Saint Petersburg Off the Beaten Path Tips by sennaya

Here is a exhibition gallery for St. Petersburg artists. It presents traditional paintings mostly in oil and continues the expressionistic and traditional portrayal of landscape, portraits and cityscapes. It is a nice setting along the Moika River and it is a very comfortable palce to spend time looking at some nice work. There are some couches for an elegant living room feel in the main room. Be one of the few to sign the guest book in a language besides Russian :)

Moika Embankment 100, push the doorbell to unlock the front door.
Entrance is free. Photographs are not allowed.

They also host small musical concerts and tickets can be purchased in the museum or by calling. http://www.piter-art.com/muzyka/

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Phone: 7-812-337-1339
Website: http://www.piter-art.com
Other Contact: info@piter-art.com

After you see the Bronze Horseman, the most famous monument to Peter the Great, you can look for Mikhail Shemyakin's statue of Peter the Great.

Abstract and not so flattering, it may be hard to recognize at first.

You can go up to the czar and ask for a palace or even sit on his lap like Santa Claus, but don't expect anything but a cold touch :)

Shemyakin is an American sculptor of Russian roots presents the "alter ego" of Peter the Great. His abstract statue is in stark contrast to tradional realism in monuments and has stirred some controversy.

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Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikhail_Chemiakin

The small statue of a Siskin bird on the Fontanka River is one of the newer monuments inSt. Petersburg, installed in 1994.
It is said taht if you can drop a coin onto the siskin's perch you will be given your wish or some good luck :)
It must work, because there is often a crowd tossing coins!

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One of the secret places is in the central park for relaxation on Yelagin Island.
You can rent a catamaran (paddleboat) or row boat and see monkey island.

Three apes, from the baboon family, wait to see you go by.

You are not allowed to go on the island, butr you can take photographs. Many people throw them bread.

It costs about 200 rubles an hour plus a deposit that is returned.
You can navigate several canals and lakes in the island in addition to passing the apes :)

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The Wedding Palace.

Americans generally can only be married to a Russian in the Wedding Palace onteh Anglisky Embankmanet, (The Steiglitz Palace).
Russian citizens can be marreid at their local ZAGs office in civil ceremony or wedding palace. Generally, only Russian citizens belonging to teh Russian Orthodox Church can marry inteh Orthodox Churches.

See our travelogue for more information and photos.

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Gatchina Palace

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You can visit the Pavlovsk palace and grounds from a bus tour or on your own by train.
You can go from Vitebsk Railway Station to Pavlovsk station.
It is 29 km from the center of St. Peterburg

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Phone: +7 (812) 470-2156
Website: http://www.pavlovsk.ru/

In 2003 the Constantine Palace was renovated from ruins and now serves as the Palace of Congresses. It is commonly called "Putin's Palace." It is where Putin hosts foreign leaders and important events such as the G8 economic conference. Near are a hotel (Baltic Star) and 20 consular cottages for hosting official meetings. Peter the great laid the first stone for this palace and envisioned it as the official palace for diplomacy. It took 300 years to complete this dream! If you are very important you can get a charter boat to the pier, but don't try it without an invitation. This palace has more security than the usual historical museum!

Address: Strelnya, 15 km west of the center

Along the Finland Gulf on the way to Peterhof. It is open for some tours when Putin is not in town. Russian citizens can take a bus tour from the center of Saint Petersburg. Foreigners need a special tour or invitation from Putin :)

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Website: http://www.konstantinpalace.com/eng/history/palace.htm

Mushroom hunting is almost a national pastime in Russia. Every fall they pop up in the forest and are sought after. Many kinds are edible, but go with experienced gatherers. It is a nice walk in the forest and a chance for a picnic.
Mushrooms and potatoes are delicious after a day in the forest.

A cautionary article about mushroom hunting:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3122248.stm

Here are a few clips mushroom hunting in St. Petersburg:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUW606h-cJE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQx1uyUaJ6M

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Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUW606h-cJE

Thje Unona outdoor market south of the center is one of the interesting spots to see where locals in the suburbs sometimes shop.
Prices are cheaper outside the center, but it takes over an hour to get there and you need to take Metro to Avtovo then bus to the market.
It was awful cold in this day in October.
This is the 2nd hand flea market outside the greater market. Tools, household repair items, garage sale items , potpourri can be found here. Continuing on you come to the greater market which has every kind of new merchandise. From computers to mittens. CDs, software, DVD, electronics of all kinds. You must haggle a bit on price on most things and it does not help to be a foreigner. You never know what you will see there. Foreigners are rare here.

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