Comments on: First Impressions of St. Petersburg http://livesofwander.com/2008/09/18/first-impressions-of-st-petersburg/ Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:21:12 +0000 hourly 1 By: Theresa http://livesofwander.com/2008/09/18/first-impressions-of-st-petersburg/comment-page-1/#comment-1623 Theresa Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:36:48 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=505#comment-1623 Thanks for all the suggestions. We took a lot of them---Russian Museum, ballet, mushroom and cheese blini (at least I did, Jeff hates mushrooms...his loss), and much more. We'll be covering it all in the next few days. @Dahab---It would have been so good to meet up. I'm sorry we missed each other. Note to self: In the future, post on the blog our travel plans in advance so that we have a chance to meet up with other travelers! Thanks for all the suggestions. We took a lot of them—Russian Museum, ballet, mushroom and cheese blini (at least I did, Jeff hates mushrooms…his loss), and much more. We’ll be covering it all in the next few days.

@Dahab—It would have been so good to meet up. I’m sorry we missed each other. Note to self: In the future, post on the blog our travel plans in advance so that we have a chance to meet up with other travelers!

]]> By: Dahab http://livesofwander.com/2008/09/18/first-impressions-of-st-petersburg/comment-page-1/#comment-1618 Dahab Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:22:03 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=505#comment-1618 We just got back from 4 days in St. Petes. I wish I had known you guys were there. Would have been fun to meet up in such a random place. I've been to SP before but enjoyed bringing my husband there this time. It's one of my favorite cities. It's a city of extraordinary beauty & grit. Romantic & enigmatic & pensive. Walking around the city always makes me want to be a writer. I definitely prefer it to Moscow (if you think the fashion/high heels/conspicuous consumption/construction/scowling officials are bad in SP, it's 10 times worse in Moscow). Anyway, I guess it's too late to pass on any recommendations. Hope you had a good time there. I look forward to hearing your full review. We just got back from 4 days in St. Petes. I wish I had known you guys were there. Would have been fun to meet up in such a random place. I’ve been to SP before but enjoyed bringing my husband there this time. It’s one of my favorite cities. It’s a city of extraordinary beauty & grit. Romantic & enigmatic & pensive. Walking around the city always makes me want to be a writer. I definitely prefer it to Moscow (if you think the fashion/high heels/conspicuous consumption/construction/scowling officials are bad in SP, it’s 10 times worse in Moscow). Anyway, I guess it’s too late to pass on any recommendations. Hope you had a good time there. I look forward to hearing your full review.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://livesofwander.com/2008/09/18/first-impressions-of-st-petersburg/comment-page-1/#comment-1593 Elizabeth Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:27:15 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=505#comment-1593 I studied abroad in St Petersburg for a semester. Several suggestions: 1) At the blini stands get mushroom and cheese blini. This is an excellent and cheap meal. 2) Drink Ghelka (sp?) vodka. It's got a blue label and is cheaper and better than Ruski Standard. 3) Buy a can of a mixed drink (like gin and tonic or orange and vodka) for one of the street vendors and drink it while walking down the street. Yes, they sell mixed drinks in a can and yes this is the real Russian experience. 4) I only went once, but if you do go to McDonalds (which always has a line out the door) note that an ice cream cone is CHEAPER than a small packet of ketchup. 5) Go to the beer tents and sit and have a glass of Baltika 7. These are the experiences you won't find in a guidebook. Enjoy!! I studied abroad in St Petersburg for a semester. Several suggestions:
1) At the blini stands get mushroom and cheese blini. This is an excellent and cheap meal.
2) Drink Ghelka (sp?) vodka. It’s got a blue label and is cheaper and better than Ruski Standard.
3) Buy a can of a mixed drink (like gin and tonic or orange and vodka) for one of the street vendors and drink it while walking down the street. Yes, they sell mixed drinks in a can and yes this is the real Russian experience.
4) I only went once, but if you do go to McDonalds (which always has a line out the door) note that an ice cream cone is CHEAPER than a small packet of ketchup.
5) Go to the beer tents and sit and have a glass of Baltika 7.

These are the experiences you won’t find in a guidebook. Enjoy!!

]]> By: Lola http://livesofwander.com/2008/09/18/first-impressions-of-st-petersburg/comment-page-1/#comment-1591 Lola Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:18:49 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=505#comment-1591 Looking forward to hearing (and seeing especially!) more on St. Petersburg. Carl’s Jr? Now that's odd! Looking forward to hearing (and seeing especially!) more on St. Petersburg.

Carl’s Jr? Now that’s odd!

]]> By: Anna http://livesofwander.com/2008/09/18/first-impressions-of-st-petersburg/comment-page-1/#comment-1587 Anna Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:59:09 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=505#comment-1587 I'm actually in St. Petersburg right now as well. I leave tomorrow morning after having been here for two weeks now. The fashion is definately questionable, and I know without a doubt that I cannot fly around the city in 5 inch stilettos as they so comfortably do. As well I prefer the minimalist makeup look as opposed to the masses of makeup worn here. You will also notice the mullet has made a huge come back here! Never thought I'd see the likes of that again. If you get a chance, I suggest 1. Go visit in the Amber Room in Katherine's Palace. Its a bit out of the city buts its worth it. Also if you have time 2. Go to the ballet!!!! There is nothing better, honestly. I dont know how much you guys like ballet, but there is a gala going on at the Michaelovskoy (spelling?) theatre which is amazing! I saw it last night and you will not be disappointed. Also watch out for the subway. People get pushy! I’m actually in St. Petersburg right now as well. I leave tomorrow morning after having been here for two weeks now. The fashion is definately questionable, and I know without a doubt that I cannot fly around the city in 5 inch stilettos as they so comfortably do. As well I prefer the minimalist makeup look as opposed to the masses of makeup worn here. You will also notice the mullet has made a huge come back here! Never thought I’d see the likes of that again.

If you get a chance, I suggest 1. Go visit in the Amber Room in Katherine’s Palace. Its a bit out of the city buts its worth it. Also if you have time 2. Go to the ballet!!!! There is nothing better, honestly. I dont know how much you guys like ballet, but there is a gala going on at the Michaelovskoy (spelling?) theatre which is amazing! I saw it last night and you will not be disappointed.

Also watch out for the subway. People get pushy!

]]> By: Audrey http://livesofwander.com/2008/09/18/first-impressions-of-st-petersburg/comment-page-1/#comment-1586 Audrey Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:01:42 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=505#comment-1586 I'd recommend stopping by the Russian museum, in addition to the Hermitage. The medieval Russian icons are mystical. My favorite church was the Church of the Spilt Blood - amazing mosaics! I was last there in 1999, before the latest Russian economic boom. I imagine so much has changed - look forward to seeing photos! Russian fashion does take some getting used to. It's even more revealing in the warm summer months : ) I’d recommend stopping by the Russian museum, in addition to the Hermitage. The medieval Russian icons are mystical. My favorite church was the Church of the Spilt Blood – amazing mosaics!

I was last there in 1999, before the latest Russian economic boom. I imagine so much has changed – look forward to seeing photos!

Russian fashion does take some getting used to. It’s even more revealing in the warm summer months : )

]]> By: Mom/Mary Jane http://livesofwander.com/2008/09/18/first-impressions-of-st-petersburg/comment-page-1/#comment-1585 Mom/Mary Jane Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:26:09 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=505#comment-1585 Sounds quite interesting. Also seems like you had a crazy driver. I can't wait to hear more and see some pictures. Is it an 8 hour time difference for me? When you wrote about shoving the recent history from memory it brought to mind the paper Greg wrote about buildings and their history. Still sounds like a magnificent place to visit. How is the hotel? Sounds quite interesting. Also seems like you had a crazy driver. I can’t wait to hear more and see some pictures. Is it an 8 hour time difference for me? When you wrote about shoving the recent history from memory it brought to mind the paper Greg wrote about buildings and their history. Still sounds like a magnificent place to visit. How is the hotel?

]]>