Esn Jyväskylä Trips to Russia 2008

VISA FREE STUDENT HOSTEL CRUISE TO ST PETERSBURG 15-18.5.2015

Price/student Price/adult From Helsinki €215 €225 Prices above are starting prices and subject to change. Exact price is confirmed when booking the trip online.

You’ve chosen the great dates: there are special events in the city: Restaurant Day on the 16th of May, Tulip festival and Museum Night 16-17th of May. Enjoy your trip!

Package price includes:  Ferry ticket Helsinki-St Petersburg-Helsinki  A bed in B-class cabin category  A bed in a hostel dorm room  Guided city tour by bus in English  Guided tour of the State Hermitage Museum (for holders of valid student cards)  Tour conductor services in St Petersburg  Information package + city maps  All mandatory fees (port fee, fuel surcharge, passport registration) For extra cost: o Guided activities, see itinerary on page 2 and program descriptions on page 3 o Departures from other cities, please see options

Attention!  Please read this brochure carefully, especially the information about required travel documents. You are required to have a valid PASSPORT (an ID-card is not a passport). Also, the passport has to be in good condition, valid at least 6 months after the trip, no damaged or torn apart pages, pictures falling etc. A damaged passport can cause a denial to pass the passport control in the destination harbor.  After booking we will not send ferry tickets by post or e-mail – they are delivered only at the harbor check-in. All you have to do is to bring your passport and check-in at our service desk in the departure harbor.

ITINERARY HOSTEL DAY 1 FRIDAY 15.05.2015 15:30 Meeting at Helsinki West Terminal (Länsisatama) Timetravels representatives hand out the programs, cabin cards. Boarding to be completed by 17:15! 18:00 M/S Princess Maria departs from Helsinki Services on boat: 8th deck Buffet restaurant, buffet dinner (cost 36 €) 1st sitting 18.30-20.00, 2nd sitting 20.30-22.00. A la carte restaurant, TAX FREE, Casino on the 7th deck, Cafeteria on the 4th floor. Sauna on the 2nd floor. EUROS are accepted. 21:30 Night club folk and variety show in the 7th floor “Columbus” bar (until 23.00) FREE ENTRANCE 22:30 Night club on the 7th floor. Crazy party until late!

DAY 2 SATURDAY 16.05.2015 Note: there is no time difference between Helsinki and St.Petersburg. Restaurant Day! Museum Night! Ask your guide for information. 07:00 Breakfast on the 8th deck restaurant. Cost 10 €. Breakfast open until 09.00. 09:30 Arrival in St Petersburg. Debarking from the ship. Passport control. Please, leave the ferry straight after the arrival otherwise you’ll be late for the city tour! 11:00 Guided city tour – Peter and Paul fortress, The Spit of the St Basil Island etc. (estimated) We’ll have a lunch break during the city tour. To save time, please, change some money in Finland, cards are not accepted in many places 16:00 Check-in at the hostel, dorm room accommodation (estimated). 19:20 Meeting at the hostel, departure to the theatre. Ballet “Swan Lake” in The Officers House Theater. Tickets 35 €. Places in the 7th row, stalls. 21:30 End of the performance transportation to the hostel (estimated time). 23:00 Limousine tour with sparkling wine 25 €. Duration 1,5 hours. Afterparty in a night club.

DAY 3 SUNDAY 17.05.2015 10:15 Departure to the Hermitage Museum. Guided tour of the State Hermitage Museum (FREE for students/ 20 € adults). Duration app. 2 hours. After the tour you may stay in the museum or return to the hostel. 13:30 Departure back to the hostel from the Hermitage (for those not attending the Cathedrals Tour) 14:30 Cathedrals of St Petersburg tour 25 €. Includes visit to the most beautiful cathedrals of St Petersburg – Nikol’skyj Cathedral, St Isaac’s Cathedral and Cathedral on the Spilled Blood. Overall duration of the program – 2,5 -3 hours. 21:00 Departure from the hostel to the cruise. The night cruise on Rivers and Canals – 15 €. Duration 1 hr. Afterwards return to the hostel. Possibility to stay in the city center for clubbing.

DAY 4 MONDAY 18.05.2015 09:30 Check-out from the hostel. All luggage in the bus. Departure to Peterhof. A guided bus excursion to Peterhof. Includes visit to the Lower Park and one of the Palaces - 30€ stud./40€ adults. Location about 30 km from St. Petersburg. Guided tour and free time in the Park.. If you are not attending Peterhof tour you have to check out till 12:00! Luggage could be left in a luggage room. Free time in the city. 14:00 Departure from Peterhof back to the hostel. Arrival to the hostel 15:00-15:30. 16:30 Bus departure from the hostel to the harbor. 18:00 Passport control and boarding. 19:00 M/S Princess Maria departs to Helsinki. Same cruise program as on the 1st day.

DAY 5 TUESDAY 19.05.2015 08:00 Arrival in Helsinki. Debarking, Finnish customs and passport control. End of the tour.

Timetravels reserves the right to changes in the itinerary.

HOSTELS IN ST.PETERSBURG

On our student hostel trips we use hostels located in the historical city centre and provide good services and easy access to local sights. Due to difficult vacancy situation in the hostels, we confirm the name of the hostel usually 1-2 weeks prior to the departure. Here are samples of the hostels we used before for our trips:

Hostel MIR Hostel LIFE Baby Lemonade Hostel Pilau Hostel Red House Hostel

TOUR LEADERS’ CONTACTS

Valeria + 7 952 387 44 27

Chief operations manager: Maria + 7 904 630 04 71 Timetravels hotline: +358 10 421 8991

GUIDED ACTIVITIES IN ST PETERSBURG

ST PETERSBURG NIGHT FEVER! Price 25 €/person. Duration 1-1,5 hrs. Discover the St Petersburg by night with style and glamour! A limousine ride takes you around the most spectacular places of the city with some stops for taking pictures. Eventually the limo drops you at one the trendiest night club. (Price does not include the night club entrance). Limousines are loaded with sparkling wine.

THE NIGHT CRUISE ON RIVERS AND CANALS! Available only on late April-October trips. Price 15 €/person. Duration 1,5 hrs. Definitely one of must-to-do’s in St Petersburg! “The Northern Venice” has 16 km of embankments, 48 canals and rivers and 800 bridges. Many of the beautiful palaces and mansions were designed to façade the riverside. With a river and canals cruise you make a time travel to the heart of the imperial city. Breathtaking views are accompanied by music and of course – the Soviet champagne (Russian sparkling wine)!

THE STATE HERMITAGE MUSEUM Inclusive in the package for students (normally 10 €), 20 € for adults. Duration 2-3 hrs. The third biggest art museum in the world bases on the collections of the Russian royal families starting from the 18th century. The museum locates in formal imperial residences, housing millions of exhibits in hundreds of rooms. Take a tour to the most important exhibits and parts of the museum, learn the interesting backgrounds and get a guaranteed entrance without queuing! The tour is given in English by a professional local guide.

THE PETERHOF TOUR Price 30/40€ . Duration about 5 hrs Peterhof is a magnificient summer palace on the Gulf of Finland, some 30 km from the city center. of St Petersburg. Founded by the order of Tsar Peter the Great in 1725, it was meant to beat Versailles in glory and splendor. The complex of verdant gardens, luxurious baroque residences, genuine fountains and cascades of marble and gold still remains as impressive as it was on the 18-19th century! Guided tour includes bus trip to Peterhof with admissions to one of the palaces (Grand Palace*, Marli, Monplaisir, Cottage, The Bath Block) and lower park with fountains and guidance.

CATHEDRALS OF ST PETERSBURG 25 € Duration about 2-3 hours. This tour includes three cathedrals from three different centuries. We start with St Nicolaus cathedral- built in beautiful baroque style in 18th century. This cathedral was exceptionally working also during the Soviet Union and is still very popular. Second cathedral is St Isaac’s – one of the biggest dome cathedrals in the world and a true demonstration of ambitions of the Russian Empire during the second half of the 19th century. The last cathedral dates back to 1907, even though it reminds us the 16th century cathedral from Moscow. Cathedral on the Spilled Blood was built on the assassination site of beloved Tsar Alexander II and for this cathedral the artist applied the latest mosaic techniques and lot of precious materials. On the picture you can see also Izmailovsky Holy Trinity. Sometimes you’ll visit it instead of St. Nicolas Cathedral, depending on the traffic.

OPERA OR BALLET IN THE MIKHAILOVSKY, MARIINSKY OR HERMITAGE THEATRE Price from 35 €/person. Duration 2-3 hours depending on the performance. St Petersburg is known as the cultural capital of Russia. There’s a possibility to attend a world famous ballet or opera performance. You can book tickets through us to the performance scheduled for your trip – check booking guidelines in the final itinerary, buy them on-line at theatre web pages or try your luck at a box office. Check the playbill at: www.mikhailovsky.ru and www.mariinsky.ru Optional programs might be cancelled due to the small amount of bookings. Payments for cancelled activities will be refunded. FERRY BOARDING CARDS DESCRIPTION:

ARRIVAL CARD is taken by the customs when you arrive in Saint-Petersburg DEPARTURE CARD is taken away by Finish customs when you arrive back to Finland. Needed at check-in to the hotel. Should be Saved during your stay in St. Petersburg! BOARDING CARD is your ticket and key for your cabin on the Ferry. You’ll have a new one on the way back. MIGRATION CARD document to be filled before the Russian boarder (see instructions below). Left part of the Migration Card is taken by the Russian customs upon arrival. Right part of the Migration Card should be saved until you departure from Russia! Lost Migration Card can cause delay and fine when leaving Russia.

It’s good to store Departure Card and Migration Card in the passport at the reception of the hotel.

MIGRATION CARD FILLING INSTRUCTIONS. PLEASE FILL IT BEFORE RUSSIAN BORDER FORMALITIES!

FERRY DESCRIPTION Built in 1981 in Finland for Silja-Line (MS Finlandia) Maximum capacity About 1600 passengers Renovated in 2009. Services on board: TAX FREE shop, Buffet restaurant, A la Carte restaurant, Night club with Russian-theme folk and cabaret musical every night, XXXX-night club, Cigar bar, Karaoke bar, Sauna, Sky bar (in summer only)

Class B & Class E  Area: 9 m²/ 2-4 persons/

 Location: E-cabins deck 2 (below car deck) B-cabins decks 4, 5, 6

 Equipped with bathroom, air conditioner

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

1) A passport, which is valid at least for 6 months after the planned trip. AN ID-CARD, WIDELY USED IN EU IS NOT SUFFICIENT FOR VISA-FREE TRAVEL! PASSPORT MUST BE IN GOOD CONDITIONS, WITH NO MISSING PAGES, PAGES OR COVERS FALLING APART ETC. CUSTOMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENTS.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR CERTAIN NATIONALITIES

Although visa free trips are available for all nationalities, there are some exceptions with countries or states which the Russian Federations has not recognized, such as, for example, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO. These nationalities are not granted a visa-free entry, but have to get a visa.

NON-EU CITIZENS, REQUIRING SCHENGEN VISA IN EUROPEAN UNION

Holders of Schengen tourist visas should not forget that traveling to Russia is considered as leaving from the EU Schengen zone. Customs officers will reject entry to Russia with a single-entry Schengen visa! Please check the number of allowed entries before booking the tour! Timetravels is not liable to refund the tour cost, if border officials deny the boarding due to visa or passport issues!

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

MONEY EXCHANGE Russian currency is rouble (RUR). Current rate is about 1 € = 63 roubles. Roubles can be withdrawn from ATM or changed in numerous banks in the city. We recommend to exchange some money in advance in FOREX, because it will save your precious time in the destination.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS WHEN ENTERING FINLAND You are allowed to bring alcohol to Finland if you are older then 18 years old (20 for alcohol stronger then 22%). You can take not more then: 1 liter of alcohol more than 40 % of alcohol (e.g. Vodka) OR 2 liters of aperatifs (eg. Champagne, long drinks or other beverages less than 22% of alcohol) + 4 liters of wines + 3 crates of beer (16 liters) + 1 carton of cigarettes

WEATHER The weather in St Petersburg is much alike in Helsinki. Typical temperature in Summer is 15-25 Celcius, in Winter anything between +5 and -30 Celcius. Due to closeness of the sea, weather can change rapidly.

ELECTRIC DEVICES Normal European standard plugs and 220 V sockets. No adapters are needed.

LANGUAGE English is not widely spoken in Russia so it could be useful to learn some basic sentences in Russian. Your tour conductor will assist whenever you need help.

SAFETY St Petersburg is no more or less dangerous than any European metropolis. We recommend to use your common sense, take care of your belongings in crowded places, watch out for traffic and to know your limits for alcohol.

PRICE LEVEL If compared to Helsinki, St Petersburg is relatively cheap. This applies to groceries, alcohol, cigarettes and public transportation. Eating out and clubbing represent about the same prices as in Finland.

EMERGENCY In a case of emergency, sickness or accident, contact your group leader immediately. He will contact the medical care, and you will receive help as soon as possible. Doctors will arrive straight to the hotel. Your travel insurance covers all the medical costs and the medical treatment is free of charge. If the group leader is not available, contact the hotel reception. Remember to save all the receipts and doctor’s statement for medical treatment and medicine. Insurance company will refund all the expenses to your bank account.

ATTENTION! Insurances do not cover self-inflected cases, such as anything involving the consumption of alcohol or drugs.

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS

General conditions

1. All tours should be paid at least until 28 days prior to planned departure either by cash, using major credit cards or by transferring the money to bank account of Aikamatkat Oy / Timetravels Ltd. If booking the trip in less than 28 days prior to the departure, the payment should be done within 48 hours. 2. Timetravels reserve the right to give client a higher class hotel room or cabin. 3. Timetravels cannot guarantee desired roommates, unless the trip is booked and paid together in the same reservation. 4. Aikamatkat Oy / Timetravels Ltd reserves the right for changes in itineraries or accommodation prior to departure, without changing the quality of the tour. Student discounts are available only for holders of a valid student cards. All prices and offers are subject to change. 5. Trip price excludes costs for individual visas, optional programs, unless mentioned, dining in restaurants, entrance fees for night clubs, additional bus services, bus or train connections in Finland.

Terms of cancellation for visa free tours

1. At the latest 28 days before departure, by paying the tour operator a service fee 20 € 2. Less than 28 days but at the latest 15 days before departure, by paying 25 % of the tour price, possible visa and banking/postal charges 3. Less than 15 days, but at the latest 7 days before departure, by paying 50 % of the tour price and possible visa and banking/postal charges. 4. Less than 7 days, but at the latest 48 hours prior to the departure by paying 75 % of the tour price and possible visa and banking/postal charges. 5. If the tour is cancelled later than 48 hours before departure, Timetravels Ltd. has the right to charge the entire price of the tour. 6. In case of an unexpected and serious case, entitling passenger to cancel the trip according to the general terms of package tours (5.1.a.b), tour operator has right to charge necessary costs for non-refundable cancellation fees e.g. flight tickets, train tickets, pre-paid services etc., based on the Finnish law of Package tours (15.2.) However, tour operator does not have right to charge for the lost profit. We recommend to purchase a travel insurance, including basic coverage for trip cancellation. The cause of cancellation has to be reported to the tour operator as early as possible and proven by doctor's certificate, police report or other official and reliable document. 7. PLEASE NOTE! Cancellation is registered only during working days Mon-Fri 10-17.00 excluding national holidays. Cancellation terms are applied from the date Aikamatkat Oy / Timetravels Ltd receive the notification by e-mail: [email protected] or by phone: +358 10 421 8990. FOLLOWING CASES ARE NOT SUBJECT TO REFUND OR COMPENSATION 8. Client is late for the departure or check-in (which closes 30 minutes prior to the boat departure) or late for the meeting point for excursions. 9. Client is rejected entry or exit to country due to visa or passport issues (expired or damaged passports, single-entry Schengen visas etc)

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STUDENT´S SURVIVAL GUIDE TO RUSSIA

St Petersburg is not more dangerous than an average European city. However, it’s recommended to use your common sense. Know your limits when drinking vodka. Watch out for traffic and take care of your personal belongings. By following the instructions below you should be on the safe side.

1. Russian life style is full of speed and so is their traffic culture! Be extra careful when crossing streets! Do not assume drivers to slow down and stop even if you are on a zebra crossing! 2. Use only bottled water for drinking - it is inexpensive and sold everywhere. Tap water is not drinkable, but it can be used for taking a shower and teeth brushing. 3. Buy vodka only in shops- not in the streets or market places, if you don’t want it to be home distilled. Good brands cost about 6-10 euros/liter. 4. Don’t drink too much! Drinking alcohol in public places is prohibited. There’s a face control for all the night clubs. If you’re fairly drunk, you won’t get in anywhere. Besides, Russian policemen are allowed to pick any heavily drunken people off the street. They don’t usually harm anyone, but the nightly adventure to the police station may get expensive. 5. Always carry the hotel card and some sort of ID with you. (Needed when changing currency etc.) If asked by policemen, always tell that you’re a foreigner and show the hotel card. 6. Never move alone on the streets in the night. Take care of your friends. 7. Take care of your belongings especially in crowded places. Keep your wallet, mobile phone, digital camera and ID in a safe place. Ladies should take care of their hand bags as they are the easiest targets for pocket thieves. 8. Don’t pay too much – prices tend to rise dramatically for foreigners. 100 rubles is a lot of money in Russia. Remember to bargain whenever you’re buying something especially on market places. 9. Don’t keep all of your cash and credit cards in your wallet 10. Don’t check valuable belongings to the cloak room (such as digital camera, passport, wallet, mobile phone etc). Museums, restaurants and night clubs do not bear any responsibility for disappeared items in their cloak rooms. 11. Do not take pictures in the Finnish-Russian border, the military zone. Taking photos is also forbidden in museums without a permit. In Saint-Petersburg underground you can take photos only without flash.

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GETTING AROUND

Although our hotel is centrally located, the distances in the city are quite big for walking. Public transportation works fine, but you always need to know where you are going. Tour conductor will help you to use the following transportations. By night avoid walking alone in the city.

METRO (UNDERGROUND) is the fastest and probably easiest way of getting around. The metro scheme of St Petersburg has a simple layout: Each radial line has its own name, number and color on the metro map, and you can get from practically any station to another with a maximum of two transfers. Besides, the metro stations are built into palaces and can be considered a must -see sight! Subway works daily 05:40–00:15. To pay for your ticket, buy a token from the cashier at the entrance (1 token costs 24 rubles). Prepare an exact change; avoid paying with notes of 500 rubles. The token is inserted in a slot of the entrance gates. One token allows you to use all the metro lines without distance limits. Underground is especially crowded from 4-8 PM and there are also pocket thieves lurking on tourists. Keep your personal property in safe place, never carry money, passport mobile phone, camera etc. in your hand bag or back bag. Please notice that according to the new regulations of the city, drinking, smoking and taking pictures with flash is strictly prohibited in the underground! You will receive a colored metro map at the hotel reception.

TAXI When the public transport doesn’t work (at night), You can easily lift a “Lada” by holding your thumb down – any car will work as taxi. Don’t enter the car, if there’s someone apart from the driver or if the driver is obviously not a local and doesn’t know the way. Destination and price are negotiated before entering the car. Just say the point of destination and the price, make sure that the driver understood – and off you go! Usual fare is 100 rubles for 5-10 km. To use the official taxi ask some Russian-speaking people to help you with the order or call English speaking ones: +7 812 6008888, +7 953 3700700 (also accept sms orders).

MARSHRUTKA Apart from "private taxis", there's a network of official minivan-taxis, driving around the city. These taxis are called "marshutkas", because they have a certain traffic route. Nevertheless, you can catch the "marshrutka" almost anywhere on the street, and the driver will drop you to anywhere you want to along the route. Tariff for the trip is about 30 rubles and the money is usually passed to the driver during the ride.

BUSES AND TROLLEYBUSES are also an option in daytime. They have a set route and stops. They could be useful when moving along The Nevsky prospect cause they are numerous and mostly will take you from one end to the other. Buses number 24 and 191 are going from the hotel “Moscow” along all Nevsky prospect to the Palace Square. Trolleybuses are quite rare in the world so it could be also curious experience. But avoid taking public transport during the rush hour and watch your belongings!

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HISTORY OF ST PETERSBURG IN A NUTSHELL EARLY HISTORY

800 AD – Lands of Neva River settled by Finns, Slavs and other ethnic groups. The word “Neva” is actually Finnish for marshland”. The river is ancient trade route from the Ladoga lake to the Baltic sea, used by vikings. 900 AD – Neva river belongs to the Novgorod principality, which was an important center of craftsmanship and hanseatic trade. 1240 Swedish invasion on the banks of Neva River. Russians fought back and gained victory in the Battle of the Neva (picture). War hero Prince Alexander was given nickname “Nevsky” and later proclaimed Saint of the Russian Orthodox church and patron of St Petersburg. 1550 Novgorod conquered by the centralized Russian state, Muscovite Russia led by Ivan the Terrible 1613 Last Tsar of the Rurik dynasty dies without heirs. Russia falls to “time of troubles”. Poland and Sweden invade Russia. 1617 Weakened Russia loses Neva river to Sweden, cutting of Russia from Baltic trade routes.

FOUNDATION OF ST PETERSBURG

1697 Russian Prince of Romanov Tsar Dynasty, Peter I (picture) travelled to the Western Europe in order to study European warfare, society and shipbuilding. He is determined to break the Russian land lock and regain the access to the Baltic Sea. 1700 Peter the Great declares war to Sweden, which the history knows as the “Great Northern War” 1703 Swedish garrison on the Neva river surrenders and Russian troops reach the Gulf of Finland. 1703 The Peter and Paul fortress is founded, which is considered the official birthday of St Petersburg. Shipyard “Admiralty” is built and Russian Navy is established. Leading Italian, French, Spanish and Russian architects are invited to plan the new capital. 1712 City of St Petersburg is announced the new Russian capital. Royal court and many nobles and merchants are forced to move from Moscow to St Petersburg. 1721 Russia wins the Great Northern war against Sweden with defeating its navy. Peter the Great is proclaimed and emperor. 1725 Peter the Great dies. Peter’s wife Catherine I assumes power. City experiences a short decline and is nearly abandoned.

BAROQUE GRANDEUR

1741 Elizabeth I, the daughter of Peter the Great, becomes empress after death of Catherine I. Thanks to her efforts, St Petersburg became a lively European capital and its population reached 150,000 people. Imperial splendor reflects in royal baroque style residences, such as Winter Palace, Peterhof, Catherine’s palace, Smolny convent. 1761 Elizabeth dies and Russian thrown is inherited by her nephew Peter III. 1762 Infamous Peter III is overthrown after a coup d' etat by his wife, a German princess, who reigned the country as the famous Catherine the Great (picture). She had close connections with such figures of French Enlightenment as Diderot and Voltaire. Catherine II started a royal art collection which later developed into the world-famous Hermitage Under Catherine's patronage science, the arts and trade all flourished. St Peterburg was known as ”Grand city”.

THE CITY OF ORDER

1796 Catherine the Great dies and her son Paul I becomes Tsar. Paul I fashioned some conservative policies, causing dissatisfaction in the Russian court. 1801 Paul the I is assassinated in his newly built Mikhailovsky Castle.by the Royal court. Paul’s son, Alexander I, becomes the next Russian Tsar. 1807 War against Sweden. resulting in victory of Russia. Finland becames a part of Russia. 1812 Napoleon invasion to Russia – also known as the “Patriotic War”. Eventually, Russian army drove the French army back to Paris (1812-14). 1813 Classic era in St Petersburg architecture, Kazan Cathedral, St Isaac’s Cathedral, Art Square, Mikhailovsky palace and Stock Exhange built 1825 Alexander I dies unexpected, erupting a political crisis. Alexander’s younger brother, Nicolas I, gains power. 1825 Decembrist Uprising (picture) – A group of noble officers and soldiers revolt in order to endorse a national constitution. They lack support of the people and the uprising is crushed. Dissenters are executed and exiled to Siberia. Instead of constitution, Nicolas I adopts even more conservative policies and degenerates Russia into military ordered economically backward bureaucratic state. 1825-1850 Culture flourishes in St. Petersburg despite the oppressive regime. Alexander Pushkin wrote some of his best poetry, Mikhail Glinka, one of the first great Russian composers, wrote his best operas and chamber music and Fiodor Dostoyevsky (picture) lived and wrote in St. Petersburg between 1837 and 1844. 1837 The first Russian railroad was opened, connecting St. Petersburg with the royal residence at Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin)

1850 The first permanent bridge across the Neva River was opened 1858 Nicholas I dies and his son Alexander II accedes to the throne. 1861 Alexander II undertook a series of reforms, which included the emancipation of the serfs, although the peasants were still forced to pay for the land they worked. Still, Alexander II was considered too conservative. 1881 Alexander II was assassinated by a revolutionist. Many of his reforms, including a constitution that was ready to be signed, were repealed or curtailed by his enraged son. Alexander III and a period of repression and conservatism followed. 1 1

1894 Alexander III dies. His son, unfortunate Nicolas II, inherits the throne.

Meanwhile, St. Petersburg was becoming a capitalist city. The number of factories (both Russian and foreign) grew rapidly and Nevsky Prospect and the city's other major streets began to fill with banks and company offices. Construction was booming and new multi-storey apartment buildings were springing up all over the city..

THE WWI AND SOCIALISTIC REVOLUTION

1905 A peaceful demonstration of workers was fired on by Tsars troops on the palace square. The event became known as "Bloody Sunday” (picture), raising public anger against the Tsar. 1906 Nicholas II was forced to issue a manifesto proclaiming new civil rights and establish a national parliament. 1914 WWI against Germany broke out. St Petersburg was named to Petrograd to sound less German. 1917 The combination of unsuccessful military campaign, food shortage and social unrest brought about the February revolution and the abdication of the Tsar. 1917 The Bolshevik party, led by Vladimir Lenin, grasped political power on October 25 (November 7). Nicholas II and his royal family was captured and executed in 1918. Soviet Union was established and 73 long years of Communist rule begins. 1918 Capital status was transferred to Moscow. 1918 Civil War (1918-1921) broke out and the revolutionary soldiers and workers of Petrograd became the core of the Red Guard, which later turned into the Red Army. The population dropped from 2.3 million in 1917 to 722 thousand by the end of 1920, as the people moved back to countryside because of the unrest and food shortage. 1924 After Lenin’s death, Stalin gains power. He aims to industrialize the country and destroy all “political enemies”. The name of the city was changed to Leningrad, a symbol of its transition to a Socialist city. 1930-1937 Stalin’s repressions hit hard especially St Petersburg educated people and international communities. Millions of people perish during Stalin’s terror, executed or exiled to labour camps in Siberia.

THE WWII AND THE SIEGE OF LENINGRAD

1939-1940 Winter war against Finland. Soviet union wants to secure the city of Leningrad by invading Finland. Finnish army fought back and Soviet union had to seize the war because of the international pressure. According to the peace treaty, Soviet Union gained the Carelian isthmus forcing 400 000 Finnish to leave their homes, a fact which allied Finland with Germany a year later. 1941 Nazi-Germany invades with its allies including Finland to Soviet Union and besieges Leningrad. This was undoubtedly the most tragic period in the history of the city. Approximately 800 000-900 000 citizens died of starvation, cold and bombardments. 1943 The besiege of Leningrad is broken by the Red army. 1945 On May 9th WWII ends with the defeat of Germany. War, which cost life of 20-30 Million Russians only, is known as “The Great Patriotic War”. The Victory Day 9th of May is still widely celebrated all over the country every year. Leningrad received the award of “hero city” for withstanding the besiege.

POST-WAR LENINGRAD

Unlike many other cities Leningrad was not modernized, but restored to its pre-war Imperial glory. The Catherine’s palace and Peterhof were almost completely destroyed during the siege and millions of rubles went into their meticulous restoration and reconstruction. Some of the city's suburban palaces still restoration. Leningrad's museums reopened swiftly the war, having undergone speedy restoration. During the Soviet era, Leningrad was an industrial city, producing mostly war technology. New districts were built, but the historical city centre remained nearly untouched. St Petersburg underground started to be built in 1950-s.

1970s and the early 1980s were a period of stability for the Soviet Union and for Leningrad. Though political freedoms were greatly limited, most of the city's population enjoyed relative prosperity. When the new leader, Gorbachev, unleashes the reforms known worldwide as Perestroika, stability rapidly disappeared and the population began experiencing economic hardship.

ST PETERSBURG TODAY

1991 Soviet union collapses. After a city-wide referendum, the city of Leningrad returned to its original name - St. Petersburg. Rapid transformation to the market economy creates economical crisis and instability. 2000 Vladimir Putin (picture) elected to president of the Russian Federation. Putin is originally from St Petersburg and the city starts getting more attention, importance and funds for its development. 2003 The 300th Anniversary of St Petersburg. Many of the historical monuments and palaces were reconstructed for this celebration. 2006 Russian economy is running fast thanks to export of oil and earth gas. St Petersburg has achieved a population on 4, 7 Million people. It’s the most important harbor city in Russia and also a scientific, cultural, political, educational and economical center.

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SIGHTS IN ST PETERSBURG The State Hermitage Museum, the former Winter Palace, dates back to the middle of the18th century. Today this gorgeous manifestation of Russian Baroque ranks as one of the world’s finest art museums. Based on collections of Russian royal families, it houses more than 2,7 Million exhibits representing all major art styles and artists, such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Goya, Picasso etc. Open Tue-Sun 10-18:00

Peterhof, the summer palace at Finnish Gulf is located 30 km from city center. Founded by the order of Tsar Peter the Great, it was meant to beat Versailles in glory and splendor. The complex of verdant gardens, luxurious baroque residences, genuine fountains and cascades of marble and gold still remains as impressive as it was on the 19th century!

The Russian Museum in Mikhailovsky palace is the world’s largest museum of Russian art. It covers the entire history of Russian fine art from the tenth century to the present. It reflects virtually every form and genre of art in Russia, including a unique collection of old icons, paintings, graphic art and sculpture, decorative and applied art, folk art and numismatics, as well as the world's finest collection of Russian avant-garde.

St Isaac’s cathedral dominates the horizon of St. Petersburg with its golden cupola. The construction of the gigantic cathedral took 40 years (1818–1858). Inside there is room for up to 14 000 people. The interior is decorated with paintings, icons, frescos, mosaics and golden relieves. On the colonnade, there is a panorama terrace over the city. Open daily 11:00 - 18:00. Closed: Wednesday.

The Cathedral on the Spilled blood, also known as the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, was erected on the place where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. The cathedral was built in the distinctive old Russian style, similar to St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. The interior was decorated with priceless mosaics. Badly damaged during the revolution, it was opened to public only in 1997 after more than 20 years of renovation. Open daily 11:00 - 18:00. Closed: Wednesday.

The St Peter and St Paul fortress was built as Peter the Great invaded the delta of Neva River in the war against Sweden in 1703. It is considered to be the first structure of St Petersburg. The military fortress later became a prison for political “dissidents”, such as Dostojevski, Gorki, Trotskij, etc. The golden spire dome of St Paul’s cathedral is the best known landmark of the city. Nearly all the members of the Romanov royal family are buried inside the cathedral. The Fortress houses the museum of St Petersburg’s history. Open daily 10-18:00.

The Kunstkamera is the first Russian museum dedicated to natural sciences. It contains an exhibition of rarities, collected by Russian and European scientists and travellers, some of them by Peter the Great himself. It is said that to encourage people to visit the museum, visitors were offered vodka for free. The offer is not valid anymore, but the exhibits of ethnography, anthropology and anatomy from the 18th century are worth seeing. A word of warning: some specimens of anatomic abnormalities are pretty freaky. Open Tue-Sun 11-17:00.

The Cruiser Aurora is a battleship from the beginning of the 20th century. It took part to the Russo- Japanese war in 1905 and WWI. It became a legendary symbol of the October revolution in 1917, by giving blank cannon shot as a signal to assault the Winter Palace, which resulted in victory for the Bolshevik Party. To commemorate this event, the ship was moored at the river embankment and opened as a museum.

The Smolny Convent “The Bronze horseman” The Kazan Cathedral The Sphinx On The Neva

Admissions and foreigner prices. Average admissions for museums are 10 € (350 rubles) for foreign adults and 5 € (175 rubles) for students and children. Russians have different prices, which are 2-20 times cheaper. The official explanation for this rule is that the foreigners pay the “full price” and Russian tickets are subsidised. Only if you are fluent in Russian, you can try to buy a Russian rated ticket. 1 3

CLUBBING GUIDE OF ST PETERSBURG

Russians love to party! People from all over the world come to party in the trendiest nightclubs of St Petersburg. Indeed, the crazy nightlife in Saint Petersburg is definitely worth experiencing! Pay attention, that there’s a strict face control to all the clubs.

DANCE CLUBS

XXXX Chain of night clubs where food also served. Eurodance music. Popular between locals. Admission 300-1000 rubles. Ugly Coyote An international club chain, based on the movie with same name. Go-go dancers cheer the people up, provocating people to party harder. Girls are allowed to dance on the bar desk! Liteinyj prospect 53. Metro Mayakovskaya. Admission free for girls (all days), guys free Mon-Thu but on Fri-Sun admission 500 rubles. Punch A trendy night club in the city center – house music, R'n'B, Russian pop and Eurodance, thematic parties. Dumskaja ulica 4, metro Gostiniy dvor. Admission around 300 roubles. Rossis’s A club opened in the facilities of Rossi’s restaurant. Strip tease and euro dance guaranteed. On Thursday’s free entrance and “Soviet champagne” for girls until 23:00. Ulica Zodchego Rossi d. 1/3, Metro “Gostinyj Dvor”. Admission 300 rubles. Marstall Usually packed with foreigners whose passport gets them in for free. Marstall runs an array of strip shows, with athletic strippers and creative costumes. Bar and restaurant. Strip shows start at 11pm. 5 Kanal Griboyedova Tel: 3157607 Metro: Nevsky Prospect. Open: daily from 12pm to 6 am Admission depends from the day) Club Metro is the Dinosaur of the St Petersburg night clubs. The biggest night club has been working already 10 years with the same concept. There are several dance floors (R'n'B, Russian pop and Eurodance). Really strict face control and security – even chewing gums and chocolate is confiscated. Clientèle consists mostly of people under 20 years old. Address Ligovski Prospect 174. Metro Ligovskij prospect. Admission 300-500 roubles.

UNDERGROUND

Griboyedov A friendly club, located in a former bomb shelter. Ecstatic entertainment, warmed up by a rave-house-jungle- acid-jazz music. Occasional cultural events aimed at displaying the latest achievements of independent intellectuals, infamous artists and other mushrooms. Cheap drinks! !2 Voronezhskaya Ulitsa. Metro: Ligovsky Prospekt. Open 11:00-05:30 Tue-Sun. Admission depends on the day (app. 300rub). Datscha is Russian for a summer cottage. The club is definitely small - it consists of two rooms and a dance floor, which is always full! This is why you often see people chilling out in front of the club, especially in summer time. DJ:s play usually very interesting mixes of progressive House and R’n’B! Crazy but friendly atmosphere and inexpensive drinks. Admission free/100 rubles. Ul. Dumskaya 9, M Gostinyj Dvor. Fidel & Belgrad Pretty much the same as Datscha, just with some more seatings provided. Locates right next to Datcha.

ROCK Fish-Fabrique is a small club, where the young international bohemia (students) go to get drunk and meet locals. Some nights famous and not so famous bands perform independent music on a small stage. 10 Ulitsa Pushkinskaya, entrance from Ligovsky prospect. Metro: Ploschiad Vosstania. Open 17:00-05:30

JAZZ CLUBS

For Jazz lovers we can recommend the following restaurants. Please notice that they close early and live bands start to play already at around 19.00-20.00. It’s recommended to book table in advance.

Jazz Time Bar Concerts start Tue-Sun 20:00-22:30. Admission 50-100 ruble. Mokhovaya ul. 41, metro Gostinyj Dvor. JFC Jazz Club Open daily 19:00-23:00. Admission 100-200 rubles. Ul. Shpalernaya 33, metro Chernyshevskaya. Jimi Hendrix Blues Club A nice club restaurant, dedicated for Jimi Hendrix. Open daily 11:00-23:00. Admission 100-150 rubles. Liteiny pr. 33, metro Mayakovskaya.

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RESTAURANTS AND BARS IN ST PETERSBURG

There are thousands of restaurants in St Petersburg to choose from, and it’s just impossible to list all of them. Especially thematic and exotic restaurants are really popular nowadays. Below we have listed some student-friendly restaurants we can recommend, with price level 10-20 € for an average meal.

Russian and European Food in the city center

Laima-bistro. A popular chain of bistros offering a selection Russian and European fare including a rich assortment of desserts at reasonable prices. 16/30 Nabereznaya Kanala Griboedova Market Place A Russian fast food chain. Big variety of Russian and European dishes, affordable prices, fast service. Nevski prospect, 24 Café Saint-Petersburg A small but cozy restaurant close to the cathedral on the Spilled blood. The menu is not very special, but the food is fine and prices are more than reasonable. Nabereznaya Kanala Griboedova 10 CCCP A small restaurant-cafeteria in Soviet Union style. Average bill 15-20 €. Nevski prospect,opposite to Gostinyj dvor Put’ k Kommunizmu (The Road to Communism) If you're feeling nostalgic for a bit of old-time Soviet cuisine, you can find it at art cafe Road to Communism. The walls here are decorated with old posters and flags, while a wealth of other authentic trinkets serve as a reminder of a bygone age. Average bill 15-20 €. 45 Ulitsa Zhukovskogo Stolle Café A conditoria-cafeteria, especially famous for its sweet and savoury pies. Konyushenij pereulok 1/6. Teremok A popular chain of pancake places. Pancakes or how Russian call them «blini» are one of the favourite local fast- food options. You can try them with a varity of fillings. Nevski prospect, 60/106/93; ul.Bolshaya Morskaya, 11, etc.

International

Tandoor Indian Serves a wide selection of authentic Indian dishes in an Indian-style interior 2 Voznesensky Prospect Yakitoriya Sushi-Bar Japanese of Japanese cuisine including many kinds of sushi and sashimi and more than 20 varieties of kebabs in a fine setting with panoramic views of the Alexandrinsky Theater and the Catherine Garden. 5/7 Ostrovskogo Ploschad Japoshka Japanese restaurant across the street from hotel Moscow. The restaurant has also “anti-sushi” menu with Russian food. Average prices, quite restless back ground music. Fish and Fire A modern Japanese restaurant in shopping mall “Moskovskyj” next to hotel Moscow. Interior and atmosphere a mixture of Japanese and rock.

Vegetarian

Idiot Vegetarian restaurant in the style of 19th century. All courses include a vodka shot. In the menu “gentlemen’s kit 30 €”, including an array of appetizers, 1 litre of vodka, and taxi to the nearest hospital. 82 Naberezhnaya Reki Moyki Troitsky Most A tasty and cheap vegetarian restaurant. Alcohol and smoking not allowed. 30, Naberezhnaya Reki Moyki

Unwritten rules in Russian restaurants: -In order to avoid misunderstandings, always ask for the menu in English! -Bills are usually given per table – not per person. If you are many, prepare your calculators. -Tipping is common, but not required. 10 % is average, but it’s up to your discretion. Some places add it automatically on the bill. -Prepare enough time for everything – orders take at least 20-30 minutes, some times even longer. Service in the low-budget restaurants can be extremely slow, especially if you are more than 10-15 people. Besides, bills are usually given in Russian…

A MENU DECODER

Меню = menyu = Menu на английском – na angliiskom = in English

Горячие и холодные закуски – goryachie i holodnye zakuski = hot and cold appetizers 1 5

Салад – Salat = Salad Бутерброд – Buterbrot = Sandwiches Блинчики – Blinchiki = Pancakes Закуски – Zakuski = Starters (salted cucumbers, fish, vegetables etc.)

Супы – supy = Soups Борщ – Borsch = a meat soup with vegetables and beetroot Солянка – Solyanka = A meat or fish soup with vegetables. Щи – Scschi = a cabbage soup

Горячее – goryachee = Main courses Мясо – Myaso = Meat Говядина – Govyadina = Beef Свинина – Svinina = Pork Баранина – Baranina = Mutton (lamb) Курица – Kurica = Chicken Язык – Yazyk = Tongue Рыба – Ryba = Fish Simple sentences!

Гарниры – Garniry = Side orders Пожалуйста! –pozhaluista = Here you are! Картофель фри – Kartofel fri = French fries Спасибо! –spasiba = Thank you! Картофельное пюре – Kartofelnoe pyure = Mashed potatoes Oчень вкусно! – оchen’ vkusna! = Really tasty! Рис – Ris = Rice Счет, пожалуйста! = Can we have the bill, Греча – Grecha = Buckwheat please! Овощи отварные – Ovoschi otvarnye = cooked vegetables - schyot, pozhaluista

Напитки – napitki = Drinks Безалкогольные – bezalkogolnye = non-alcoholic Сок – Sok = Juice RECOMMENDED RUSSIAN DISHES Апельсиновый – Apelsinovyj = Orange juice

Яблочный – Yablochnyj = Apple juice Борщ – Borsch, a meat soup with vegetables Ананасовый – Ananasovyj = Pineapple juice and beetroot, which gives the soup red color. Томатный – Tomatnyj = Tomato juice Солянка – Solyanka, A meat or fish soup with Вода минеральная – Voda mineralnaya = Mineral water vegetables. С газом – S gazom = With sparkles Щи – Scschi- a cabbage soup Без газа – Bez gaza = Still (without sparkles) Пельмены – Pelmeny, a meat staffed Кола – Kola = Coke ”ravioli”, which most of the Russian eat daily Лимонад – Limonat = Lemonade Шашлык – Caucasian spit-roast meat, usually Молоко – Moloko = Milk lamb. Very delicious! Чай – Chai = Tea Блины – Pancakes, often stuffed with Кофе – Fofe = Coffee different ingredients; meat, mushrooms, cabbage, caviar, jam etc. Aлкогольные – alkogolnye = alcoholic Пиво – Pivo = Beer Вино – Vino = Wine Водка – Votka = Vodka Коньяк – Konyak = Cognac (brandy) Шампанское – Shampanskoe = Sparkling wine Виски – Viski = Whiskey Текила – Tekila = Tequila

RUSSIAN FOR BEGINNERS

In Russia you may notice, that the local people are quite poor in English. If you were ignored when asking help, it doesn’t mean that the Russians are rude and impolite – most of they are just too embarrassed to speak English. Remember, that Soviet Union was a closed country, and although foreign languages were taught in schools, no one really had a chance to use or practice it. Luckily enough, younger generation knows English much better. However, it’s never too hard to learn couple of basic sentences for communicating with the locals, or just “spasibo” for thank you and “na zdorovye” for cheers! So, let’s go 1 6 for it!

How to use the “Russian for beginners”

The pronunciation is marked in the brackets after Russian word. Double dots after vowel means that the vowel is pronounced long. An apostrophe (´) before the letter E, means that the letter is pronounced more like “ie”. The apostrophe in the end of the word marks Russian letter “Ь”, that means that the letter before is pronounced soft.

Examples: Кошка (ko:shka) – the word is pronounced “kooshka” (cat) Девушка (d´evushka) – the word is pronounced “ dievushka” (girl) Мать (mat´) – letter ”t” is soft (mother)

THE CYRILLIC ALPHABET

Russian alphabet consists of 33 letters divided into 11 vowels, 20 consonants and 2 letters which do not designate any sounds(*). Each letter can be either capital or small. The letters can also be printed or handwritten.

In Russian alphabet there are 33 letters and in English 26.

Below is given Russian alphabet in the order that it occurs in dictionaries and other places. 01 А а - A (America) 12 К к - K (Ken) 23 Х х - H (Herb) 02 Б б - B (Ben) 13 Л л - L (Linda) 24 Ц ц - TS (Science) 03 В в - V (Victor) 14 М м - M (Mary) 25 Ч ч - CH (Charles) 04 Г г - G (Gloria) 15 Н н - N (Nancy) 26 Ш ш - SH (Short) 05 Д д - D (Don) 16 О о - O (Olga) 27 Щ щ - SHCH (SH + CH) 06 Е е - YE (Yeah) 17 П п - P (Peter) 28 Ъ ъ - Hard sign 07 Ё ё - YO (Yolk) 18 Р р - R (Russ) 29 Ы ы - Hard I 08 Ж ж - ZH (Vision) 19 С с - S (Sam) 30 Ь ь - Soft sign 09 З з - Z (Zebra) 20 Т т - T (Tom) 31 Э э - E (Emma) 10 И и - I (Italy) 21 У у - U (Moon) 32 Ю ю - YU (Yuko11 Й й - Y (Boy) (Short I) 22 Ф ф - F (Fred) 33 Я я - YA (Yard) SOME BASIC WORDS IN RUSSIAN

In English in Russian How pronounced (accent on the letter with ”´” ) Restaurant Ресторан restorán Night club Ночной клуб nochnój klub Hotel Гостиница gostínica Taxi Такси taksí Subway Метро metró Bus Автобус avtóbus Street улица úlica Café Кафе Kafé Numbers: 1 один odín 6 шесть schést 50 пятьдесят pitdsy´at 2 два dvá 7 семь syém 100 сто sto 3 три trí 8 восемь vósyem 200 двести dv´yesti 4 четыре chetýre 9 девять dyévyat 300 триста trísta 5 пять pyát 10 десять dyésyat 400 четыреста chetýresta 500 пятьсот pitsót 1000 тысяча tísyacha

BASIC SENTENCES IN RUSSIAN

In English in Russian Pronounced Hi! Привет! Priv’é:t! How are you? Как дела? Kak dilá:? Nice to meet you! Очень приятно! Ó:chen’ priyátno! Thank you! Спасибо! Spasí:bo!

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I’m sorry! Извините! Izviní:te! How much is it? Сколько стоит? Sko:l’ka stóit? Here are you! Пожалуйста! Pozh:álusta! A bottle of vodka, please. Пожалуйста, бутылку водки. Pozhalusta, butylku vodki. Yes Да Da No Нет Nyet To the hotel ”Moscow”! До гостинцы «Москва», пожалуйста! Do gostínicy ”Maskvá:” pozhaluista! Could you help me, please? Помогите мне, пожалуйста! Pomogíte mnye, pozhá:luista! How to get to… Как доехать до… Kak doyéhat’ do... For 100 roubles За сто рублей? Za sto rubléi? I don’t speak Russian Я не говорю по-русски. Izvini:te, ja ne govoryu po-russki I don’t understand Я не понимаю Ya ne ponimá:yu Goodbye! До свидания! Do svidá:nya! See you! До встречи! Do vstréchi! Bye! Пока! Poká:! Welcome! Добро пожаловать! Dobró pozhálovat’! Where is the metro station? Где здесь станция метро? Gde zdes’ stá:nciya metro:? I have a problem… У меня проблема… U menjá: problé:ma… Pour me more vodka, please. Налейте мне еще водки, пожалуйста. Naleite mnye yescho vodki, pozhaluista What is your name? Как тебя зовут? Kak teb´ya zavút? How old are you? Сколько тебе лет? Skól´ko teb´ye let? My name is… Меня зовут… Men´ya zavút… I love you! Я люблю тебя! Ya ljyubl´yu teb´ya!

CHEERS! НА ЗДОРОВЬЕ! NA ZDAROV´E!

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