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A Russophile's Guide to St. Petersburg

Homesafsadmin2020-08-20T22:06:47+03:00

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Going somewhere new isn’t the only way to explore and have fun learning about other cultures.
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#LiveFromRussia Instagram Series

Looking to have fun, learn something new about Russia while building a sense of community amongst fellow Russophiles and Russo-currious during the lockdown, I began to host the #LiveFromRussia Instagram edutainment series.

What’s Waiting for You Here

Over 200 museums to match any interest
100 theaters for a classic evening out
114 rivers/canals and 432 bridges to rival Venice & Amsterdam
22 white nights and freezing cold winters to showcase Russia’s best seasons

Beyond the Basics

• Niche tours for the Russophiles and Russo-curious

• We know there aren’t any bears here and we don’t care why the Russians don’t smile at strangers

Fun Times

• Engaging tours

• Passionate Storytellers to guide you through history

On-the-Go Support

• Licensed guides who know the local language, culture, and what to do if…

• You can relax, we’ve got you covered!

Let’s Talk About Your Next Adventure

Tour bookings and inquiries
Suggestions on where to go in St. Petersburg and how to best plan your time here
Questions about life in St. Petersburg as a long-term expat

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Peter the Great got the inspiration for his famous

Peter the Great got the inspiration for his famous Peterhof fountains from here...⁠ ⁠ It's World Tourism Day! ⁠ ⁠ ⛲They say that travel broadens the mind and gives you a fresh perspective. Peter the Great must have known that and when he was a tourist on his big Eurotrip, he visited Versailles palace and park which is where he got the idea for his famous Peterhof fountains. ⁠ ⁠ ⛲After his travels, he came back and got to work designing his own park of fountains similar to Versailles. However, his were an improved version of the Versailles fountains. While the Versailles fountains were only able to run a few hours a day a couple of times a week, the Peterhof fountains were spouting out and showing off most of the day every day except in winter, of course. ⁠ ⁠ Has travel ever inspired you to make changes or start something new? ⁠ ⁠ #visitrussia #worldtourismday #stpetersburgguide #peterhof #peterthegreat⁠

#livefromrussia is back! This Thursday on SAFS In

Who made the cut of Russia's top inbound tourist l

Who made the cut of Russia's top inbound tourist list in the last couple of years? ⁠ ⁠ 📈Astonishingly, the USA is on the list. I'm surprised the UK isn't on here. ⁠ 📈Unsurprisingly, Russia's neighbors are high on the list and look at those awesome numbers from China 😱⁠ ⁠ What do you think 2021 will bring for tourism in Russia? ⁠ ⁠ Photo credit and results: statista.com⁠ #visitrussia #russiatourism #stpetersburgguide #saintpetersburgguide⁠ ⁠ ⁠

I found this quote and I love it. It’s not about

I found this quote and I love it. It’s not about Alex but so many others do this and you know you're back in Russia when the plane lands and the clapping begins. ⁠ ⁠ Touchdown! and as soon as you land, most people immediately unbuckle, grab their bags and start lining up for the exit. ⁠ ⁠ If you're lucky, you'll exit via an arm, and if not then you load a bus and drive over to the unloading zone. ⁠ ⁠ Next comes the migration line and verification of your passport/visa. Usually the most intense/intimidating part of your journey as you're scrutinized by an unsmiling agent (your first unsmiling Russian encounter 😉 ). This part of the process still makes me nervous but I feel that the officials have lightened up a little bit since I first started coming through. ⁠ ⁠ Once you hear the double stamp, you've got the green light and you're in! Welcome to Russia! ⁠ ⁠ Baggage pick-up and customs clearance are next. Long lines pile up at customs but it's not necessary. Watch the Russians, many of them go right through without slowing down and you can too unless you're requested to get in line. ⁠ ⁠ As you exit, you'll be greeted by what I like to refer to as the taxi piranhas. Ignore them. Say nothing. Seriously, just walk right past them. These guys are out to convince you to ride with them and they will charge you exorbitant amounts for a ride that could actually get you to Moscow and back for the same amount of money. ⁠ ⁠ Instead, book a taxi with an app or go to the official taxi kiosk. Look up #safsprep for my post on that and other helpful tips for your trip to Russia. Follow the hashtag so you never miss a post to help you prepare for your trip to Russia. ⁠ ⁠ If you're staying in the city center, you can expect a 40 minute to 1-hour ride depending on traffic and where you're staying. ⁠ ⁠ If you don't feel comfortable doing it on your own, get in touch. I can arrange a ride for you or meet you at the airport myself so you can just relax. ⁠ ⁠ Hope to see you in St. Pete when it's safe. ⁠ ⁠ Xoxo, ⁠ ⁠ Stacey ⁠ ⁠ #tourstpetersburg #stpetersburgguide #stpetersburgrussia #spbguide #expatsinrussia ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠

Have you heard there’s a rumor in St. Petersburg

Have you heard there’s a rumor in St. Petersburg? Many of you have been asking me lately about the COVID situation and if it’s ok to come in the next few months. Honestly, I don’t know what to tell you! In August a rumor started circulating that there would be a second lockdown in September. Then the rumor changed to ‘There’s going to be a second lockdown on September 20th.’ Arguments supporting the second lockdown rumor are the following: 1.) The schools opened a few weeks ago and many of the schools have a large number of students infected. 2.) In general, people are not practicing personal safety with anti-COVID measures and there are a number of large gatherings happening daily which are leading to more infected people. 3.)Hospitals are at full capacity and the number of cases has risen. The lockdown would help clear them out and get back to a more manageable number of cases. Arguments against the second lockdown theory are the following: 1.)They wouldn’t open back up just to close everything down again. 2.)No one will pay attention to a second lockdown. 3.)A second lockdown won’t change anything. With all of this, we might very well be looking at a second lockdown here, and now we are just waiting to see what October will bring. In the meantime, I’m still going to be sharing fun things to add to your Russia/St. Petersburg bucket list and helping you prepare for an amazing Russiventure when it is safe to come! Are you all as ready for 2021 as I am? Video snippet credit: the incredibly inaccurate “Anastasia” movie that I love anyways! Could there have been a more fitting segue into this topic 😜

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