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In St. Petersburg: Friday, November 21st, 2008, 12:18 am (GMT+3) Weather Temperature: -1° C (30° F) • Feels like: -1° C • (30° F) • Flurries • Humidity: 92% • Barometer: 28.81" Hg (731 mmHg) • Wind: N 1 mph • Sunrise: 9:12 AM • Sunset: 4:17 PM •

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Dear Sir or Madam,

Have you heard the good news? The spring is here! We all here like winters, of course, why else would we be in Russia. But what's great about cold winter is that it makes us appreciate spring even more. The whole nature is coming back to life. People take their big winter clothes off and, wow, they realize how many beautiful faces there are around. Just the perfect time to get a date or do something crazy. As usual, here is our Peter with his latest news on what's going on in Russia.

Russian Lessons from Peter
Or how not to get lost in St.Petersburg:

Well folks, do you like shopping? When I say shopping I don't mean this pleasant activity when you just stroll along stores waiting if something catches your attention. No. I mean that type of shopping when you realize there are a thousand things that you need, go to the store, keep forgetting what exactly it was that you wanted… Nothing could be worse, you said? There is, trust me! It's shopping when you don't speak the language. 

Not all Russian stores are very friendly-organized for foreigners. You take all those small food stores where you actually need to ask a shopping girl to bring you whatever you need. I once spent entire hour buying some simple sausage. I was showing what I wanted with my hands, jumping around the counter, even tried to look hungry. Nothing helped. She looked at me as if I just came from a different planet. Luckily, someone helped me in the end, but what if they wouldn't. Or take souvenir places and many difficult shopping situations, while all you need is at least a couple of words in Russian. 

You feel familiar with the problem? Than this lesson is for you. I'm going to give you the best advise on some important phrases for shopping!

If you happened to come across one of those annoying little shops and want to ask a shopping girl to give you something say: "Daite, pazhaluysta" ("Give me, please...") and point at that thing that you wanted. (S)he might make a couple of wrong hits at first but will get to what you wanted eventually. Oh and it would be good to say "Da" or "Eta" when she touches it!

Another important thing in shopping is to ask how most desired object costs. Hey you came all the way to the store, you can't just leave now. The question "How much is it?" in Russian will be: "Skol'ka eta stoit?" That's it! That's all you need. Smart Russian sales assistants will find the way to let you know how much. 

So you made it all the way to actually getting what you wanted in a Russian store? My congratulations. You can feel a Russian language expert now. Just don't forget to say "Spasiba" ("Thank you") when you are done with your purchase. 
 

More Russian lessons from Peter in our future Newsletters!


HOT DEALS & more!!! from Russian St.Petersburg Tours

New Company Name

You have probably noticed it already. I've been writing you about Russian St. Petersburg for so many months. I really grew to like those guys... But things tend to change from time to time. And so it happened with Russian St.Petersburg. Following the recent stuff changes, they've decided to take the new name Russian St.Petersburg Tours which is in essence the Travel Department of EducaCentre. They are still the same great company though, always willing to help you with any of your travel needs!

*****

Last Chance!!! Russian Maslenitsa Tour! From March 11 through March 17!!!

Looking for something exclusively Russian??? Thinking of tryin the Russian roulette or drinking vodka in big quantities? Don't! Here is what you really need: Russian Maslennitsa!!! Nothing could ever be more Russian. Pancakes with caviar and vodka, sledging and enacted group fights, setting the "Winter Dummy" on fire and forgiven Sunday on the last day of Maslenista. All these traditional activities, coming from the old, pre-Christian Slavic times, will make you feel Russian in your heart too. "Russian Maslenitsa Tour"  US$545 only! More about this tour here.

*****

 Time to learn Russian!

I think after today's lesson most of you will realize how important it is to study at least some Russian, especially if you plan to travel here. Here you go then! EducaCentre is one of the biggest schools of Russian in St.Petersburg offering courses from Survival Russian to Russian for Specialists and Russian at advanced levels. I've just started with some survival classes. Whatever your needs and aims in learning the language are, there is always a course for you. Learn more at www.educacentre.net 


St.Petersburg happenings:

What usually happens in the spring? People "wake up" after and long long winter and start to notice each other again... St.Petersburg is not any different. You know, it's really cool to see so many happy people around. I almost forgot there was something else going on in the city. But, hey, there was! And I'm sure you'll be interested to hear the latest news from St.Petersburg.

First of all, I'd like to join all Russian men and congratulate all women of the world with this great Russian celebration, the "Women's Day" on March 08th. Good occasion to remind the women around us how much we love them for their beauty, intelligence, patience, many many other things, give them flowers and small gifts, do all sorts of other nice things. 

We tend to somehow forget it in the west now. Well, not that the Russian men are more gallant. I've been watching them here and they aren't any better! Just got lucky to have inherited this holiday from the old Soviet times. 

*****

Oh yes, March seems very busy with celebrations. I've almost forgot that Maslennitsa is coming!!! Farewell to winter in Russia. No more. Spring time! From March 11th  through March 17th everyone is going to go crazy!!! Pancakes with caviar and vodka, sledging, enacted group fights and storms of snow fortress, setting the "Winter Dummy" on fire and forgiven Sunday on the last day of Maslennista. The most unique Russian celebration!

*****

OK, back to some serious stuff here. 13th International Children's Musical Festival will be held in Shostakovich and Glinka Philharmonic Halls, Karnaval, Architects House, Shalyapin Museum, Rimsky-Korsakov Museum, Pushkin Museum from March 23rd through March 31, 2002. Apparently, some of those children can play better than world-famous musicians, so should be worth seeing. 

*****

I've been talking about the Hermitage and the Russian museum so much lately, that you must have thought that those are the only two places to go in St.Petersburg. And there's so much more. One, on Zooart, will be featured in Manezh Central Exhibition Hall from March 20 through March 31, 2002. All kinds of art works by animalists. 

*****

Coming soon!!! 2nd International Ballet Festival in Mariinsky Theatre from March 9th through March 18th? With the new production of "Cinderella" by Prokofiev. You may've already guessed that I bought the tickets to almost all the performances. Don't understand what happened to me in the city but when I think of ballet... Can't resist it. 

*****

Here is another interesting exhibition. My girlfriend told me about this one. Rumyantsev Mansion is housing the "Petersburg through the Eve of the Millenium", the exhibition that documents the latest history of St.Petersburg, the last 10 years. Through April 01, 2002, go through the last ten years in one day.

*****

I think I've told you about St.Petersburg Circus before. Great place to spend an evening and feel like a little kid again. They've just presented their new program to St.Petersburg public "What a wonderful world". What's so special about it you ask? Participation of this Bird Circus, I'd say. Never seen something like this before. Through April 01, 2002, you have a chance to see it too!

*****

!!!OK, I have to go now, and See you next month with more of my stories!!!

This is a monthly newsletter of your friendly travel company in St.Petersburg EducaCentre /Russian St.Petersburg Tours with the most interesting news on St.Petersburg and the hottest deals from our company. Please, contact us if you have any questions about our tours. We love hearing from you!!! If you do not wish to receive our newsletter, please, fill in our unsubscription form.

Our best wishes for this month.  

Peter
EducaCentre/Russian St.Petersburg Tours Team

e-mail : travel@educacentre.net
Web : www.educacentre.net
Phone +7-812-974-0373  Fax +7-812-974-0373
22 Sinopskaya emb., St. Petersburg 191167, Russia


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