A Matryoshka doll [mɐˈtrʲɵʂkə] , also known as a Russian nesting doll. Or a Russian doll, refers to a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside another. The name Matryoshka goes from Russian female name Matriona. In Imperial Russia among peasants the name Matriona or Matriosha was a very popular female name. This name has a Latin root “mater”, that means “mother”. This name was associated with the image of a mother of a big peasant family, who was very healthy, had a lot of children and also had a portly figure. Subsequently, it became a symbolic name and was used especially to image brightly painted wooden figurines made in such a way that they could be taken apart to reveal smaller dolls (kids) fitting inside one another. Dolls became one of the main symbols of Russia and nowadays you may find them in all souvenir shops. Very interesting thing: the whole idea of such nesting dolls belonged to Japanese, not Russians! Once at a tradition Saturday meeting in a house of Savva Mamontov (one of the first people, who patronized artists who were possessed by idea of the creation of a new Russian style) somebody brought a funny Japanese figurine of a good-nature bold head old man Fukuruma. The doll consisted of some other figurines nestled one another. It had 7 figurines. That was the first known nesting doll. Russian craftsmen and artists fell in love with this doll and decided to create this kind of a doll but with Russian accent. One of the artists was intrigued by Fukuruma doll and decided to make something similar but with Russian peculiarity. That doll should have had a Russian spirit and represent specific Russian cultural traditions. That doll was made of a wooden form of soft linden wood and represented typical Russian woman with children. There were seven kids sitting one inside another and the biggest doll-mother was holding a rooster. Surface of the doll was covered with a thin layer of wax. Nowadays you may find such dolls in souvenir shops. To be honest, this doll is my favorite, it has a real Russian spirit, it is very simple, not shining, not glittering, not very detailed, but hmmm, how to say, personable and beautiful in its simplicity I suppose. It shows a real working class woman, mother and may be that is why it feels so close. Have a look, what do you think? The principle of making dolls remains unchanged til present times. Matryoshka dolls are often designed to follow a particular theme; for instance, peasant girls in traditional dress. Originally, themes were often drawn from tradition or fairy tale characters, in keeping with the craft tradition—but since the 20th century, they have embraced a larger range. Nowadays you may find nesting dolls of politicians, even Putin and Obama (!), football (soccer) players, singers, animals and so on. However the most frequently bought matreshkas are classical ones, portraying beautiful young girls and ladies. Recently i saw a very interesting article about Chinese production of these dolls. Next to the Harbin (city in northern China, next to the border with Russia) there is a small town, where more then 1/3 of the population work at factories producing Russian nesting dolls. In one year they produce 15 million items and get an income of more then 300 million renmingbi ($1=rmb6). They are sold mostly to France, Germany and Russia. When buying a nesting doll not in an official shop but somewhere at the street, 100% you are buying a Chinese one. If you are looking for a good souvenir, look for a colorful detailed matryoshka with a signature of the master at the bottom of the biggest doll.
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Buses Traveling by bus is a good idea for those, who is traveling for short distances in areas without good metro coverage. Of course it is a good idea not to travel by bus during rush hours (9-10 o'clock in the morning and 5-8 o'clock in the evening), good idea would be to use a subway. Night buses Night buses run during night of 31 december-1 january, 6-7 january and from April 30th to November 15th on nights Friday-Saturday, Saturday-Sunday from midnight to 6 a.m. Buses run parallel to metro lines, every 30 minutes. For more information check here http://www.metro.spb.ru/en/avtonightline.html Marshrutka Marshrutka is a private-run buses. They follow fixed routes and drive as quickly as possible and what is more, they will pick you up and drop off wherever you would like along their route. You can pay for your ride only with cash, no benefits can be used. Tram Trams are usually less crowded, but quite obsolete, used mostly in remote areas,where little is available. Metro The fastest way to travel in St. Petersburg for long distances. There are five lanes nowadays, the sixth is being built. In subway you can buy a one way token (31 rub/ 50 cents) or you can buy a multiple pass, depending on amount of rides you would like to use. Be careful if you travel during rush hours, your things can be easily stolen if you do not pay attention. What is more, in the morning, during the rush hour, probably you will have problems with getting into the train at big stations, such as Sennaya, Technologicheskiy institut and Nevskiy prospect, be ready to be pushed and scolded. Night Trains Night trains are available on Line 5 from April 30 to November 15 during the time when the bridges across the Neva are opened. Trains will run between Admiralteyskaya and Sportivnaya stations from 1:00 to 3:00 a.m. Passengers can enter Sportivnaya Station via both lobbies. The best time to visit St. Petersburg is from mid may to mid September. In June we have famous White Nights period that is not to be missed. Summers are generally cool but pleasant and very comfortable for traveling. The ultimate St. Petersburg experience is in mid June, when the sun slides towards the horizon, but never fully sets. During the whole month it seems that city doesn't sleep at all, at 3 o'clock at night at the main street you will find crowds of locals, just like during the most crucial country holidays and fests. It is the busiest time, so almost all hotels are booked weeks in advance. Remember to book hotel and tour in advance, otherwise you may face a lot of difficulties. In winter you will feel yourself in fairy tale, with frozen rivers and gilded cupolas covered with snow. However traveling to St. Petersburg in winter is rare; winter days are short, and temperatures will dip well below freezing so be sure to pack accordingly. With the chill going as low as the single digits, hotels offer great discounts for the rare tourist that braves the cold. And with the winter festival and holiday celebrations, it might just be worth it, just don't forget your parka. A winter of minimum -35.9 C (-32.6 F) was recorded in 1883. The average annual temperature is 5.8 C (42.4 F). From December to March there are 118 days average with snow cover, that reaches average snow depth of 19cm (7.5 inches) by February.
ATMs and Cards
ATMs linked to international networks such as Visa, Maestro, MasterCard can be found everywhere. Using a credit/debit card you can always obtain rubles, just look for a sign Банкомат (Bankomat). Most of the credit/debit cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops. It is a good idea to inform your bank about traveling to Russia, otherwise they can put a hold on your card. Bathrooms Public bathrooms is one of the modern problems of Russia. They do exist, but they are mostly poorly marked and difficult to find and of course they are not up to Western standards of hygiene and not free to use, usually you will have to pay about 30-40 rub to use the facility. Blue chemical toilets on the streets have no wash basin and toilets in train stations are mainly the squat type. This is why I advise you to visit bathrooms in restaurants, shops and museums. Every time your guide (if you bought a tour) will make a bathroom stop, please, do not hesitate to use it! Changing Money St. Petersburg is one of the most famous Russian cities and there are millions of tourists coming every year, that is why in some restaurants and shops they will allow you to pay with dollars and euros. Dollars ans Euros are really easy to change in all Russian banks. Whatever currency you bring should be in a good condition, as banks do not accept old and spoiled banknotes. Remember, that cashier will not change currency without your passport. The best bank to exchange money is Sberbank (Сбербанк/ biggest bank of the country with the best rates), it's green banners can be found almost at every corner. Electricity Electricity in Russia is supplied at 220v/50hz (U.S./Canada are 110-120 Volts), travel plug adapters do not change the voltage, so the electricity coming through the adapter will still be the same 220-240 volts the socket is supplying. North American sockets supply electricity at between 110 and 120 volts, far lower than in most of the rest of the world. Electrical outlets in Russia are one of the two European standard electrical outlets types: The "Type C" Europlug and the "Type E" and "Type F" Schuko. If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for all three types. Money-Saving Tips in Museums If you are a student, take your ISIC card with you, as most of the places won't accept any other evidence of your status. Senior citizens and children also get discounts sometimes, so bring your passport to prove your age. What is more, if you are interested in visiting a lot of museums, it is well worth booking your tickets online. The Hermitage museum offers a free entry on the first Thursday of each month. At museums try to get the Russian price wherever possible, if you have a local friend,ask him to buy you a ticket and stay aside and keep quiet ;p If you have plans for visit a lot of museums, then it would be wise to but a City Tour Pass (350 rub/ 6,5 USD) in one of the city Tourist Centres. City Tour Pass is a cheque booklet that contains tear-off coupons for free admission to the main attractions of Saint Petersburg. Also it includes discounts on museums routes, and discounts in popular restaurants, shops, entertainment and leisure time enterprises in St. Petersburg. What is more, it will allow you to buy tickets without waiting in lines. Check all details about City Tour Pass here http://citytourpass.ru Russian Currency National currency is Ruble (rub). Nowadays ruble is quite unstable, since the oil is getting less and less expensive, ruble is getting cheaper if to compare with any other currency. Before 2014 one dollar costed about 32 rub, these days it continues jumping from 55 up to 70 rubles for one dollar. That is the reason why it is very profitable to travel to Russia today. Tap Water The city water supplier insists that the water is safe. Nonetheless most of the pipes are really old and water may contain different pollutants. Do not drink water from the tap. To be safe only drink filtered water or water that has been boiled. Bathing, showering and brushing your teeth is safe. Water conditions is the reason why you will not be given any tap water in any restaurant, so do not wait for a free glass of water. Telephone Russia's international code is [ 7 ]. The international access code from landline phones in Russia is [ 8 ], followed by 10 after the second tone, then the country code, area code and number that you need. St. Petersburg code is [ 812 ], Moscow code is [ 495 ]. From mobile phones all you need is to dial [ +7 ] and number. If you want to make local calls, consider buying a sim-card. To get around the problem of unlocking a U.S. cell phone, you could buy a cheap cell phone in Russia, you may find one for 20 USD. Most famous mobile providers are: MTS, Megafon, TELE2 and Beeline. You can buy a sim-card that will include internet and sms package for as much as 300 rub (5 USD). |
AuthorHi there! My name is Mila, I have been working as a local guide for six years and I've decided to share with you essential information about St. Petersburg, life in Russia and Russian culture. I hope you will enjoy! Archives
January 2018
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