Route of the Romanovs 10 Days | St Petersburg to Yekaterinburg

TRIP NOTES

Route of the Romanovs 10 days | St Petersburg to Yekaterinburg

Follow in the footsteps of • Discover a lavish residence of the tsars • Airport arrival transfer on day 1 and Russia's last ruling aristocrats on a day trip to Catherine Palace at departure transfer on day 10 • - the Romanovs. Starting in St Tsarkoe Selo (winter: mid-October to All relevant transfers and transportation April) or Peterhof Palace and gardens on tour Petersburg - the city of the Tsars, (summer: May to mid-October) • Moscow Metro travel card - 6 journeys head down to Russia's mighty • Take in the highlights of the capital on a capital city - Moscow and then walking tour, visiting Moscow's famous What's Not Included ride the Trans-Siberian railway to Red Square, home to the historic GUM • Entrance Fees: USD$70-80pp, paid in Yekaterinburg, crossing the Ural Department Store, Lenin’s Mausoleum local currency Mountains, bound for Siberia. and spectacular St Basil’s Cathedral • International flights and visa • Take a guided tour of the Moscow • Tip for your tour guide. We recommend Kremlin, Russia’s political power house. you allow USD$3 - 5 per day, per HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Stroll around the grounds of this fortified traveller. Tipping your guide is an entirely complex, visit the Kremlin's cathedrals personal gesture. Trip Highlights and see the mighty Tsar Bell • Learn about the last days of the DETAILED ITINERARY Romanovs in Yekaterinburg, visiting the What's Included sites where Tsar Nicolas II and his family • 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners Day 1 : St Petersburg were assassinated and buried (including a Welcome Dinner on day 1) Tuesday. Welcome to Russia! You will be met • • Straddle two continents at the famous High speed train from St Petersburg to upon arrival at St Petersburg Pulkovo Airport obelisk Europe/Asia border marker in Moscow and transferred to your hotel for check-in. At • Yekaterinburg Overnight Trans-Siberian train from 7pm this evening meet for dinner with the rest • Experience the Trans-Siberian railway on Moscow to Yekaterinburg in 4-berth of your group at the hotel, followed by an an overnight train journey from Moscow sleeper cabin, including bed linen informative welcome meeting. Overnight - St to Yekaterinburg (upgrade to 2-berth cabin available upon Petersburg (D) • Explore the beautiful city of St Petersburg, request at time of booking) including the exquisite Church on Spilled • 8 nights 3-4 star hotels Blood, Peter & Paul Fortress and Nevsky • Escorted by an English speaking Russian Prospekt tour guide on days 1 - 6 • Marvel at the dazzling array of art and • Specialist Russian guides at local sights exhibits in the world-famous Hermitage including Yekaterinburg Museum, at the Winter Palace in St • Guided sightseeing - St Petersburg, Petersburg Moscow and Yekaterinburg

Route of the Romanovs - 10 days updated on 26-09-2021 03:05:28 www.onthegotours.com This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday. Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to UK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] this itinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa AUS 1300 855 684 [email protected] requirements are subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours. NZ 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 - 1 - USA 1 866 606 2960 SA 0800 990 311 TRIP NOTES

Route of the Romanovs

Day 2 : City Tour & Hermitage winter we visit Catherine Palace at Tsarskoe Show or a Moscow by Night coach tour and Museum Selo (or Pavlosk Palace if Catherine Palace river cruise. Optional excursions are subject is closed). Often referred to as the 'Russian to availability and can be booked and paid for Versailles’, Peterhof is famous for its beautiful locally. Overnight - Moscow (B, L) gardens which are a wonderland of greenery and flowers, sweeping vistas and ornate Day 5 : Optional Bunker Tour architectural decorations, with spectacular gold fountains. At Catherine's Palace it's the exterior and lavishly decorated interior that is the highlight and the famous Amber room is simply spectacular, bedecked in gold and amber. We explore the beautiful city of St Petersburg on a guided tour today. Travelling by Returning to the city centre we visit the bus we drive along the main thoroughfare beautiful Church On Spilled Blood and then Nevsky Prospekt, passing the museum and there's free time to explore or shop for Today is free to spend at leisure in Moscow. university districts and stopping for photos souvenirs before we board the 5pm high The wonderful Izmailovo Market is just a at magnificent St Isaac's Cathedral and The speed train to Moscow. Reaching the capital short stroll from our hotel. This sprawling Bronze Horseman. Then we explore the Peter in just 4 hours, we transfer to our hotel for the market lies behind the walls of an ancient and Paul Fortress and the ornate Peter and night. Overnight - Moscow (B) kremlin and sells everything from matryoshka Paul Cathedral which houses the tombs of dolls to fur hats. There are also plenty of the Romanov monarchs. After a tasty lunch of Day 4 : Red Square & Kremlin great galleries, museums and shops all within traditional Russian cuisine we take a guided walking distance in the city centre. tour of the incredible Hermitage Museum in the beautiful Winter Palace - which houses Alternatively consider booking our optional one of the biggest and best art collections on Inside a Soviet Bunker Tour Add On and earth. head 65 metres underground to explore the Underground Cold War Museum - a Stalinist- Spend the rest of the day at leisure and this era Soviet Bunker that up until recently was a evening consider an optional excursion to top secret symbol of Soviet Power. the ballet or perhaps a Cossack show. All optional excursions are subject to availability Taking the metro, we will make our way to Overnight - Moscow (B) and minimum numbers - book and pay locally. the legendary Red Square for the start of Overnight - St Petersburg (B, L) Day 6 : Free Time in Moscow our walking tour this morning. Here we will Moscow – Yekaterinburg. Our last day in take in sights such as the epitome of Russian Day 3 : Peterhof or Catherine Moscow is free for you to independently power – the Kremlin, Lenin’s Mausoleum and Palace explore or stock up on Soviet souvenirs. As the ritzy GUM department store. At the south this tour runs in conjunction with other tours, end of the square, feast your eyes on the today you will also bid farewell to those iconic St Basil’s Cathedral. We also tour the ending their tour in Moscow, and to your mighty Kremlin, with a guided walk through tour leader who has escorted you thus far. the grounds to see numerous government This afternoon transfer to the train station buildings, gold-domed cathedrals and the for an overnight train journey, travelling Tsar Bell - which is the largest bell that never east bound on the famous Trans-Siberian rang! If open, you can pay your respects line to Yekaterinburg. The train departs at to the grandfather of Communism at Lenin’s approximately 4.30pm. mausoleum. Remainder of the day is at St Petersburg – Moscow. Today we see leisure. Please note: Hotel check-out is at 1100hrs. how the Russian tsars lived, heading out However, the hotel has a luggage storage of the city to explore one of their lavish During our stay in Moscow there will be the facility which you can use (nominal cost). A palaces. We visit Peterhof Palace and its chance to join some of our optional evening guide will not accompany you on the train, the beautiful gardens on the Gulf of Finland in excursions, such as a traditional Cossack journey is unescorted. the summer (May to mid October) and in the

Route of the Romanovs

Overnight - Trans-Siberian sleeper train (B) can also see the gorgeous villas of the we reserve the right to substitute these 19th century gold merchants, statues of the hotels to ones of a similar standard. Day 7 : The Trans-Siberian founders of the city and Communist leaders. Please refer to your Tour Voucher for your Railway confirmed arrival hotel and further arrival After lunch we drive out of town to visit the information. famous obelisk Europe/Asia border marker Harbor Club Hotel where you can stand with a foot in each continent! Crossing the border- line we get Well-located in St Petersburg, the Harbor a certificate and a glass of sparkling wine. Club Hotel can be found on a quiet street, Then we head to the Ganina Yama Monastery yet only a short walk from the bustling city which is dedicated to the Romanov family and centre. Its guestrooms feature modern built on the site of the former mine, where décor, with spacious ensuite bathrooms and their corpses were unceremoniously dumped modern amenities including air conditioning. by the Bolsheviks in 1918. The Romanovs' You’ll also find a shared lounge and bar, as Travelling on the Trans-Siberian continue remains were then moved a few kilometres to well as an on-site restaurant serving tasty the journey east bound across the beautiful a secret grave which is now a memorial, this is European cuisine. Here, guests can enjoy Ural Mountains. Pulling into Yekaterinburg at our last stop of the day. When the secret grave a continental or buffet breakfast or, if you’d approximately 8pm this evening, we meet our was discovered in 1978 the Romanov remains prefer, there is also the option of dining in local guide and transfer to the hotel for dinner were moved to their final resting place at the comfort of your hotel room. and relaxation. Overnight - Yekaterinburg (D) the beautiful SS Peter and Paul Cathedral at Day 8 : Yekaterinburg Peter and Paul Fortress, which we visit in St Petersburg. Overnight - Yekaterinburg (B, L) Day 9 : Explore Yekaterinburg Today is free for you to take advantage of all that Yekaterinburg has to offer as a wonderful outdoors destination. You will be able to Izmailovo Delta Hotel choose from a range of exciting options that The 4 star Izmailovo Delta Hotel forms can be booked and paid for locally. In the part of the huge Izmailovo Gamma Delta summer you can try your hand at rafting, work complex, which was built to accommodate up a sweat hiking or visit a Koptelova - a guests and participants of the 1980 Olympic This morning we explore the historical centre traditional Siberian village. While in the winter, Games in Moscow. Offering comfortable of Yekaterinburg on a walking tour. The city you can take full advantage of the sub-zero guest rooms with modern amenities, the was founded in 1723 to exploit the mineral temperatures with a thrilling dog-sledding ride complex also boasts 16 restaurants and bars riches of the surrounding Ural Mountains and or ice-fishing! Please contact us for further serving Russian and international cuisine, a Siberia but what really put Yekaterinburg details. Overnight - Yekaterinburg (B) SPA, gym and swimming pool, in addition to on the map in the western world was the shops, a bank and post office. Conveniently tragic event that occurred here in 1918. For Day 10 : Yekaterinburg located with the Partizanskaya Metro Station it was in the cellar of a house, where the Thursday. Our tour comes to an end today just 350 yards away, it's a quick 10 minute beautiful Church on the Blood now stands, after breakfast. After hotel check-out a metro ride to Red Square where you can that Tsar Nicholas Romanov II and his family departure transfer will take you to the railway take in the highlights of the capital. The hotel were executed. Our walking tour takes us to station or airport for your onward travel. is also ideally located for souvenir shopping, this very church where you’ll see a sculpture with the famous Izmailovo Market just a short dedicated to the Tsar and his family, the area Note: If you’d like to return to Moscow stroll away. of their execution and a modest exhibition on rather than depart from Yekaterinburg, we can their lives. arrange transportation aboard the train. Call us for rates.(B) Our walking tour also takes in 1905 Revolution Square, the beautiful views from HOTELS the embankment side and the Hill of Highlighted below are some of the hotels Ascension, and the sorrowful Afghanistan which we frequently use on this tour, though memorial at the Red Army Square. We

Route of the Romanovs

Chekhov Hotel lives of the Romanovs, sympathisers moved the family to Tobolsk (Siberia). KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Converted in 2009 from a nineteenth century mansion, the Chekhov hotel is In November 1917, the Bolsheviks attained COVID-19 Vaccination a popular boutique hotel in the heart of power throughout most of Russia. In the Requirements Yekaterinburg. The comfortable rooms are spring of 1918, the Bolsheviks moved the As of 01 November 2021 it is a condition of modest in style with furnishings that hark Imperial family to the Impatiev House in travel, as detailed in our Terms & Conditions back to the property's past with the modern Yekaterinburg, the last place they lived. On that all travellers over 18 years provide proof staple of free WiFi. A buffet breakfast is the night of July 17 1918 the Romanovs were of COVID-19 vaccination. served onsite with complimentary tea and told to dress and were led to a small room pastries available throughout the day, in the basement. They were told to wait for We recognise any vaccine that has been perfect for refuelling between sightseeing. the motorcars, which would be taking them authorised for use in the country where The hotel is well located close to the to a safer place because the White Army was the vaccine was administered. This includes central square of the city and next to a local approaching. As they entered the basement vaccines such as AstraZeneca, Covaxin, supermarket and plenty of restaurants. they were told to gather for a picture by Yakov Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer- Yurovsky who, unbeknownst to them, was the BioNtech, Sinopharm, Sinovac and Sputnik. head executioner. Lenin, the leader of the In all instances, you must be fully immunised. Bolsheviks, gave the order for the execution This means you must receive the full dosage of the Imperial family. Yurovsky and eleven of the COVID-19 vaccine and allow a minimum armed men carried out this order. of 14 days before travelling in order for Some miles from Yekaterinburg, the bodies immunity to take effect. Each COVID-19 were robbed of their valuables (it is vaccine has different dosages and timeframes The Romanovs alleged the haul was a very healthy for immunisation, so please check the related The Romanovs were Russia’s last ruling one), dismembered, treated with sulphuric medical advice associated with your vaccine. aristocratic family. The illustrious age of acid and dumped in a mine pit. Fearing Children under 18 years are not required to the Romanovs abruptly ended with the fabrications surrounding the whereabouts of provide evidence of vaccination to travel at brutal slaughter of the Imperial family in the remains, they were then relocated to this time. Yekaterinburg. The Romanov dynasty was in another mineshaft. In 1991 archaeologists If you are unable to be vaccinated due power in Russia from 1613 to 1917. opened a shallow pit near Yekaterinburg. to medical reasons, you may apply for an Bone fragments of the nine bodies found exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on Repeated defeats of the Russian army in were sent for extensive forensic testing in the a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must World War I led to widespread rioting and UK where it was revealed the bones were the provide supporting documentation from a bitterness towards this aristocratic rule in remains of the Romanovs. the major cities across the Russian Empire. medical professional. Unsuccessful pushes had been made in the Controversies were then laid aside long Proof of COVID-19 immunisation must past to establish a constitutional monarchy enough for the family to be laid to rest. On be provided to us no less than where a parliament would be elected by July 17, 1998, the remains of the Tsar, his wife, 4 weeks prior to travel. We accept the public, freedom of speech would be three of his children, their doctor and three COVID-19 digital certificates, NHS Covid established and peasantry would receive servants were buried in St Petersburg’s SS Pass or Vaccination Record Cards e- land. Peter and Paul Cathedral, the resting place of mailed to [email protected] or you most of Nicholas II’s predecessors. When the revolution was reignited in 1917, can upload your vaccination history the Revolutionaries had more support than Many rumours spread with regards to the yourself via our traveller login. https:// ever and the determination to accomplish murders and an air of mystery surrounds www.onthegotours.com/Login their goals. During this time, because of World the demise of the Romanovs. One rumour The information you will need to upload War I, there was hardly any food or fuel, and was that the youngest daughter, Anastasia includes: Administering national authority or harsh winters made for hard times. Looting somehow managed to survive. Another was government, document No, name of Vaccine, and pandemonium set in bringing about the that not all the family were murdered in date/s of vaccination. revolution. Tsar Nicholas II was forced to the basement and that some, primarily the abdicate and the former royal family were children and Alexandra, were removed from exiled to Tsarskoye Selo and put under house the house and shot elsewhere. arrest whilst the Bolsheviks (a division of the Communists) gained power. Fearing for the

Route of the Romanovs

Group Tour Optional (minimum of 6 people are required for this trip will need to request a separate Letter Of Invite Excursions to run). From USD$60 from the hotel for these nights. We offer a range of optional evening • Watch the world-class national dance South African passport holders are granted excursions which are bookable locally on our show 'Kostroma' in Moscow, which offers an visa free entry to Russia for a duration of up to group tours. The optional excursions that are aesthetic journey into Russia’s deep history, 90 days when travelling without the intention offered change each week dependent upon with a varied mix of national dances and of living, working or studying in Russia. what is on in St Petersburg and Moscow at contemporary ballet pieces. From USD$60 the time and the group size. Some of the If you're a resident of the UK and would like excursions only operate a specific times of Entrance Fees Not Included someone to handle your visa application for year and have a minimum group size. Moscow and St Petersburg entrance fees are you then we recommend CIBTvisas. Please not included in the cost of our Russia group visit http://www.cibtvisas.co.uk/onthego to At the welcome meeting on day 1 your tour tours, these need to be paid to your tour start your visa application with them. leader will give you a list of the optional leader on day 2 in local currency - Roubles. excursions that are available during your If you reside overseas or are departing the You will find the cost of entrance fees noted tour and the cost of them in Roubles. UK more than 3 months prior to arrival in under 'What's Not Included' on page 1 of this Please note that the price of the optional Russia, we can provide you with the necessary document. excursions is dependent upon the number invitation letter for entry into Russia in order of people who choose to book and if the Please note that entrance fee amounts do for you to procure the visa independently excursion is escorted by the guide and change and thus upon your arrival to Russia from a Russian Embassy/consulate in your includes transportation. Below are some of your leader will give an exact total and region. Please note independent applications our most popular optional excursions that can breakdown. Please note that we do not are your own responsibility. be booked and paid for locally in Russian include a guided tour of the interior of St Further information is available online at Roubles (cash) on the morning of day 2. Basil’s Cathedral, should you wish to go inside onthegotours.com/Russia/Visas. It is your please budget approx USD$8. • Watch a wonderful Russian ballet in St responsibility to ensure you procure your visa Petersburg. We offer performances in the Entrance fees are also excluded on our Best in a timely fashion. We recommend you apply Mikhailovsky Theatre or the Royal Hermitage of St Petersburg & Moscow and our Russian for your visa at least 1 month before departure. Theatre depending on availability. Prices vary Capitals Past & Present private tours. Pay from USD$100-200 these entrance fees locally at each site. Arrival Transfer An arrival transfer is included for all Please note: we cannot reserve ballet tickets those arriving on day 1 or those in advance and therefore they're subject to Tipping arriving earlier who have booked pre tour availability. Your tour leader will find out how accommodation through On The Go. Our As in many countries tipping is becoming many people wish to book at the welcome transfer representatives wait 90 minutes from the norm in Russia. In better restaurants it is meeting, check what seats are available and the time your flight has landed and they suggested that you tip 10% of the bill if you provide a price. If you have a specific ballet will be holding a visible On The Go sign. If were pleased with the food/service. that you'd like to watch or you want to you are delayed please contact our Moscow guarantee that's you'll have good seats, we If you would like to express your appreciation or St Petersburg office (as detailed on your strongly recommend booking tickets yourself to your tour guide, we've made suggestion as tour voucher) to advise that you have been online prior to departure. to the appropriate amount on page 1 (under delayed for whatever reason. If your luggage has been misplaced, head to ‘Information’ or • Located across 42 islands, Saint-Petersburg the heading 'Exclusions') of these Trip Notes. your airline’s desk prior to exiting Customs to is a perfect place to explore by water and Tipping is an entirely personal gesture. find out how you may lodge a ‘lost luggage’ enjoy the stunning architecture that this city report. boasts. Have a wonderful journey by boat Visas Most travellers require a visa to visit Russia. along the rivers and canals and feel the In order to obtain your visa a Russia Letter Overnight Trains atmosphere of the biggest Northern port of of Invitation is required (endorsed by the Russian Revolution, Route of the Romanovs Russia. (Offered 15 May - 15 Sept). The rates Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) which we and The Big Chill include a comfortable are subject to a minimum of 6 participants. will procure for you. We will provide a Letter of overnight train journey. Russian trains From USD$45 Invite for the duration of the tour and any pre are solid, utilitarian and reliable. All our • Experience Moscow by night on a or post night's accommodation that you have passengers are reserved in 4-berth closed panoramic coach tour and river cruise booked through On The Go Tours. If you book cabins with freshly laundered bed linen your own pre or post tour accommodation you provided. Though not air conditioned, trains

Route of the Romanovs are indeed heated during the winter season. cheques is a real hassle. Credit cards are are travelling during or around this time We recommend stocking up on some snacks readily accepted. certain sites may be closed due to parade and drinks before you board the train. preparation. Climate We book train tickets 65 days in advance of Russia is a destination that offers year-round What to Pack travel, and once they have been purchased appeal. Certainly summer is appealing for • A frameless backpack or small suitcase they are non-refundable and non-changeable. many travellers. Devoid of snow-covered on wheels is recommended for your tour. Should you wish to upgrade to a 2 berth landscapes, Russia positively blooms in spring Complimentary porterage is not offered at cabin you will need inform us 65 days prior and summer. The snow melts to reveal hotels or train stations. Often we need to walk to departure, otherwise you will have to pay a beautifully coloured flowers and manicured some distance from where we’re dropped off/ cancellation fee on top of the upgrade price. lawns at many of Russia’s most famous picked up at train station palaces, parks and gardens and previously • Smaller day bag for your camera and i-Pod Please note for any train journeys - if you book spindly birch trees heaving with green foliage. etc your tour less than 65 days before departure Russia is pleasantly warm in summer. In • Summer - Russia can get very hot during then it is unlikely you will be in the same July and August temperatures have been the summer months of July/August. Pack carriage as the others in the group as their known to rival the Mediterranean. During mid- lightweight cottons and warmer clothes for tickets will have already been purchased. summer in the northern city of St Petersburg the evening Fitness there is no real darkness and this wonderful • Winter - Russia is bitterly cold from October There may be a lot of walking involved on your phenomenon is known as ‘the white nights’. through to March. Pack a scarf, quality gloves, hat, thermal leggings and longer length coat. tour, particularly in Moscow where we explore Autumn (September - October) is brief but also most of the sites on foot, therefore please You'll also need a warm pair of boots/shoes a good time to travel to Russia, when there with a good grip be aware that a reasonable level of fitness is are less crowds and the country is swathed required. • Personal first aid kit (see ‘Health in golden autumnal hues. From November precautions’) Health Requirements through to February winter sets in and the • Sunglasses and an umbrella country is usually blanketed in crisp white It is recommended that you be vaccinated • Swim wear and a towel (for the banya/sauna) snow. Despite the freezing temperatures, this for Diphtheria, Polio and Tetanus. Food and • Mosquito repellent & sunscreen (if visiting in is a magical time to visit if you like snow waterborne diseases are more common than summer) - think fluffy hats, warm coats, picturesque in the UK, so Typhoid and Hepatitis A • Money belt and a universal adapter snowy landscapes and a very high chance of are recommended. If visiting Yekaterinburg • Flat pack toilet paper and anti-bacterial experiencing a white Christmas! and undertaking outdoor activities between wipes May and August, a vaccination for tick- Time • Spare camera batteries, especially if you possess a digital camera which requires born Encephalitis may be recommended. Russia (European Russia west of the Urals) is specialist high-power batteries This information is only intended as a guide 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime (GMT). • Two spare passport photos/passport and recommendations can change so please From the last Sunday in March to the last photocopy in case of loss/theft consult with your local healthcare provider. Sunday in October, summertime is in force in • Your luggage should not exceed 20kg the UK and time reverts to 4 hours ahead of Drink bottled water only, pack some anti- (44pounds). Pack as light as possible to leave GMT. diarrhoea medication, mosquito repellent and room for the souvenirs! sun cream if visiting in summer. Voltage Food & Drink Standard voltage in Russia is 220V, 50Hz AC. Currency Food Sockets require a Continental or European While the Russian Rouble is no longer a Russia produces a very diverse culinary plug with two round pins. Remember to pack closed currency, it can sometimes be difficult repertoire. Beyond Moscow, St Petersburg a travel adaptor. to buy in advance or to exchange upon your and other big cities, the choice is far more return. As such we recommend exchanging Victory Day - 9 May limited. Which is why we include meals on in Pound Sterling, US Dollars and other major provincial Russia on our group tours. On 9 May every year Russia celebrates currencies in Russia, plus you may receive a Victory Day, which commemorates the Soviet better exchange rate in destination. To avoid Caviar, smoked sausage, pickles, field victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. issues, exchange only clean, unmarked bank mushrooms, cheese and soured cream are On this special day the streets fill up with notes. Bureau de Change and ATM machines the basis of zakuski (hors d'oeuvres or revellers to witness the country's biggest exist in Moscow and St Petersburg (to a lesser appetisers) - a popular dish. Also try savoury military parade. Please be aware that if you extent in the provinces). Changing traveller’s piroshki (a stuffed pastry) and blini (savoury

Route of the Romanovs stuffed pancakes). The Russians excel at together to help the state and strikingly instrument to remove dirt and stimulate their hearty meat and vegetable-based soups. The elaborate sculptures cast in bronze offer skin. The Turks use a kese - best described as tsar of all soups is Borsch and Solyanka is also a study of people from an age where a rough cloth - massaging mitt. For their banya good. collectivism was at the forefront of the - Russians use bundles of very thin birch twigs, Communism dream. Art Nouveau style lamps with and without leaves. These bundles are Well-loved classic mains include - beef illuminate the long escalator arches. known as ‘veniki’ in Russian. Why birch twigs? Stroganoff (invented in Russia, as was chicken Birch relieves pain in the muscles and joints Kiev), pelmeny (Siberian-style dumplings) and Riding the Moscow Metro is a sightseeing and lifts the mood of the banya user. Once spicy Georgian cuisine such as shashlyk. excursion in itself. Meanwhile, although prepared and in the sauna, the twigs (which Russian rye bread is flavoursome and most St Petersburg has an equally fine Metro need to be softened in a bowl of water for often eaten without butter. Fish varieties transportation system, as the city is more around 10 minutes) are employed in a sort include - omul (similar to salmon and from walker-friendly you'll be able to get to most of light massaging ‘thrashing’ motion across Lake Baikal) and sturgeon - often poached inner-city sights often without the need to the body. It’s best to get someone else to and served with a sauce or mushrooms. board the Metro. do this. Although it sounds painful on bare Russians also excel at the art of ice- SPECIAL NOTE: Mind your purses and skin - it isn’t and it’s something you should cream making. St Petersburg is particularly try! The massage with the veniki stimulates renowned for its ices. bags aboard the Metro. Pickpockets are as prevalent here as elsewhere. blood circulation and the overall experience Drink will leave you feeling clean, exhilarated and Russians consume an average 12 litres of Trading Hours fresh! In winter, it’s fun to get all hot and pure alcohol a year, which is three times the As a rule shops are open from 9.30am to sweaty and then run outside and roll around average for the rest of the developed world 7pm or later and generally closed on Sunday. in the snow. Give it a whirl, if you dare! and also testament to how good the vodka Banks are usually open weekdays from 9am really is! Vodka is one of Russia’s most famous to 5pm in Moscow and St Petersburg, with a exports. Supermarket & liquor store prices break for lunch. Restaurants, cafes and bars range from USD$3.00 for a half litre up to USD trade until late. In Moscow and St Petersburg, $20.00 for connoisseur brands. many grocers trade 24/7.

Russian beer (pivo) is also inexpensive and Shopping very good. The market leader is Baltika Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia who produce 9 excellent brews, appropriately has embraced the free market. Souvenirs labelled 1 through 9 and sold on tap and in are authentic, inexpensive and usually well- bottles. made. The trademark souvenir is the brightly decorated wooden Matryoshka doll - a set of Drink only bottled water in Russia. It dolls within dolls. Enamelled wooden boxes is inexpensive and available everywhere. known as palekh are also popular. Perhaps Locally, the water is considered drinkable, but the most curious hangover of Communist it contains undesirable levels of heavy metals times is the quantity of surplus Red Army and Giardia, an annoying little stomach bug. If and military souvenirs. The ubiquitous ‘fluffy you do pick up Giardia, it can be treated with brown hat’, so common an image of Russia, antibiotics. is also a must-buy. The Russians themselves Moscow Metro wear similar hats but theirs are often made of real mink, ermine or fox fur. A great place The Moscow Metro is the easiest and to shop for reasonably priced souvenirs is quickest way to get around and your tour the Izmailovsky Market in Moscow, which is (if incorporating time in Moscow) will include conveniently located, just a short walk from a Moscow Metro travelcard (for 6 journeys/ our hotel. rides). A Stalinist gift to the people of Moscow, this is one Stalinist project Muscovites A Russian Banya are proud of. Graffiti-free stations offer an If your tour visits Novgorod or Suzdal there's air of elegance with granite and marble- the opportunity to sample an invigorating clad surrounds. Many of the stations boast Russian banya (sauna) with veniki (birch chandeliers, huge mosaic freezes depict twigs). In the public baths of ancient Rome - the power of good Soviet workers banding Romans employed strigule, a curved, scraping