Silence hour…
Are you afraid of your bad Russian ? Or maybe you don’t speak any Russian at all and you can not get to know anybody … or you just want to have a new experience ?
Turns out there are “silence hours” in some clubs in Russia, they are part of “Cheburashki” community. Basically you can not say a word during the specific time. You can interact with hands, draw and write on pieces of paper (that are found on the tables) and just listen to good music. Whenever anybody says a word, security takes them out of the club.
Looks like fun, especially for people that are not so sure speaking out …
Posted in Entertainment, Interesting on October 30th, 2008 by Anton | | 0 Comments
Commercial Real Estate and Land in Saint Petersburg
Here is probably my last post for today, need to start doing something else…
I know that I would never probably afford and will have a need for commercial real estate in Saint Petersburg (but hopefully maybe someday!), but I always like to checkout the offers and image what I would have there : )
There are a whole lot of bearocratic non-sense associated with any real estate, but if you hire good lawers, everything is possible, here I’ll just provide few sites that will help you see the picture of prices and avaiability of real estate in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
- Spb Lands - This web-site looks small and very simple design, but I like it the most when looking for good chunk of land for sale, you can find all different sizes for different needs
- For Plants and Storage
- For Office and Houses/Apartments
- For houses, cottages, villages (outside the city)
- Can also see everything on maps
- Arendator.ru - Here you can find all kinds of different properties for rent or sale
- TheProperty.ru - I like this site the most, it is quite new and boast a large database of places for rent or sale, each list you can also see on the maps, which is quite useful (Here is the map with all objects, as I understand)
- EMLS - Also you can search here the database, though I like TheProperty.ru better
Of course, there are a lot more sites, but most will just repeat the information similar to above mentioned sites.
Posted in Real Estate, Saint Petersburg on October 27th, 2008 by Anton | | 0 Comments
Interesting: "Come To Russia"
On my recent rumble thru the Internet, I’ve came across an interesting project: Come To Russia
This is not commercial project of fun people who would like to give a new image to Russia, make Russia look interesting to the foreign people (and Russians themselves). I really like such attempts, since I believe Russia has a lot of things to offer.
But I’ll give one and most important problem with their web-site: Where is English language ?? If the site is positioning for non-Russian speaking, then how they are going to read Russian … of course there are English captions, but it is a nightmare for trying to navigate this site for English speaking person …
Well, anyway, from one bad thing to many goods things:
On the Come To Russia site, which is sponsored by the great Russian drink: Kosogorov Samogon N5 (which tastes great by the way!), they are trying to combine all interesting events from the Russia. But they are much more than just a site, it is a whole company, who organizes events themselves as well. I really liked their last event: they got a great group from St. Petersburg, Tequlajazzz , to climb highest mountain in Russia, Everest, and perform a concert on there! They did not manage to get to the top, but it still was great attempt and people looked really fun and enjoying the life there. (I personally do not encourage loud music in the mountains, but one time is ok). You can watch some videos on Tequlajazz’s web-site or on the Come To Russia blog report.
The site is still in the early ages, and not a whole lot of information, but I found myself few things that I liked, besides the concert at the Everest.
I hope the project will go a long way and many similar projects would appear, that would encourage travel to such a great country : )
Posted in Interesting on October 27th, 2008 by Anton | | 0 Comments
Finding apartments for rent in Saint Petersburg
Renting apartment is the best option for most people in our time, so here I’ll provide few tools that can be used to find apartments in Saint Petersburg.
Just some definitions before we begin…
You can rent apartment thru…
Agent
They usually charge around 100% fee (total apartment price per month) for their services, sometimes you can work out a deal as low as 50%, but that’s unusual.
Agents are good, if they are reputable, that they have access to much more apartment listings, they’ll work out any issues and create a good contract for you, basically it is the best choice if you do not want to mess with everything yourself.
Owner
It is a cheaper solution, since you do not have to pay the brokerage fee, but sometimes it can bring unexpected problems, such as scam artists, that give you keys from the apartment that they do not own and etc…
Some issues to watch out and work out during renting procedure…
Deposit
Many people require a deposit equal to one month rent, so they can cover any damages that you’ve done. Make sure it is written in contract, that they took the deposit
Condition of an apartment
Make sure to take photos and discuss any problems that you might notice before getting the place and when you give your deposit, otherwise you most probably will never see your deposit again.
Contract
Make sure to create a binging contract between you and the owner, if you don’t know what you are doing, then do everything thru good agent.
Here is some information about renting in Russia in English language: Alinga Consulting Group
Where to look for apartments:
- "Kvartirniy vopros" - One of the best and largest database of apartments for rent in Saint Petersburg, mostly agents, but can find some by owners
- On "Kvartirsniy vopros" you can also just do a request for the rent here and all agents will call you if they have good option for you
- BSN - I think it is the same database, but I am not sure … also a lot of choices
- EMLS - Another good resource for searching apartments, mostly agents
- "Iz ruk v ruki" - popular Russian newspaper with ads, many private ads, many agents - sometimes hard to differentiate…
- Spb_Hata - Livejournal community for renting apartments, mostly private ads
- Group in VKontakte (have to be registered in Vkontakte.ru) - another group for renting apartments
So these were the major players in providing information on renting apartments.
But first you have to decide where you want to get an apartment… close to center and close to metro station - more expensive, so if you can manage living not in the center and take other public transportation besides a metro, then you can find a deal. Usually apartments by owner are a little bit cheaper. If you are on a really tight budget, then you can get just a room, there are a lot of offers for room rentals and they can be found for pretty reasonable prices, but make sure you have good neighbors.
Main things to look when renting:
- How clean the apartment is
- cockroaches!
- If it is the last floor - does the roof leak?
- If it is the first floor - how good are the windows, is there going to be a lot of noise
- How clean is the stairwell
- ….
And to the main point,
average prices:
- On "Kvartirniy vopros" you can find average prices by the part of the city and also minimum prices … of course you can find better prices, but it’s going to be hard
- So, basically one room apartment in the center of the city is a minimum of about $1000.. and it’s going to be hard to find
- Don’t forget, that one room apartment is only one room, not one bedroom!
Just last tip, ask around, friends and just people you might know - many people would gladly rent out to somebody they know rather then to stranger!
Good luck! : )
Posted in Real Estate, Saint Petersburg on October 27th, 2008 by Anton | | 0 Comments
Prepaid Cell Phone Providers
Well, since we are on a digital topic, let’s summarize most of the major players in cell phone markets.
There are quite a few of little providers, but they are usually for small regions, here is the whole list
Russia uses GSM frequencies of 900 and 1800 Mhz, so make sure your phone supports it. And make sure your phone is unlocked, because usually roaming charges in Russia of foreign carriers are very high.
Every provider offers prepaid plans, actually monthly plans came into effect only few years ago, before it was just prepaid.
Incoming calls to cell phones are free by government regulations. Outgoing calls to the same carrier is usually less and to land lines usually more.
I’ll just show tariffs for Moscow (except for Tele2), but they are very different for different regions.
I think it is one of the best providers, especially for Saint Petersburg.
It splits Russia into seven different regions and of course there is roaming involved.
This following is one of the simplest tariffs:
Ediniy: 3-4 rubles (~12 cents) per minute to any phone, 170 rubles set-up fee and cheapest calls abroad.
Here is the coverage map.
I believe it’s one of the first mobile companies in Russia, but was called different before (just GSM I think). It’s when my dad had a phone, while nobody else did, it was this big brick-like Nokia phone ; )
There are also all kinds of tariffs, with average price of about 3-4 rubles per minute.
Here is a coverage map, choose region for detailed coverage.
The prices are about 2-5 rubles per minute, but you can, as with every other carrier, choose plan out of big variety of plans.
Tele2 is Swedish company that came in on Russian market. It is mostly popular in St. Petersburg. I don’t think they even offer it in Moscow yet. But roaming works everywhere. It is the cheapest carrier, but coverage in the city is not that bad, I use it, since it was the only one I could buy on market without a passport ; )
The prices in St. Petersburg are 1 ruble (~ 4 cents) per minute!
And it has the cheapest international roaming out of all carriers in Russia.
And cheapest GPRS.
Well, it’s CHEAP! : )
Here is the coverage map
I think this is the only provider that uses CDMA in Russia, so you have to use CDMA compatible phone. But the prices are not bad, don’t know about the service, we have just used the mobile Internet from them.
The prices are about 2 rubles per minute, which is pretty good.
Posted in Communications on June 3rd, 2008 by Anton | | 0 Comments
Staying connected in St. Petersburg
WiFi
Since I usually travel with my laptop, I would like to have access to the Internet and preferably for free. There are more and more places open up with WiFi, also some networks are spanning up.
Here is a small summary of WiFi hot spots in Saint Petersburg.
Some of them might not work.
If it’s not free, then usual price is anywhere from 60 to 150 rubles (~$2 to $6) per hour.
Network of WiFi Spots (in English!)
3G
Megafon(eng) was the first to introduce 3G in St. Petersburg.
Also there is SkyLink which offers CDMA high speed wireless internet, it has better coverage than Megafon’s 3G and works pretty nice (used it few times). Currently they also offer new plan which gives you unlimited internet at night time (1am to 8am) and 2.90 (~12 cents) per mb in day time.
GPRS
Or you can just use GPRS which every provider has. I think Tele2 has the cheapest prices - 4 rubles per mb.
Internet Cafes
There are few Internet Cafes around city, especially on Nevskiy Pr. (the main street).
Here is a list with map from Yandex Maps
And the cafe that I love is Quo Vadis? It’s expensive, but it is so nice! Especially to sit there with laptop, sip some good wine and be around good looking people : )
There are also Internet terminals and many post offices called "Cyber Pochta", but I’ve never used them.
Posted in Communications, Saint Petersburg on June 3rd, 2008 by Anton | | 0 Comments
Car rental
Driving a car in Russia is crazy, but not as crazy as in India, so one can try his luck.
First of all, you need to get international driving license permit (it’s that large notebook style thing with different languages in it). One can get it from AAA (in US) for example. Theoretically US driver license should work in Russia, but there are no theories for Russia, just experience ; ).
Just about a month ago my dad was pulled over (which happens quite often, many times "just because" - they can always find a reason to stop you) and he showed his US license. Well, after getting to the rank of captain, who was going to write a protocol and take his car to impound lot, because he stated that US license are not valid in Russia, and guess what, the Ohio license are not even valid anywhere in the US, but Ohio ; )))) … Well, after paying him 2000 rubles, my dad took his license and walked out.
Why did he show US license ? Because most of the times, when they see foreign license, they let off for small offenses.. but not always, as you could see.
Back to driving a car, learn the rules …
Posted in Transportation on May 29th, 2008 by Anton | | 0 Comments
Getting around - Trains - Elektrichka
Trains are the most widely used method of transportation in Russia, for several reasons:
- Many people just do not have cars
- In big cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg) it might be a pain to get out of the city because of the traffic
- They usually are pretty good at keeping up with the schedule (especially express ones)
- Pretty clean, nice and comfortable (of course, depends on how much you are willing to pay)
- They are not very expensive (I wouldn’t say they are cheap)
- And it is good idea to take a train to another city instead of a car, because it is just better (you can take a night train and sleep there)
- Rail roads are much more widespread than roads
- You arrive in the center of the city
- Hell, you can drink on trains and meet some cool Russian people ; )) (though drinking is forbidden, but unless you start disturbing other people, it is fine - as everywhere in Russia)
So, I hope you are now ready to go ride a train.
Here there is a map of Russian railway system: GdeVagon.Ru
There are several kinds of trains, one of them is Elektrichka (Electro-train):
Posted in Transportation on May 28th, 2008 by Anton | | 0 Comments
