Thread: Advice for travelling

Hi, I am going to Moscow and St.Petersburg in May. Can anyone tell me what the weather will be like? I am giong to stay for 10 days(hotel and busfare is already paid for). How much spending money should I bring for food (lunch and dinner) and souvenirs(nothing too expensive). Any recommended places to eat at and foods to try? Anyone know any Russian words to learn before I go? Thanks

I was there for a month last May-June. That's the best time of year. All you'll need is a light jacket, possibly sweater. Umbrella. You can get a meal for $4-5.

Some advice-- start walking now until you can get up to 4-5 miles a day. I didn't do that and my feet were killing me the first week and a half. Also bring comfortable walking shoes. Bring band-aids. Non-new clothing, dark colors so you can blend in. Get a little travel book for Russia, which will probably contain some common phrases - please, thanks, hi, etc. Avoid the cops.

Go to travel sites like Rick Steves' for lists of things to take.

Originally Posted by chaika

Avoid the cops.

What has the good ol' Russian copper done to you, chaika? Why avoid? The police are there to protect you. It's not avoid them, but cooperate with them that you should.... Keep telling 'em, eh.

Slightly off topic. Anyone read 'Filth' by Irvine Welsh? Remember the beginning? A man is lying in a pool of blood moaning 'pleeeeeeeaseee...' or is it 'poliiiiiiiice....' that he's moaning? Or could it be 'pleeeeeeeeeeeease poliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice....'? And wouldn't he have referred to them as 'pigs' under 'normal' circumstances?

I have friends who have read that book, and shown me some excerpts from many of his books. Quite an odd fellow, if I may say.

Trainspotting was an interesting movie...

Originally Posted by chaika

Avoid the cops.

You should add "in Moscow".

I was in Moscow last year from the end of April to the beginning of May. It was -5 and snowing when I arrived, +28 and sunny when I left

I bought souvenirs in Ekaterinburg for anywhere from $3-10, nice things...

russian "rose" plates ($10)
dolls in dolls ($3 to $15) <-- great gifts
small wooden jewelry or "pill" boxes ($2 to $5)
stone eggs ($2 for 2, a nice one for $15)
a decorative scarf for women (not sure what you call it) for $10

most expensive thing I got was a real nice hunting knife, $30

my friend bought me this "stone art" which is absolutely beautiful.. I'm not sure how much they cost, I'd guess $10-20..and I'm not sure if you can find it in Moscow or not

overall things(souvenirs) seemed cheap.. but you could find expensive gifts if you wanted, and I bet Moscow can get a lot more expensive than Ekaterinburg

only regret not buying more things.. love the dolls in dolls.. bought around 6 sets and gave to family and friends couldn't believe how cheap they were..

oh and I should note about the dolls.. they were hand-made, and my friend told me you can tell if they are hand-made if the tiny dolls have painted eyelashes on them

Originally Posted by JJ

Originally Posted by chaika

Avoid the cops.

You should add "in Moscow".

All cops are not corrupt, just as all Americans aren't loud and absurd. A few bad apples can ruin the reputation of the whole barrel...