Crossing the border and going through customs.
Safety in St. Petersburg/Moscow while walking the streets.
Corrupt officials and everyone trying to rip off tourists.
So I didn't get a lot of sleep last night as I was worried about what to say when going through customs, making sure everything is in order, etc. So I woke up early, had the hostel breakfast (cheap and was never awake in time to have it before), and got all my things together.
The breakfast was a typical hostel breakfast with tiny sausages (more like hot dogs really), meatballs, sliced cheese, toast, OJ , coffee, sliced tomatoes, baked beans, and toast with butter/jam. Ok, so that was kind of my first mistake as I ate a ton of greasy foods.
I get to the station and hop on the train to St. Petersburg. I also happen to be on the train with a group of elderly Germans going to St. Petersburg. As the border approached I was filled with a kind of dread. The Finnish passport control was very relaxed and chill. So that was no worries (I expected non, as a US citizen - the EU pretty much just wave you through). The Russian side however you had to fill out a form for coming and going. It was a two sided piece of paper with the same data on both side and perforated down the middle.
Then they explained that the customs procedures were located in the shelving in the cabin. I found them and read through the long list of confusing things that had to be declared. Anything with transmitted a radio frequency signal and any narcotic drugs (prescription) had to be declared in writing. I think... I find the written declaration papers, but they are only in Russian (gulp!). Oh boy. I'm sure they won't be happy having to baby sit me through the forms with a whole train that needs to be taken care of.
So we finally hit the customs point where the Russian customs officers walk through the cabin. They take the card I filled out and give me back half (I have to keep it with me in order to leave the country). The guy walks up to me and asks me if I have anything to declare. I told him that the Kindle, Netbook, and phone have RF transmitter. He waves his hand. Then he asks if I had any prescription drugs. I say that I have some Vicodin for emergencies based on my shoulder. I was kinda stressing as I had one Valium in the bottle in order to help me if I needed to take it at night (Vicodin keeps me awake) and had tossed the original prescription bottle. He then walks away.
After about five minutes I realize they didn't give a crap. I had worked myself up for nothing.
So I hit the train station and had a driver with my name out ready to take me to my hotel. He didn't speak English, so it was a quiet ride with a heavy silence in the air. The guy never smiled, never really acknowledged my presence. The city cars and building had a thick layer of grunge on them. The colors on most places were fairly sterile and most people wore very muted greys, tans, or black. I was definitely feeling out of place.
The guy dropped me off at the hotel and I tipped him 200 Rubles. I have no idea if it was a good tip or not, I'll have to investigate tipping here. That's the only time he smiled and then he shook my hand.
So I get into the hotel and the gal scans my passport and Visa, I'm assuming to send them to the local police (its by law you have to report in, though the hotel usually does it for 400 rubles - $12 or so). The hotel doesn't have a lounge or restaurant. The room is really nice however.
They have a weird thing that is also kind of cool. Once you get into the room, you have to put the room key into a special holder by the door in order for the lights to work. That saves them energy and you also always know where the key is located.
And the bathroom floor is heated tile. Fucking sweet. There really is nothing like walking off carpet into the bathroom and have your feet get all nice and toastied up.
There is a programmable room safe for your valuables, a couple channels of English programming (just news though), and a mini-bar with snacks, drinks, and booze (insanely expensive - same as the states).
So I sit in bed and read. I am just chilling out because the whole stressing out thing and the grunginess of the city has me a little spooked. However, I know I have to head out and get a gallon of water. The water here is ok to drink if you boil it, I was told. There is a electric water heater to make tea with, but while that boils it - the thing shuts off once it starts boiling. That kinda not how that thing is supposed to work - you need to keep boiling for 10 minutes. So I know I will have to head out and find a bank to get money, places to eat as there is none in the hotel, and a market for water.
I head down to the lobby and talk to the gal there. I ask her if its safe to walk around and she rolls her eyes. I apologize and tell her that I here all sorts of stories. But then again, I have heard the same things about the Tel Aviv Muslim quarter, Rome, London, and Prague. She says, don't worry about it. The thing to fear is pickpockets. She gives me some places to find a market and bank, so I head out.
I walked around, found the bank immediately. The ATM was inside a door that could be locked, and is at night, so a lot of the scams used on ATMs wouldn't be on this one. They check in banks and there is a guy working right there that sees people walking up, plus a camera. Way safe. I found a bunch of little restaurants and bars. I found a 24/7 mini-market and the bigger local market. I felt completely and utterly safe the entire time I did everything. Fuck a duck. All that stressing for nothing.
So I got me a turkey salad sandwich, a jar of mini pickles, some milk, a gallon of water, and a Coke. Walking back I noticed that a zoo and park with playground is kitty corner to the hotel and that the other corner was a gorgeous canal. There were tons of landmarks right there. A giant church steeple, a floating restaurant, etc. So i never even had to bother looking at the map she gave me or at street signs. I could find this place in my sleep.
And the bathroom floor is heated tile. Fucking sweet. There really is nothing like walking off carpet into the bathroom and have your feet get all nice and toastied up.
There is a programmable room safe for your valuables, a couple channels of English programming (just news though), and a mini-bar with snacks, drinks, and booze (insanely expensive - same as the states).
So I sit in bed and read. I am just chilling out because the whole stressing out thing and the grunginess of the city has me a little spooked. However, I know I have to head out and get a gallon of water. The water here is ok to drink if you boil it, I was told. There is a electric water heater to make tea with, but while that boils it - the thing shuts off once it starts boiling. That kinda not how that thing is supposed to work - you need to keep boiling for 10 minutes. So I know I will have to head out and find a bank to get money, places to eat as there is none in the hotel, and a market for water.
I head down to the lobby and talk to the gal there. I ask her if its safe to walk around and she rolls her eyes. I apologize and tell her that I here all sorts of stories. But then again, I have heard the same things about the Tel Aviv Muslim quarter, Rome, London, and Prague. She says, don't worry about it. The thing to fear is pickpockets. She gives me some places to find a market and bank, so I head out.
I walked around, found the bank immediately. The ATM was inside a door that could be locked, and is at night, so a lot of the scams used on ATMs wouldn't be on this one. They check in banks and there is a guy working right there that sees people walking up, plus a camera. Way safe. I found a bunch of little restaurants and bars. I found a 24/7 mini-market and the bigger local market. I felt completely and utterly safe the entire time I did everything. Fuck a duck. All that stressing for nothing.
So I got me a turkey salad sandwich, a jar of mini pickles, some milk, a gallon of water, and a Coke. Walking back I noticed that a zoo and park with playground is kitty corner to the hotel and that the other corner was a gorgeous canal. There were tons of landmarks right there. A giant church steeple, a floating restaurant, etc. So i never even had to bother looking at the map she gave me or at street signs. I could find this place in my sleep.
View out my window of the corner. Behind the trees is a zoo. The street to the right goes over a bridge starting at the sign.
So I am safely landed and feeling a TON better about everything.
Russia, here I come.
Russia, here I come.
No comments:
Post a Comment