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anyone been to St Petersburg?

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posts: 51

sapphireThreads: 28 Posts: 1455 Joined: Dec 7, 06 Gender: Female	Mar 29, 07, 09:49 #1
Yes, I know its not in Poland, but just wondered if any of you much travelled people know the city and have any tips.. Im thinking about going there for a weekend break.

szarlotkaThreads: 15 Posts: 2817 Joined: Feb 20, 07 Gender: Male GOLD MEMBER	Mar 29, 07, 09:52 #2
Have been there but not for 7 or 8 years now. The inyourpocket.com site has a good section on the city.

hullo	Mar 30, 07, 04:17 #3
Don't want to frighten, but unless your a local or have white skin be very careful, A lot of neo nazi's in that town who hate foreigners and mean business.

Big RobThreads: - Posts: 82 Joined: Mar 10, 07 Gender: Male	Mar 30, 07, 04:36 #4
Personnaly no, but have had warnings from POLISH friends on the eastern border. If you are a white female on your own... your a prostitute. If you are a white male that looks like you may not be russian... well, watch your wallet and that knife in your back! Very dark skin... ... ... worry. This is not my opinion, just the opinion of people that have experience of the country. Sorry it's not a pretty picture, but I think Putin has made it worse.

sapphireThreads: 28 Posts: 1455 Joined: Dec 7, 06 Gender: Female	Mar 30, 07, 04:55 #5
thanks for the advice. I am a white female and would be travelling with my Polish boyfriend who speaks some Russian so I guess I would be OK

szarlotkaThreads: 15 Posts: 2817 Joined: Feb 20, 07 Gender: Male GOLD MEMBER	Edited by: Moderator Mar 30, 07, 05:17 #6
Quoting: Big Rob This is not my opinion, just the opinion of people that have experience of the country. Sorry it's not a pretty picture, but I think Putin has made it worse. It's not the wild west town that it was 10 years ago. The basic safety rules still apply however. There is a good section on safety on the main city website, which is also full of other gems of information. There are large numbers of tourists off the cruise ships and by day the problems are no worse than in other big tourist cities. You can get fleeced or robbed if you look like a tourist but you can in Rio. Night time used to be an issue but only if you went to the wrong areas or estbalishments. petersburgcity.com

Big RobThreads: - Posts: 82 Joined: Mar 10, 07 Gender: Male	Mar 30, 07, 05:24 #7
Very true, I did say from Polish friends! All advice is still well taken from both parties. Caution, but enjoy. Essentially, as with travelling abroad in any country, COMMON SENSE! OK?

LoboThreads: - Posts: 100 Joined: May 5, 07 Gender: Male	May 16, 07, 10:41 #8
St Petersburg is a great city to visit! I have been there several times. I never felt unsafe but need to take the usual precautions. A few years ago they celebrated the 300 years of the creation of the city by Peter the Great and the city was all cleaned up and tarted up. It is now quite beautiful. The only snag is the hotels that cost a lot of money and are generally poor quality. I recommend the Moskva which is very near Nevsky prospect, the main artery in the city centre. Go in the Summer and the trip should be quite nice.

HAL9009Threads: 2 Posts: 336 Joined: Mar 13, 07 Gender: Male	May 17, 07, 16:06 #9
Yes, I was there once about 10 years ago when I lived in Finland - dreadful place! Everyone was trying some sort of scam. The buildings were lovely though. And when the Russians found that I was the only non-finn on the bus, they wanted me to give them money to let me out of their country, muttering something about visas (which I didn't need). Nothing like a 17 year old border guard with a machine gun to focus the mind - lol. It all ended well, but I wouldn't go there again. Still, i'm sure it's a much nicer place now. :)

LoboThreads: - Posts: 100 Joined: May 5, 07 Gender: Male	May 18, 07, 12:32 #10
Quoting: HAL9009 Nothing like a 17 year old border guard with a machine gun to focus the mind - lol. I bet you have used this story to good effect for 10 years... it was worth something then!

MichalThreads: - Posts: 2455 Joined: Feb 27, 07 Gender: Male	May 29, 07, 09:51 #11
When I was a student in Moscow in 1984 we went for a trip for a few days to St. Petersburg. I imagine that it has changed somewhat since the days when I was there. It was quite nice and the people were certainly more friendly than in Moscow. If you asked for directions they would help you more so than those living in the capital. They seemed to have more time for foreigners than the Moscovites, but that was then and of course, only my opinion. I was there in January so if it is winter time I do warn you, it can be *******cold!

Maxxx PayneThreads: 2 Posts: 285 Joined: Oct 11, 06 Gender: Male	May 29, 07, 12:34 #12
Quoting: HAL9009 Yes, I was there once about 10 years ago when I lived in Finland - dreadful place! Everyone was trying some sort of scam. The buildings were lovely though. And when the Russians found that I was the only non-finn on the bus, they wanted me to give them money to let me out of their country, muttering something about visas (which I didn't need). Nothing like a 17 year old border guard with a machine gun to focus the mind - lol. It all ended well, but I wouldn't go there again. Still, i'm sure it's a much nicer place now. :) Yeah authorities can be nightmare there. Regular people on the other hand are nice.

AmathystThreads: 19 Posts: 2325 Joined: Nov 10, 06 Gender: Female	Edited by: Amathyst May 29, 07, 12:41 #13
I had a friend that went, he said that you have to get a hotel sorted out and get them to invite you in order to get your visa - thats if you're doing a trip independantly, if you're going with a travel agent I'm sure they'll sort it out...It's on the top my places to visit

MichalThreads: - Posts: 2455 Joined: Feb 27, 07 Gender: Male	May 30, 07, 11:06 #14
From what I remember, the museam is nice, I can not remember even if I went inside but otherwise Stockholm in Sweden would be just as interesting really. There is nothing special about St. Petersburg, it was interesting for us as we were students of the Russian Language in Moscow at the time and we went to St. Petersbug to see where the Revolution in 1917 took place. Neasden in London may be a better choice without the need of a visa! As a student of Russian maybe, otherwise give it a miss.

SashaThreads: 3 Posts: 1242 Joined: Apr 19, 08 Gender: Male GOLD MEMBER	Apr 19, 08, 22:28 #15
I would say that people differ drasctically from Muscovities. They're probably more cultured and polite 'cause they're not so concerned about money and SP has less visitors from ex-SU block and russian suburbs in comparison to Moscow who cause there up to 70% of all crimes every year. If you are foreigner in the country you are currently on visit you have to be always careful: I've never been robbed in Russia, but I needed only to go abroad in the very first time to be robbed. But I hope your experience will be only positive... Offtop: Does anybody know about polish-russian societies and(or) forums of friendship or it sounds fabulously? :) Thanks in advance, guys!

z_dariusThreads: 17 Posts: 4040 Joined: Oct 18, 07 Gender: Male	Apr 19, 08, 22:39 #16
Sasha: polish-russian societies and(or) forums of friendship or it sounds fabulously? :) After decades of negative conditioning, I would be suspicious of any organizations with "Polish", "Russian" and "frienship" in their names. The last time I was aware of such an organization Poland was occupied by the USSR. But hey, try your luck. The KGB (or whatever the NKVD is called now) are always on the lookout for a few "good" Poles ;)

FirestormThreads: 7 Posts: 526 Joined: Nov 29, 06 Gender: Male	Edited by: Firestorm Apr 19, 08, 23:14 #17
sapphire: sapphire realrussia.com Awesome site. Very reasonably priced too. They organized everything for my trip. Visa.. Trains.. Taxis. Covernotes. And it all went without a hitch. You MUST Get your paper stamped at your hotel within 72 hours though. ( The site will organize the invite paper for you.) I was there last year. ( White Male. Alone ) And apart from 1 Begger and some very curious looks. I had a great time. Stick to populated areas. Watch your valuables. And dont carry too much cash around. Apart from normal security precautions. Its fine. Go. Have a great time. :) I did. ( Apart from standing on an old ladies foot by accident ) LOL I think i still have copies of all my Docs scanned into my Pc. If you cant find any there. Pm me and i will look.

SashaThreads: 3 Posts: 1242 Joined: Apr 19, 08 Gender: Male GOLD MEMBER	Apr 19, 08, 23:37 #18
z_darius: After decades of negative conditioning, I would be suspicious of any organizations with "Polish", "Russian" and "frienship" in their names. The last time I was aware of such an organization Poland was occupied by the USSR. I know, but anyway there should be some people who are able to distinguish government's actions from people's own free will. z_darius: But hey, try your luck. The KGB (or whatever the NKVD is called now) are always on the lookout for a few "good" Poles ;) That's what I do. I'm trying. :) It's called now "FSB".

LukaszThreads: 73 Posts: 2448 Joined: Sep 1, 07 Gender: Male	Apr 20, 08, 02:35 #19
Sasha: Offtop: Does anybody know about polish-russian societies and(or) forums of friendship or it sounds fabulously? :) about Russia http://www.rosjapl.info/forum/index.php?redir=1 about St Petersburg http://www.petersburg.ovh.org/ unforntuantely in Polish. It is said that 10% of St Petersburg citiznes have Polish origin. Не принимай близко к сердцу тем чего здесь мы пишем о России, в Польше россияне почтенные ;)

SashaThreads: 3 Posts: 1242 Joined: Apr 19, 08 Gender: Male GOLD MEMBER	Apr 20, 08, 12:46 #20
Lukasz, thanks for links. :) Lukasz: It is said that 10% of St Petersburg citiznes have Polish origin. Can easily be. Even in Moscow I happened to work with Pole (the only things that said about his polish forefathers were his last name and catholic faith though). As for SP it's genetically much more "europeanized". There are lots of so-called Russian Germans (русские немцы) and perhaps Poles. Lukasz: Не принимай близко к сердцу тем чего здесь мы пишем о России, в Польше россияне почтенные ;) Спасибо, Лукаш (я правильно написал Ваше имя?). :) Hopefully I have common sense enough to separate the husk from the grain. Yesterday I read a bit thread "your intimate feelings towards Russia... and so on..." and noticed your even temper there but unfortunatelly didn't have much time to express my view on everything. I will. The question brought there up is provocative per se and isn't expected sober response. Maybe we dealt with another "putinjugend"... :) I don't know. I have to read that carefully. Take care!

LukaszThreads: 73 Posts: 2448 Joined: Sep 1, 07 Gender: Male	Edited by: Lukasz Apr 20, 08, 13:20 #21
Sasha: Спасибо, Лукаш (я правильно написал Ваше имя? Cаша, правильно. :) Welcome to the forum I hope we are going to see some interesting posts

ConstantineKThreads: 28 Posts: 1683 Joined: May 10, 07 Gender: Male	Apr 28, 08, 03:14 #22
Lukasz: Sasha: Спасибо, Лукаш (я правильно написал Ваше имя? Cаша, правильно. :) Welcome to the forum I hope we are going to see some interesting posts Oh sht, I am fcking bored, moreove I am vomited! I am in affection of this snotty fraternization between Russian and Pole! Disgusting!

JovaThreads: - Posts: 208 Joined: Mar 15, 08 Gender: Female	Apr 28, 08, 04:15 #23
ConstantineK: I am vomited Wow, that's sth new! Doesn't happen every day! May I ask you to post your photo after being vomited? I assume you must have been eaten first - how come you're still alive???

ConstantineKThreads: 28 Posts: 1683 Joined: May 10, 07 Gender: Male	Apr 28, 08, 04:24 #24
Jova: Wow, that's sth new! Doesn't happen every day! May I ask you to post your photo after being vomited? I assume you must have been eaten first - how come you're still alive??? I am vomited by the fact that somebody is trying to show its love toward Poles, suppose it is rather insincere!

JovaThreads: - Posts: 208 Joined: Mar 15, 08 Gender: Female	Apr 28, 08, 04:26 #25
ConstantineK: I am vomited by the fact that somebody is trying to show its love toward Poles, suppose it is rather insincere! Are you trying to suggest that Polish-Russian relations must always be based on mutual resentment? Personally, I bear no grudge against Russians - why should I?

ConstantineKThreads: 28 Posts: 1683 Joined: May 10, 07 Gender: Male	Edited by: ConstantineK Apr 28, 08, 04:53 #26
Jova: Are you trying to suggest that Polish-Russian relations must always be based on mutual resentment? Personally, I bear no grudge against Russians - why should I? Well, the same with me..., as Poles always say about Russians, I could say someting similar 'I like Poles but I hate their government' Well, but of course SPb is a most butiful city you have ever seen!

JovaThreads: - Posts: 208 Joined: Mar 15, 08 Gender: Female	Apr 28, 08, 04:59 #27
ConstantineK: Well, but of course SPb is a most butiful city you have ever seen! It certainly is! I was impressed, really. I'll probably go there again this summer :)

ConstantineKThreads: 28 Posts: 1683 Joined: May 10, 07 Gender: Male	Apr 28, 08, 06:57 #28
But moscow is much vigour and full of life

SashaThreads: 3 Posts: 1242 Joined: Apr 19, 08 Gender: Male GOLD MEMBER	Edited by: Sasha May 10, 08, 00:10 #29
ConstantineK: Oh sht, I am fcking bored, moreove I am vomited! I am in affection of this snotty fraternization between Russian and Pole! Disgusting! There's nothing more hilarious than PJ daring to manipulate with word "friendship" which has never existed in folksy putin's vocabulary. I'm actually glad that this makes you spew up. ConstantineK: I am vomited by the fact that somebody is trying to show its love toward Poles, suppose it is rather insincere! Are you? Jova: May I ask you to post your photo after being vomited? I assume you must have been eaten first - how come you're still alive??? Good catch, Jova. Hm... think he was eaten by the system already. Ah! My gosh!!!! Speaker puke!!!!!!!! :0 ConstantineK: Well, the same with me..., as Poles always say about Russians, I could say someting similar 'I like Poles but I hate their government' Why not? Try at least that for now... ConstantineK: But moscow is much vigour and full of life full of lust and sh#t I guess...

Yulechka	Aug 23, 08, 21:48 #30
10 % ??????????????-))))))))))))))) you wish!

osiolThreads: 71 Posts: 5029 Joined: Jul 25, 07 Gender: Male	Edited by: osiol Aug 23, 08, 22:37 #31
What does a decimal place or two mean anyway? 0.1% (that's the percentage of St. Petersburg's population that were counted as Polish in the 2002 census) I ought to welcome you all to page two. I've never been to St. Petersburg. I never went to Leningrad either... or Petrograd... or Nyenskans... or whatever that area was called before anything was built. Someone on PF has (I'm referring now to the place before the first plank of wood was laif, even of Swedish fort which eventually... you get the idea). Anyway, if you read this thread closely, you will see that he used a rude word somewhere, which suprised me just a little.

krysiaThreads: 29 Posts: 3755 Joined: Aug 10, 06 Gender: Female	Aug 23, 08, 22:59 #32
Been there lots of times. Very nice beach, white sand, clean ocean.

polishgirltx	Edited by: polishgirltx Aug 23, 08, 23:04 #33
krysia: Very nice beach, white sand, clean ocean. yes.... (...geez....i behave, i mean 'talk', like out local dog....yes....) ;)

krysiaThreads: 29 Posts: 3755 Joined: Aug 10, 06 Gender: Female	Aug 23, 08, 23:06 #34
I love that looong bridge that crosses to Tampa.

polishgirltx	Aug 23, 08, 23:08 #35
they have nice kotlet meals in Sahara restaurant in St. Petersburg....yumnmmm...;)

krysiaThreads: 29 Posts: 3755 Joined: Aug 10, 06 Gender: Female	Edited by: krysia Aug 23, 08, 23:12 #36
polishgirltx: nice kotlet meals in Sahara restaurant in St. Petersburg Next time I go there I'll try it out. Sounds good. Best time to go in the winter, it's nice and warm there.

osiolThreads: 71 Posts: 5029 Joined: Jul 25, 07 Gender: Male	Aug 23, 08, 23:14 #37
I've been to Peterborough. Does that count?

polishgirltx	Aug 23, 08, 23:16 #38
krysia: Next time I go there I'll try it out. Sounds good. see ya there girly :) krysia: Best time to go in the winter, it's nice and warm there. i went always on summer and came back red like a red piggy ;)

JovaThreads: - Posts: 208 Joined: Mar 15, 08 Gender: Female	Aug 30, 08, 10:23 #39
I spent four weeks there. Loads of photos and stories. Amazing city.

SashaThreads: 3 Posts: 1242 Joined: Apr 19, 08 Gender: Male GOLD MEMBER	Aug 30, 08, 12:49 #40
Jova: Amazing city. Really? Happy to hear it. How did you like people there? Would you post some pics?

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