Russia tourism

Math · 09-08-2011, 11:30 AM

Hi guys.
I’m going to Russia for 3 weeks on the 19th. A week ago, the plane tickets were too cheap to pass. So my wife and I decided to go. Spontaneity, we have it. Normally we take a few months to prepare for a trip; this one will be less structured than usual. We plan to see Moscow, the golden ring and St-Petersburg, and around there...I figure we don’t have enough time to prepare for an off the beaten path trip…
Any of you went?
Any good experiences / don’t miss places?

KNS · 09-08-2011, 02:43 PM

Don't fly any of the local Air Carriers..

Math · 09-08-2011, 03:04 PM

no kidding...

9dreizig · 09-08-2011, 03:12 PM

Funny i was just talking to a girl sitting next to me on the plane and she said Visa's were really difficult to get for Russia. Have you taken care of that part of the trip planning ?

Math · 09-08-2011, 04:36 PM

it was not that difficult:
reserve at a hotel, hotel send you an "invitation", take invitation / visa form request/ passport to embassy, wait 3 days, get visa.
maybe a student or long term visa would be difficult, tourism is not. just have to follow the steps. I got my visa, my plane tickets and my hotel in Moscow for 3 days. after that, its not so clear yet.

language will be rough.My last trip was to Vietnam, everybody was happy to show off than they can talk English. In Russia, not so much apparently...

anybody went?

Joeaksa · 09-08-2011, 07:09 PM

Make sure you go to the underground subways in St. Pete. They are really a complete city down there, especially during winter. Almost 100 meters deep, its well worth the trip.

I really enjoy Russia and worked out of Moscow for a while. Just be careful, especially at night as there are still a lot of crooked cops there who can and will find a problem with your paperwork looking for a bribe.

enzo1 · 09-08-2011, 07:36 PM

friend of mine went, he said the girls there were stunning...

Dottore · 09-08-2011, 10:40 PM

For things to do in Russia please see the "This man is my hero" thread.

DARISC · 09-08-2011, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottore

For things to do in Russia please see the "This man is my hero" thread.

That fellow may not keep abreast, but is hands on in keeping in touch with the situation at hand, approaching the challenges two at a time.

Joeaksa · 09-09-2011, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enzo1

friend of mine went, he said the girls there were stunning...

Russian ladies=very nice looking
Ukrainian ladies=stunning

If someone is looking for the ladies, head East!

Math · 09-09-2011, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottore

For things to do in Russia please see the "This man is my hero" thread.

I can't watch youtube here, but I get the Idea of what that might be about...
Russian woman are hot. you can order some online I heard

surely someone here got themselves one of those mail orders...

VINMAN · 09-09-2011, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darisc

that fellow may not keep abreast, but is hands on in keeping in touch with the situation at hand, approaching the challenges two at a time.

:d:d

Joeaksa · 09-09-2011, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Math

I can't watch youtube here, but I get the Idea of what that might be about...
Russian woman are hot. you can order some online I heard

surely someone here got themselves one of those mail orders...

Slightly off here. You can meet them online but this "mail order bride" crap is just that, crap. You still have to go over there, spend time with them to figure out which one is right for you and then and only then start the paperwork to get her over here legally. Also once you get her here almost every one of them will need extensive dental work. Figure on $5-10k on this alone as their dental care system is terrible.

I have about 5-6 friends married to Russian or FSU ladies. Most worked out pretty well, one in a terrible divorce while another one lasted 11 years then ended in divorce. About the same as American women. Difference is that with a Russian woman you actually get laid, usually every night if not more. They have their good and bad points but in the end are still women and come with the associated baggage just as us guys do...

Neilk · 09-09-2011, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

I have about 5-6 friends married to Russian or FSU ladies. Most worked out pretty well, one in a terrible divorce while another one lasted 11 years then ended in divorce. About the same as American women. Difference is that with a Russian woman you actually get laid, usually every night if not more. They have their good and bad points but in the end are still women and come with the associated baggage just as us guys do...

So how many of those divorces coincide with the receipt of their green cards?

Joeaksa · 09-10-2011, 03:05 AM

Actually only one of them. Course it happened in Dallas and she is now remarried locally!

He returned to Russia, found another lady and has been married (and had a child) for the last 12 years.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Who's that Pelican member we got there, he's got all kinds of Fancy Porschery and he's not to uptight about crashing one or two.. Alex or what whas his name again??
Ping him, i'm sure he won't mind you borrowing a GT2 or something..If you don't mind driving around in something blinged up a bit.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

There was a guy in our local PCA back east who had a Russian mail-order bride. She was pretty hot and he was a very difficult person. She was basically his shadow, at every single event, tech sessions, track event, you name it. I wonder if they're still together.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

There was a guy in our local PCA back east who had a Russian mail-order bride. She was pretty hot and he was a very difficult person. She was basically his shadow, at every single event, tech sessions, track event, you name it. I wonder if they're still together.

At some point she will have figured out Eddy Murphy's "HALF!".

campbellcj · 09-12-2011, 09:18 PM

It's a fascinating place. In Moscow, be prepared for some of the worst traffic of your life as well as some expensive food. The subways are really cool, and public transit works well but there are virtually no signs in English so be sure you're confident with your maps. My wife had studied some Russian before we went and it came in very handy, especially in Siberia where English is not as widely spoken as in the big cities.

Joeaksa · 09-12-2011, 09:20 PM

Chris's comment about expensive food is spot on. We finally found a pizza place but still it cost a good $25 for a pizza and drink anywhere we went. Take lots of cash!