Need advice about traveling to Tallin and St Petersburg

Liza

Liza

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Hello! I'm flying to Tallin (Estonia) next Tuesday. Then I'll be going to St. Petersburg. This trip will take exactly 7 days. Is there anything I should know on these travels?

I'm aware of the great Winter Palace, waterways, and all in St Petersburg... but I don't know too much about Estonia. We'll just be visiting the deaf schools in Tallin and St Petersburg.

I'm wondering about the better rates of exchanging norwegian money for... euro or usd... or just directly get estonian money and russian money elsewhere (st petersburg is out since it is hard to do the exchange with norwegian currency).

Any advice or input shall be greatly appreciated.
 
*looking through my precious and expensive book on Europe*

Tallin....
1.00 NOK Norway Kroner = 1.91598 EEK Estonia Krooni
I think it makes sense to use NOK to get EEK dollars because you'd get less in USD.

Go to Raekoja Plats. There it has the only surviving Gothic church.
Raepaptreek on the north side of the square. A Pharmacy from 1422.
Basically, what it said in the book was to see everything in that Plats.

Toompea:
Toompea castle. Gate tower from 1380. Toomkirik, Estonia's oldest church. Knighthood House, the art muesum of Estonian Artists.
The museum of Occupation and Fight for Freedom

Lower Town:
Former KGB HQ.
Oleviste church for the observation desk.
It is there you'll see houses from 15th C

That's all from what I could find in my book



St.Petersburg

1.00 NOK Norway Kroner = 4.46578 RUB Russia Rubles . More wise to go this route too because USD'd get you less.

Winter Palace
Hermitage museum
Yusupov palace
Dostoevsky museum
Peter & Paul Fortress

I know it's not much but here is it..

If you want more details, email me, eh.
 
Well, I went to Russia and three Baltic States, 20 years ago, it was communist back then! I am sure it change alot today!

I would bring my own toilet paper with me as I was uncomfortable using Russian toilet paper as it was like a sand paper or cheese grater lol. I was asked to swop my cigarette, chewing gum and denim jeans for their Russian postcards. I believe its all changed alot since Russia is free now.

Bring your own water basin plug as they don't have one in their hotels. What a waste of water.

If its still snowing, bring a woollen bean hat to keep you warm. Inside most buildings had good warm heater on all the time!!

Heritage building is beautiful full of gold and silver, lots of pretty patchwork wood polish floors. It is well worth to visit, I stayed in long queue for one hour in the snow!! You should try to visit Red Square if you have a free time, lovely gold dome roofs.

Russian sells their ice-cream off street, and it is really delicious, and hot black lemon tea is brillant.

Buy lots of Russian dolls and you will make profit if you sell it in ebay! LOL

About the money, I bring American Travel Cheque with me, and they accept it. They using a Visa card too.

Have a safe trip!
 
Thank you, Miss D, for consulting with your expensive guidebook ;) I'll see if I can get free time to explore the Estonian sites. I am very interested in culture and history surrounding a country. That's interesting about having the only gothic church left... is that for Estonia or all over the world? I'll try to catch you online tomorrow since it might be pretty late now for you. Thanks again!

Wow, Tamara- thank you very much for sharing your experience and tips with me. That is valuable input, too. I'll be loaded up with all the stuff I buy from Russia and Estonia.. hehehe ;) *bringing a bigger bag*
I think I'll just purchase one of those wool caps in Russia or Estonia. Hmm, I can hazard a sample of these street ice cream even if it might be freezing. ;) Did you make money from selling Russian dolls on ebay? Hee hee

I saved all of your info, and printed it out. :) Love it!
 
:welcome: to former USSR where I was growing up and my family is there now, I have been in St. Peterburg and Kaliningrad, Russia between Estonia and Luthvia, also Poland, I know there exchange kiosk everywhere have USD and DEN(german money), and I am sure EURO too but others hard to find u ll probably have to go central exchange bank or somewhere else like central of city, better get USD or EURO :dunno:

In Russia, St. Peterburg, U would get girl or woman wood shape from tall to short 7 to 4 u undy what I mean, its culture, or spoon wood painted red flower or woman black background u should see souvenire spell? ;) good memory of Russia :)
 
Freewoman76 said:
:welcome: to former USSR where I was growing up and my family is there now, I have been in St. Peterburg and Kaliningrad, Russia between Estonia and Luthvia, also Poland, I know there exchange kiosk everywhere have USD and DEN(german money), and I am sure EURO too but others hard to find u ll probably have to go central exchange bank or somewhere else like central of city, better get USD or EURO :dunno:

In Russia, St. Peterburg, U would get girl or woman wood shape from tall to short 7 to 4 u undy what I mean, its culture, or spoon wood painted red flower or woman black background u should see souvenire spell? ;) good memory of Russia :)
Click to expand...

Freewoman76, thank you very much for confirming that I'm on the right track about exchanging with Euro! Personally, USD is at a very low point now.. so Euro is the better choice for me, IMO. Bank, eh? :) Yes, I do hope it all shall go smoothly... *feeling anxious* Hehehe...

Thanks for the sourniver tips!

How is your family doing? Are they deaf, or...? Actually, my trip is really about learning about deaf community in Russia and Estonia.. I'd love any pointers you can give me. :)

I do wish I could spend 6 days riding the Siberian train... and cover more of Russia!

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ is also a good source of info on Russia and Estonia... do you think so, too?

Russia - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/russia/
Estonia - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/estonia/
 
Miss-Delectable said:
1.00 NOK Norway Kroner = 1.91598 EEK Estonia Krooni
I think it makes sense to use NOK to get EEK dollars because you'd get less in USD.

1.00 NOK Norway Kroner = 4.46578 RUB Russia Rubles . More wise to go this route too because USD'd get you less.
Click to expand...

This doesn't make sense. I think a correction is in order.
According to www.xe.com, it states:

1 NOK = 1,92 EEK
1 USD = 11,97 EEK
How can it be better to use NOKs if USD gives you more money?

Also:
1 NOK = 4,47 RUB
1 USD = 27,90 RUB

Unless you are confusing NOKs with Euros?
If you mean Euros, then it would be true, Eurodollar is better than USD.

1 EUR = 15,65 EEK
1 EUR = 36,46 RUB
 
Liza said:
Freewoman76, thank you very much for confirming that I'm on the right track about exchanging with Euro! Personally, USD is at a very low point now.. so Euro is the better choice for me, IMO. Bank, eh? :) Yes, I do hope it all shall go smoothly... *feeling anxious* Hehehe...

Thanks for the sourniver tips!

How is your family doing? Are they deaf, or...? Actually, my trip is really about learning about deaf community in Russia and Estonia.. I'd love any pointers you can give me. :)

I do wish I could spend 6 days riding the Siberian train... and cover more of Russia!

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ is also a good source of info on Russia and Estonia... do you think so, too?

Russia - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/russia/
Estonia - http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/estonia/
Click to expand...

My family is doing OK, i just got email from my mom last Sat, yeah, USD goes down but EURO better, they are deaf :)
I look website u gave me those links good, I will ask my husband another detail about crime, safe, rent and e.t.c. will post here, OK
Train, well, long story, mostly dirty u would not like but there must have 1 wagon luxury u would buy a ticket probably, my husband has been in my home country, Ukraine, trip by Train from capital of Ukraine, Kiev to my home, Kharkov he told me couldnt.. ha I grew up there didnt care but used live here and look there I couldn't now :( I have some pix of him and train ;) I would PM u some pix? I havent gone back my home a visit since I came here 6 yrs ago, time flyes quickly! I am going to go in Europe this Aug or about to enough money :fingersx: if not oh well maybe other year :( my husband already planned to go Kiev Ukraine and Amsterdam, Netherlands, this Oct for sure his second trip :cool: why not all family? nah, my younger daughter is 1 y.o. afraid she may dislike long way trip and never knows she gets sick or fever better stay than sorry, when girls are old enough we family will go ;)
 
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