etc?

Am staying at the Hotel Katerina in Moscow and the Pribaltiskaya in St. Petersburg.

Posted by: spamer

Not knowing your age and what you would think is fun, but there's Novy Arbat street in Moscow. It's kinda like a tourist trap (Russian style), but it is fun. There is a lot to do in Moscow. From gambling to night life. Even if you get home sick or want to show off .. there's Hard Rock Cafe (all employees speak English there) or McDonalds on Arbat Street. Learn how to say "English menu" (which I don't even know) but everywhere I went they hand menus in English ... all I did is point to the number by what I wanted to eat.

A restaurant I had dinner at which was pure Russian dinners was called My-My (Moo-moo) and it was good!

If you want to get a laugh from a waitress order a glass of milk with your pie. It seems milk is only drank by children and if a adult orders it ... well it is un-usual.

Posted by: Castlestormer

In Moscow, Arbat is great for buying souvenirs, but Izmailovsky Park is the absolute best for buying clothing and other really cool Russian stuff. One short metro ride and you're there. Don't forget to haggle. I bought a mink shapka there for 1/3 the asking price, and two Russian duffles for 1/4 the asking price. There are gift shops at Red Square that are waaaaay overpriced.

If you are in to cruising for available Russian ladies to party with, Doug & Marty's Boarhouse or The Hungry Duck are dance clubs filled with gorgeous, fun ladies to party the night away with. They are owned by expats, and English is spoken there. If you are seeking "professional companionship", there is a restaurant/club called "Night Flight" where you will be groped at every turn by gorgeous ladies.

The best thing to do is find a small club where you can eat and people watch. There is a restaurant on the ring called "Courvasier" where the beautiful people meet and greet. The food is dirt cheap and excellent. And there is a small bar where Lenin impersonators work that I can't remember the name of. Ask someone who knows better than I.

Lastly, there is a web site that I really don't like to give out because it is far too radical and debauched for my tastes. But it lists all the "happening" places in Moscow. It's at www.exile.ru and it's Moscow's underground/alternative newspaper. They rate all the things to do in Moscow.

I can't help you with St Pete, sorry.

I can say that nothing can prepare you for your first trip to Moscow. The glory, the grandioseness, the fun, the amazing people, the breathtaking beauty, the culture, the excitement, the danger, the memories you will have forever...are all going to be 10 times more than you can anticipate.

Have fun. Post here about your travels.

CS

PS: Want to do something fun? There is a site www.123cam.com where there is a live web cam at Pushkin Square. I recently had all my friends here in America log on at 11 pm and I went there at 8 am Moscow time. I wrote them a message in the snow, and made a snow angel for them. They were delighted to actually see me in real time. And you waving to them from Pushkin's statue will give them memories also. It was goofy, but they still talk about it.

Posted by: SteveLA

Wow, thanks for the great information! Just those little tidbits make me feel EVER more comfortable...

Have visited other countries before for work-related matters and it can be a little scary to be in a situation where noone speaks English.

For the record, I'm in my early 40's (seems less intimate than saying, "I'm 42"). I don't feel 42, but the face in the mirror seems a bit older than it should be.....but I digress (WARNING: I DO THAT).

The times that I grew up in, everything behind the "iron curtain" was something that the very rarest of people from the west (captilized? seems arrogant) ever got to see - and from the stories, it was a very scary experience...

And here we are, in 2004, and people like me can actually stand in front of the Kremlin, or even make snow angels in Pushkin Square. What an amazing change from what, 30 years ago.

In any case, I am SO looking forward to the trip, -6C and all......

Absolutely, I will post the experiences here. If I take, I gotta give, right?

Posted by: Castlestormer

A couple of more links for you to do research with:

These are Russian newspapers that are in English. They have classified and entertainment sections where you can see what is happening in Moscow while you are there. They will have clubs, restaurants, etc.
http://www.russiajournal.com/index.shtml
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/indexes/01.html

And these two guys are invaluable to know if you ever need anything, or get into a jam in Moscow or St Pete.

Paul Voytinsky (aka Uncle Pasha) is a Russian who speaks fluent English. He can set you up with cell phones, trustworthy drivers, etc. http://www.unclepasha.com/

And this guy gets my highest accolades. He goes by "Moscow Rick", is from California, speaks both languages fluently, and might be the best connected man over there. I have never seen anyone make one phone call and get sold out theater tickets, great seats in clubs, gorgeous translators, internet access and phone cards, or whatever you want. He can also put you together with an impressive array of businessmen who "just happen to be in Moscow" for a great and informative dinner. http://www.enjoymoscow.com/

I suggest you email both of them and let them know when you are going to be there. They will give you their phone numbers to call in case you ever need friendly, well connected help.
Have fun,
Steve

Khashyar, if these links violate board policy, please feel free to delete them. I'm a team player home boy!