Newsletter archive. News. Russian St.Petersburg Tours

In St. Petersburg: Friday, November 21st, 2008, 1:31 am (GMT+3) Weather Temperature: -1° C (30° F) • Feels like: -1° C • (30° F) • Cloudy • Humidity: 92% • Barometer: 28.81" Hg (731 mmHg) • Wind: CLM 0 mph • Sunrise: 9:12 AM • Sunset: 4:17 PM •

WARNING START You are browsing 2001-2004 newsletters archive
Prices and events mentioned refer to past times, some links may not work, To get back to current issue, click here WARNING END

Sunny side up! On the streets there is no trace of late March's winter storm and summer is getting closer every day. Full of proud and stunning girls, fast music and bright sunshine - that's how I can describe Nevsky, St. Pete's main avenue. Even rat-racers trying hard to look ultra businesslike and mega successful can't fight the urge to slow down a little and catch a few eyes. That one? No-o. This one? Wow! Oh ... hey, excuse me, what's your name, may I invite you for a cup of coffee?

Where were we? Ah, yeah, newsletter, right! My little joke about Iraq in the last issue brought me a lot of feedback. Oops, never again will I touch political stuff in newsletters. I would like to apologize to people, who felt offended. I would also like to say sorry to the pigeons - they might be offended too. The good thing is, I received more messages than ever, and I hope I made some new friends.

I got a message from a nice girl from Australia, who is studying Russian. She asked me to provide translation for some slang words, so today's issue is devoted to slang - translations from English to Russian.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ok (when someone asks you to do something and your reply is "ok" or
"no worries") in Russian can be:

Ok (true, you will hear ok very often)
KhoroshO ( = good, means that you've been heard and understood and with any luck,
                    your request will be dealt with)
Bez problEm ( = no problem, means that your simple tiny wish will come true soon,
                        because it's very easy to do, as if you were asking for a sheet of paper
                        or a pen or asking someone if it's ok to give him a few bucks you
                        don't have space for in your pockets anymore)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi in Russian can be:

ZdrAstvuj, zdrAstvujte (hello)

PrivEt (Hi)

DObrij den (Good day)

DObrj vEcher (good evening)

DObroje Utro (good morning, U pronounced like in food).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ta (informal "thanks") in Russian:

Never heard of it, I only knew a cyber punk version of this - "10x" - ten+ks = thanks.
It's always SpasIbo in Russian or BolshOye spasIbo ("big thanks", thank you very much). Sometimes it's Spasib' , but it's not as short as ta. If you want to impress you friends, say old Russian "SpasIbOchka" - like thankee or something.

There is also a joke about "BolshOye spasIbo" - "MAlenkoye pozhalysta", translated as - "Big thanks - you're little welcome", but it is being used only between people who know each other to show that "big" wasn't neccessary, just "spasibo" have been okay. A bit like "No big deal".

There's also another joke on "Spasibo" - Thanks ----- you can't put thanks into your pocket or pour into a glass. Spasibo ----- - Spasibo v karmAn ne polOzhizh i v stakAn ne nal'esh. Used as a last resort to explain that you need money, not sincere thanks.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Guy(s) in Russian:

pAren' (guy) , pArny (guys).
pAren or pArny is usually used by girls to describe men ... if its between guys, usually other words are used:

pazanY (Guys!), bratvA (yo, bandits), rebyAta (guys!).

Molodoy chelovek (young man )
Girls usually say that they have a new pAren', but women call these dirty two-footed animals "molodoy chelovek", when they want to show somehow that this guy is good enough to be not just "pAren".

Molchel (short of molodoy chelovek ) is used sometimes in written Russian, it's not very widely used.

Muzhik (man, guy, it can sounds vulgar).
Ey muzhik, tebe chego nada ? (Hey man, what do you want?)
Muzhik ja ili ne muzhik, nalivay eshe ! (Am I a man or not ? pour me some more [vodka])
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Buddies / mates in Russian will be:
Drug (friend, u as in book).
DruzyA (buddies)
druzyA-priyAtely(buddies-mates).
If you want to show that someone is your friend for life, you say "ChorOshiy drug" (good friend of mine).

More Russian lessons in our next issues
I think that's enough for today, and now let's listen
to another story from PetersWalkingTours

Driving Mad
column by Petr Kozyrev,
Peter's Walking Tours
e-mail : info@peterswalk.com

Have you been to Bangkok lately? Then you'll never forget their tuk-tuks - a science-fiction type vehicle on three wheels with a little carriage in the back for passengers. Russia might not be as exotic as Thailand, but we have no shortage of our own little unusual means of public transport. Today, we'll introduce you the Marshrutka, or public minibus.

The Marshrutka is the most delightful means of transportation existing in Russia. In St.Petersburg alone, there are several hundred routes of marshrutka, thousands of vehicles - on a busy rush hour they clog all the main roads, taking alternative routes through people's back yards, using the pavement as an extra lane, getting stuck in mud trying to shortcut a traffic jam by crossing a lawn. Those menacing white or yellow (or red, or striped, for that matter) minivans with sliding doors are absolutely mad. But how do you use one?

First, you need to find out which number you want to take. Best to have a local to help you here - but then even the locals sometimes don't know more than just the one they take to work. Basically, a marshrutka works like a regular bus - there's a route number indicated on the front of the vehicle, and a list of major stops on the side (sometimes right on the front too). The difference is that a marshrutka does not use designated bus stops, instead pulling over anywhere along the route as the driver pleases. It will indeed stop where you flag it down, or where you ask the driver to stop for you.

Well, flagging one down is easy - done the same way you'd flag down a taxi at home. There's no strict procedure as to how exactly to hold your arm - just stretch it out when you see your minibus approaching, and it will pull over, even out of the fast lane. Climb inside - there are usually up to fourteen seats, including two seats in the front, near the driver. Quite often they'll all be taken - well, then you stand and wait for somebody to get off.

One convenient thing is paying for your ride. The fare is always indicated on a piece of paper hanging above the driver's seat - it is a flat fee, regardless of how far you go. You pass your money to the driver, and in a few seconds he returns you the change - without even slowing down! Some marshrutkas want you to pay at the end of the ride, when you're about to get off - but those are rare these days, and you'll be on the safe side passing your money to the driver immediately upon gettting in. As of this April, most marshrutkas cost anywhere between 6 and 14 rubles - the best deal west of the Ural mountains.

Now, the tricky part is knowing where to stop. You'll see other passengers shouting something towards the front of the marshrutka to get it to stop where they want. It's usually simple things, like 'stop right here' or 'at the corner', or 'stop at the [bus] stop' (that one is as much of a tongue twister in Russian as it is in English - try practising saying 'ostanovite na [avtobusnoy] ostanovke' before using it). It is best to know a landmark near your destination that you can name in Russian, and use it as your get-off call. For example, the Hermitage is a good one - but you would have to use the French version of its name, Ermitazh, to be understood. Or, when you see your destination a hundred metres ahead, simply tap the driver on the shoulder and say 'Stop!' - the same word in Russian.

Most marshrutkas that you catch on Nevsky Prospekt (the city's main street) would go all the way along to the other end. Numbers like 128, 129,147 for getting to Palace Square, number 8 goes almost there and turns off left just a block before. Marshrutkas connect terminal metro stations to remote districts of the city, and in the centre they are generally much more effective than the metro - sometimes even during rush hour.

Cafe Sinope is located next door to the EducaCentre/RST building. Go out of the building, turn left, and in 30

seconds you're in the cafe. This makes Sinope a kind of official EducaCentre/RST cantina.

Sinope inside is something between a seamen's dive and sailing-ship's messy interior. On the ceiling there is a painting of XVII-XIX century Russian naval battles, there are some other paintings on the walls, and light comes from a chandelier in the form of a steering-wheel.

But right after your first lunch in Sinope your attention will be concentrated on the nice food and drinks - they do deserve it. One of the salads is more

than enough for jogging and fitness maniacs, but if you need serious recharging, order a full-course menu with glass of wine - it will only cost you about $10, and immediately deliver you to happy eaters' paradise.

What about your social life? Got no energy for work or lessons? Would you like to celebrate your birthday, discuss politicsl or work, or just have a glass of beer after work or lessons? In any case your destination should be Sinope.

Ask Irina, your friend at the bar for a starter, and as soon as you finish it, the main course will come. Then you will feel warmness and start to take everything easy - and in two or three hours, after all of the personalities and problems they bring, have been successfuly discussed, you go home to surprise your family or landlady with "No dinner required, let's go out and have some fun, we only live once ... ". With Sinope's atmosphere of home, you can easily get used to be here often, and so you can end up leaving a substantial portion of your money in Sinope. Beware.

St. Peter don't you call me
'cause I can't go
I sold my soul
to the company store (c)Merle Travis

Back on the trail of stories from St. Petersburg tourists - news from Henrik Schultz

15 visits to St. Pete and still counting ...
by Henrik Schultz, Denmark
e-mail: htrs@htrs.dk

Dear Peter,
With this I send an account of my 15 visits (and counting) to St. Petersburg.
My first visit was in July 1995. On board a Russian research vessel we arrived from the Baltic Sea late in the evening and anchored up near Kronstadt to wait for the pilot to come next morning. This was my first experience of the White Nights and a perfect introduction to this metropolis, till now unknown for me. The following arrivals took place via Pulkovo 2, and by transfer taxi to Moskovsky Ave. I had time to think about the new experiences I would have the next 8-10 days.

After the first introduction by my hosts in 95, I quickly learned to find my way around the city, how to use the metro, the ticket system in buses and change currency. It became clear that further exploration had to be carefully planned. I chose the historic approach, starting with Peter the Great. Investigating the Peter-Paul fortress, Peter's cottage, the Admiralty, the Summer Palace, the Alexander Nevskij monastery and the Mensjikov Palace. Then the period of Elisabeth/Katherine - the architect Rastrelli constructed palaces like the Winter Palace and the Hermitage, the Anitjkov Palace, the Stroganov Palace, Smolnyj and the Tavritjeski Palace and so on right up to the present day. Later I took stock of the city's geographic dimensions. St. Petersburg is not only Nevskij Prospekt: as an example, Kamennoostroskij Prospekt also has numerous sights and rich possibilities for shopping and visiting cafes and restaurants.

Part of my story about St. Petersburg also tells of the Russian hospitality I experienced during many stays in private homes. I soon learned to bring my own slippers, to remember flowers for the hostess - always uneven numbers, and at the table to turn the fork "correctly" - the opposite of what we do in Denmark. About food and drink - the numbers of dishes are indescribable, there are many more than I could possible eat! You must also remember that in Russia you never drink vodka and beer at the same time, again something different from traditions in the land of the Vikings [Editors note: Really? I thought, that it's Russian tradition to mix beer and vodka, while people from the West never do so. Strange experience we have.]

For the tourist without much knowledge of the Russian language, the menu in cafes and restaurants may be a problem, and everything may go wrong when you order something to eat for lunch. If nothing works you can always try "tchi bajarkyj" or "beef stroganov". The first words I learned in Russian were "adno pivo balsjoj pazjalusta" - and that was important! I would like to stress that I have always been met with friendliness and helpfulness everywhere. From customs officials in the airport, the staff in the hotel and in the shops.

It is difficult to describe my visits to St. Petersburg in a few words, but a special impression of the city can be experienced when standing in Peter-Paul Cathedral. On one side is the sarcophagus of Peter the Great and on the other side you find the crypt in St. Catherine Chapel and you sense the presence of history from the 27th of May 1703 to the 17th of July 1998.

Congratulations with the 300th-anniversary!

Henrik Schultz

What's new in Russian St. Petersburg Tours and EducaCentre

Today we have news about the administrator of the RST hostel, booklets printed, new professional photos of St. Petersburg.

Elena Osmakova joined the RST crew as Hostel manager. She is 25 y.o., has wide experience in the travel industry. Her e-mail is hostel@russian-st-petersburg.com

Booklets of RST company and RST hostel sent to print

The travel part of our business was started and developed for 3 years as an Internet travel company, but now, with a growing number of customers, the time has come to get serious - our company and hostel booklets have been designed and sent to printing-office. If you'd like to sign up as an RST agent and receive a pack of booklets, please visit this page or write to agents-link@russian-st-petersburg.com

New photos of St. Petersburg
With the help of Petr Sobolev, our friend, the Gallery of St. Petersburg has been updated with 60 new photos of St. Petersburg. Now visitors of our web site have access to 120 high-res professional photos . We have been featured in search engines, as "All major sights of St. Petersburg on a single page" - and that's true, we created this resouce because we couldn't find any other place on the net, where you can see all of St. Pete at once. Click here to see our gallery.

The premier of "Madam Lionelly" ballet
on the stage of St.Petersburg Conservatoire
At the eve of the 300th anniversary choreographer Kirill Simonov, ballet dancer Irma Nioradze and designer Igor Chapurin joined their efforts to create the new project - "Madam Lionelly" ballet which was performed for the first time on April 17 on the stage of St.Petersburg Conservatoire. The creators of the ballet attempted to convey their vision of the modern business - woman: her strength and delicacy, fast pace of life and timeless sensuality. Irma Nioradze, the leading ballerina from Mariinsky Theater danced the main part, her partner was the famous dancer Ilya Kuznetsov.

After the premier in St. Petersburg the ballet will be performed on one of the most famous stages in the world - in London Albert Hall (on May 7 and 8). In October the ballet will be shown in Moscow.
source : www.petersburgcity.com

President Bush will visit St. Petersburg during 300th anniversary celebrations
President of the USA George Bush intends to take part in St. Petersburg's 300th anniversary celebrations. The President's desire to visit St. Petersburg was confirmed at a press conference on the 'Post-war settlement in Iraq' by US Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow. Vershbow said that Bush would come to St. Petersburg not just to celebrate the city's anniversary, but also in order to 'develop bilateral relations.' He also said that 'our countries have significant differences over the Iraq problem, but we are united by the need to provide help to the Iraqi people in rebuilding the country.' 'US President George Bush intends to continue his bilateral dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin,' announced the ambassador.
source : www.petersburgcity.com

Illustrated history of St. Petersburg
Presented in a form of old book, brief history of St. Petersburg is now available online at http://petersburgcity.com/city/history/. If you don't like to listen to guides, you can get major historical St. Petersburg facts online.
source in Russian : www.petersburgcity.com

American Wild West exhibition opened in St. Petersburg
The exhibition 'Artists from the American West 1830-1940' opens on Friday in the Marble Palace of the State Russian Museum. Over the course of a century the image 'American Wild West' changed for the representatives of American culture - from the land, mysteries, wealth and conquest, from the discovery and loss of the romantic American eagle, which is still a symbol of the government. The exhibition runs until the middle of May.
source : www.petersburgcity.com

Russian-Swiss Music Festival began in St. Petersburg April 19
According to Eduard Sorin, the executive director and producer of the festival, concerts will feature performances of works by Bach, Martin, Debussy, Schnittke, Stravinsky, Shostakovich and Rimsky-Korsakov. The festival runs until April 25. Swiss Honorary Consul Madeleine Luti said that the festival was the first event in the Swiss Consulate's programme for St. Petersburg's 300th anniversary year. She also expressed the hope that St. Petersburg's public would show a wide interest in 'the musical dialogue between two friendly countries.'
source : www.petersburgcity.com

Sweden will restore church in St. Petersburg
as the 300th anniversary gift to the city
Sweden's main gift to St. Petersburg on the city's 300th anniversary will be the restoration of St. Catherine's Church on Malaya Konyushennaya Street. This was announced yesterday by Swedish Consul General May Andersson at a press conference in the International Press Centre. According to Andersson, the Swedish State Department for Protecting Monuments plans to start reconstruction work on the Swedish church and other buildings belonging to the church later this year.
source : www.petersburgcity.com

Worldwide Club of St. Petersburgers Opens Forum in Berlin
A three-day forum of the Worldwide Club of St. Petersburgers took place in Berlin. The club was founded two years ago on the initiative of several emigre organisations in the US, Germany and Israel, and unites former residents of St. Petersburg who have settled around the globe. The forum participants were welcomed on behalf of the Berlin city administration by Mayor Klaus Wowereit. The forum is being attended by many well-known cultural, political and business figures from around the globe.
source : www.petersburgcity.com

Faces of the time
St. Petersburg Times professional photographers, Sergey Grachev and Alexander Belenky, putted one hundred of their best photos to http://www.sptimesrussia.com/exibit/ . You will see St.Petersburg people, events and places. There are funny pictures, and also photos to think about - so don't miss such a cool gallery, it really deserves your attention.
source : http://www.sptimes.ru/exibit/


	!!! See you in May 2003 with my new stories !!! And if you have QUESTION, please ask at peter@russian-st-petersburg.com !

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