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Russian is a Slavic language related to Polish, Czech, Slovak,
Bulgarian and some others. The Cyrillic alphabet has much in common
with the Greek alphabet. Foreigners who try to speak Russian will
delight their Russian listeners, many of whom speak a little helpful
English. Russian people are friendly and hospitable, and happy to
help if assistance is needed.
Here is some essential every-day
vocabulary: |
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When you arrive in Russia, you will first proceed to Passport
Control. There, your passport and VISA will be examined, and after
stamping your visa, the officer will return your passport and visa
to you. After retrieving your luggage from the baggage carousel, you
will pass through customs. There are two lanes. If you have nothing
to declare, you may proceed through the Green Channel. However,
since you will probably have some foreign currency, you will have to
pass through the Red Channel. Here, you will fill in your customs
declaration form. Please keep it with you until departure. |
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If you are with a group or have been met, transportation to your
hotel will be provided. If you are travelling alone, you can take an
official taxi or one of the many private cars that provide a
service. The charge can vary significantly, and for reasons of
personal safety, we strongly discourage our customers to use
unlicensed vehicles. It will cost you less to order a car in
advance.
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It is illegal to bring Russian currency into Russia. You can
change your currency at approved banking facilities at your hotel,
in town or at the airport. Rates can vary a little. |
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Hotel arrangements in Russia can been made through numerous
reputable travel organisations offering considerable discounts on
accommodation. In our HOTELS section you will find all
necessary information about St. Petersburg hotels, their
locations and services, room facilities. |
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The best way to avoid traffic jams in town is to use the subway,
called the Metro in St. Petersburg. Street entrances
to the stations are identified by a large red capital letter "M".
The system is clean and very inexpensive; many of the stations
themselves are architectural masterpieces. Each station has a large
map of the network, as do the subway cars.
Here are several signs you will meet inside the
Metro: |
Here are several signs are inside the
Metro |
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Russia is rich in history and culture. Besides the two major
cities of Moscow and St.Petersburg, there are many other cities and
villages with splendid architectural and cultural traditions. Cities
of the "Golden Ring" close to the capital are Suzdal, Vladimir,
Kostroma, Ivanovo, Sergiev Posad, Rostov Veliky, Yaroslavl and
Pereslavl Zalessky. What follows is a sketch of places in Moscow and
St.Petersburg that you might want to see if you are travelling on
your own and designing your own sightseeing schedule. |
Created by Russian Tsar Peter the Great in the 18th
century as a "window to Europe", St.Petersburg became the capital
and architectural showpiece of the Russian Empire. It was called
Leningrad during Soviet times. Criss-crossed by many canals, it is a
true "Venice of the North." St.Petersburg has a wealth of
attractions: Palace Square, the Winter Palace, the Peter and Paul Cathedral - resting place of the Romanov emperors - the Peter and Paul Fortress where the writer Dostoevsky and other leading
intellectuals were once imprisoned, and the Russian Mint. Don't miss the Hermitage, rivalling the Louvre in Paris for its rich collection
of art. You might also visit other residences of the tsarist family
- Peter the Great's country palace with its magnificent park and
fountains, or the houses at Pushkino and Pavlovsk.
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MOSCOW
You might begin your visit with an excursion round a city which
blends the old and the new - a combination most apparent on Red
Square and in the Kremlin. The Square, with its landmark St. Basil's
Cathedral, was the centre of world attention for the May Day parades
and the anniversary of the Revolution on November 7. Here, too,
the Lenin Mausoleum is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It's
closed on Monday and Friday. The Kremlin is highlighted by
magnificent cathedrals. Enjoy the famous Armoury Chamber, a museum
of Russia's regal past. See the Diamond Fund Collection and the
Russian Crown Jewels. Within the Kremlin walls is the seat of
Russia's government. The famous Palace of Congresses is open to the
public for artistic performances.
Among the most famous museums in Moscow are the Tretyakov Gallery
housing collections of Russian art, and the Pushkin Fine Art Museum,
with its wondrous collections of Western art. Visit the television
tower at Ostankino for a splendid view of the city. Near Moscow
State University overlooking the Moskva River, Sparrow Hills is
favourite spot for photographs. Out in the countryside, enjoy a full
day trip to Sergiev Posad, formerly Zagorsk, where the Russian
Orthodox Church keeps alive centuries-old traditions at an Orthodox
seminary and at the services of its cathedrals there. To see Old
Russia, you might plan a trip to Suzdal, a city preserved as a
museum of Russian architecture. |
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No trip to Russia is complete without a visit to the theatre.
Group bookings can be made as part of your schedule. If you are on
your own, you can buy a ticket at one of the many ticket kiosks
throughout the city - prices might be low but seats are not
necessarily the best. You can order tickets through the theatre desk
at your hotel, though prices might be more expensive than going
through a booking agency - between US$60 and US$80 per ticket. You
may also try to purchase a cancellation ticket by going to the
theatre about an hour or less before the performance. Prices are in
line with those at a booking agency. The most famous of Russian theatres is the Mariinsky Opera and Ballet Theatre (The Kirov).
More useful vocabulary: |
The performance starting time |
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Location |
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For late evening entertainment, try one of the night clubs or
restaurants, many featuring floorshows. You can find full
information about Petersburg nightlife in the
numerous advertising magazines to be found at our offices or at
hotel reception desks. |
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A restaurant meal in Russia is an event to be enjoyed for the
best part of an evening. You'll have the choice not only of Russian
cuisine but Georgian, Armenian, Uzbek, to name just some. There are
many international restaurants offering American, Italian, Japanese,
Chinese and Mexican menus, too. You can find information about
restaurants and their addresses in advertising publications. |
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If a service charge is not already included in your restaurant
bill, you might wish to leave the small change that is returned to
you. Tips are not obligatory, but welcomed in Russia - from 5 per
cent to 10 per cent of the total is normal. |
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Medicines are available at pharmacies. Most are very cheap. If
you need medical care, facilities are available at the American
Medical Center: Serpukhovskaya Ulitsa 10, metro "Tekhnologichesky Institut". You can also contact a provider
specified in your travel insurance policy. |
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Most post offices are open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with an
hour's break for lunch. The Central Post Office (Glavpochtamt), Pochtamtskaya Ulitsa 9
is open round the clock. To mail abroad
costs about US$1. You can usually place local telephone calls from
your hotel room by dialing a single number for an outside line.
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For Russian souvenirs, you might check the speciality shops. Among
traditional Russian handicrafts are painted wooden dishes from the
city of Khokhloma, exquisite lacquered boxes from Palekh and
Mstyora. You might also want to buy linen, Gzhell porcelain dishes,
"Matryoshki" painted wooden nested dolls, or even caviar and vodka.
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Temperature is measured in Centigrade in Russia. To calculate it
from Fahrenheit, take the Fahrenheit reading, subtract 30 and divide
by 2; or conversely take the Centigrade reading, multiply by 2, and
add 30. Here are the average temperature ranges of the two main
tourist centres: St.Petersburg (-7,7C to 17,5 C) = 18,5 F to 63,5
F.
Moscow (-10,8C to 18,5 C) = 12,6 F to
65,3 F;
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