Survival Guide

We produce a yearly Tips Book which gives all sorts of information about life in St Petersburg, but it is within those first few weeks that we need survival tips for day to day living. So here are a few to start off: Before You Arrive • Check the state of phone and internet connection – a much needed lifeline • The majority of entrance halls are in a state of disrepair so don’t necessarily write this off. • Contact the IWC and we can put you in contact with a buddy and invite you to Peter's Tea. The First Week or Two • Check out the local Produckty’s ïðîäóêòû. These are not always obvious, often in the basement, and sell the basic groceries. • Get out and explore the city on foot. • Meet up with IWC ladies. • Pick up a copy of St Petersburg In Your Pocket. Free guide to the city. Available in many pubs and bars and hotels. Often need to ask in hotels. • Don't expect things to run smoothly. There is the Russian way! • Find a market for fruit, veg, meat, fish and cheese. Even if you have no Russian these are a great place to start learning and the stallholders are very friendly. Don't feel you need to haggle at first even if you get charged too much, just go back to the same person and you will eventually get better prices. • Don't take all your cards and worldly possessions with you when you go out. Exercise caution like any big city. TOP 10 tips on how to survive…..and enjoy St Pete!! (Thanks to Kate van Schuijlenburg for this) 1. Get out of your car, take your camera and walk around this stunning city. Walk into courtyards, parks, along canals, into markets, watch parades, enjoy concerts and ballets inside the beautiful theatres. You may never again live in such a beautiful city! 2. escape to Estonia or Finland – expand with details. Details on the website written by some Finnish IWC ladies about travel to Finland. Cottages, Helsinki, family holidays, weekend breaks to Helsinki or the Imatra spa etc etc 3. boring admin-security stuff – laminate a copy of your residence card, it has your name written in Russian – handy-and also your passport, take copies of immigration papers at the borders – to save queues at airport and not all airlines give them out. Don’t rely on your company or consulate to keep up to date with everything, plenty of people have been caught out with expired documents. SIM card from Russia with emergency numbers for visitors. Make sure your driver, nanny knows where to take your kids, relatives etc in case you have an accident. they also need these numbers in their phones 4. ENJOY the winter – don’t let it get the better of you. Here’s how…buy as many candles as you can carry from IKEA, enjoy palaces and museums without the crowds, lots of very cosy restaurants, places to have afternoon tea etc etc expand here 5. the ‘necklace’ of palaces – lovely in all seasons, can also hire bikes, pedaloes, row boats, xs country ski, skate, walk, picnic, -clean air 6. business lunches - a good way to sample the delights of the more expensive places at 7. think a bit laterally with kids, suggestions of museums etc 8. IKEA lake – again all seasons 9. IYP, yell, St Pete Times, ‘where’ magazine – for English language info 10. don’t be afraid – survival Russian, pickpocket areas, common scams etc Bonus no 11. Use the IWC!!