не так страшен черт, как его малюют
ranark,
the devil is not so terrible as he is painted ~ не так страшен черт, как его малюют
i would advise you not to worry and take a walk along a couple of well illuminated main streets of St. Petersburg (Nevsky or Moskovsky prospect for example) (once you're there)
exept big department stores in wich you can easily get tired in an hour, get lost and robbed (yes! in department stores there are not less pickpocketers than at marked places!)
exept this places there are not a lot but many enogh small clothing shops in wich you will not spend much time and money and will be satisfied (more likely than unlikely) by the service.
do not forget to hold your hand in your pocket - closer to your vallet all the time though - береженного Бог бережет~ caution is the parent of safety
this way you will kill two birds with one stone ~ убьешь двух зайцев: you will have a perfect chance to see the town in it's charming beauty and buy you some cloths
hm, what else? Need russian-speaking companion for feeling more confident? Write me to my e-mail or ICQ :wink: