From: kilborn4950@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.soviet
Subject: Re: St. Petersburg, HELP !!!***!!!
Date: 26 Aug 92 13:38:10 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <BtAzsz.Ep6@nntp-sc.Intel.COM>, janucci@az.intel.com (James Nucci) writes:
> 
> I will be traveling by boat from Helsinki to St. Petersburg in the near future. 
> I am fascinated to be traveling to Russia although I must admit I am somewhat
> ignorant of the culture there.  I am looking for some advice from people who have
> been there before (maybe even from someone who lives or lived there).  I have
> read the usual travel books and the boat trip company includes a morning sight
> seeing tour.  But I would like to hear from somebody about the special places to
> see (museums, churches, memorials, monuments, open markets, etc).  Please keep in
> mind that I will only be there for about 16 hours.  I also have a few other
> questions.  WOULD IT BE WISE TO BRING AMERICAN DOLLARS TO BUY THINGS (OR IS THIS
> ILLEGAL)?  WHAT ABOUT THE "BRING SOME EXTRA PAIRS OF JEANS WITH YOU" MYTH?  WILL
> IT BE EASY TO TAKE A WALKING TOUR OF THE CITY (OR SHOULD I USE THE CITY'S
> TRANSPORTATION)?  ARE THINGS THERE EXPENSIVE AS IT SOUNDS LIKE?  SHOULD I BUY A
> PICNIC LUNCH IN HELSINKI AND TAKE IT WITH ME OR WILL THERE BE PLENTY OF PLACES TO
> EAT THERE (AND AT REASONABLE PRICES)?
> 
> Please include any informatin you might think I would find valuable.  Thank-you
> in advance.
>  
        I just returned from two months in St. Petersburg and I am more than
prepared to share lots of advice.  I know how anxious and nervous you must be,
as I was beside myself before I went.  I will limit my comments to your
questions only.  If you want further counsel, feel free to contact me by
e-mail.

        First of all, you would be a fool not to take American dollars with
you.  Rubles are becoming unacceptable even in some stores, but on the street
everyone prefers hard currency that they know will have similar value tomorrow. 
I spent several dollars there, but tried to keep my purchases in rubles as the
exchange rate was about 137 rubles to the dollar on 1 August.  Dollar stores
are an excellent way to avoid lines and shortages as well.  (i.e. the Beriozki
next to and inside the hotel Pribaltijskaia.)

        Don't bring extra jeans, you can find them everywhere now.  It is a
myth that Russians are still killing for them.

        A walking tour of the city would be O.K. but a bus tour would be
more all-encompassing and more comfortable.  Many of these bus tours congregate
and leave from the Palace Square (Dvortsovaia Ploshchad') right in back of the
Hermitage/Winter Palace.  They are usually cheap (about 40 rubles) and very
interesting, especially if you speak Russian.  Many also congregate around
Kazanskij Sobor (Kazan Cathedral) and on Nevskij Prospekt.  
        As for the transportation system, it is good, but buying tokens, etc.
can be complicated if not impossible.  I would recommend walkiing when
convenient, and jumping on the bus without paying when it isn't.  The metro is
great, but you had better speak Russian (Ostorozhno, dveri zakryvajutsia!:-))

Food is available and cheap.  Things are only expensive if you are trying to
live on a Russian's ruble salary.  If you have dollars or other hard currency,
everything's cheap.  Trade with the 'black marketeers', they will usually give
you a little better rate and it is now legal to exchange money with them.  The
market at Kuznechnaia ulitsa is good, but expensive, and you can find all kinds
of good cafes and restaurants on and just off of Nevskij.  (I hope the bananas
are still all over on Nevskij for you!)

        I hope I have given you some helpful information and if anyone on the
net disagrees with anything I have said, feel free to correct me.  Things
change so quickly, I may already be wrong  only after a month away.  Good luck. 
Have fun.  

                                        Jason Kilborn