Thanks Stanj, for your previous reply-your help is greatly appreciated.

Do you think we'd be able to get into Peterhof without being part of a tour group in mid-May, and would it matter if it was a weekend or are the queues much worse then?

If you use the online booking for the Hermitage are you committed to a certain day and/or time or does it just enable you to avoid the main queue?

Lastly, just what is the situation with the water for a visitor, please-I've read varying reports for how long to boil the water to kill off the giardia lamblia(which it says locals are largely immune to- is this true?!)Do you assume that this has been done if you want to have a coffee somewhere? and is bottled water cheap and readily available?

Thanks, Hilary

Hi Hilary

Peterhof is not a problem, but the grounds and park are crowded on the weekend since that is a favorite park to visit by local Russians and their families. The Grand Palace is going to be a bit of a line to tour that but it is worth it. Go as early as possible because locals sleep in on weekends and don't show up until 12:00 or later.

Yes, the appointments bypass most of the lines but there are still a lot of organized tours using the same special entrance. Once inside, other than the Old Masters and French Impressionists sections, the massive size of the place swallows up the thousands of visitors inside. On weekends in front of a few dozen paintings will be the largest crowds.



The reports of dangerous water are highly exagerated. The new state of the art water treatment plant (which has an interesting Water Museum on its park like grounds) keeps water passing the international standards but locals still prefer bottled water or filters to alter the taste. It is not best tasting water but most locals use it for coffee and tea, washing and cleaning. There have been massive upgrades to the system but some old sections of town have pipes in the apartment buildings that have some rust in them. my own apartment is old, 1800, but the water is clear. All restaurants and hotels use filter systems for taste so it is perfectly safe for . Coffee is said to be better here by the locals who have visited other countries but do concede it is pretty good in Italy. They assume the Brits and Americans have no taste buds in their jokes about the famous "coffee" in those two countries. I don't know, I've never drunk coffee here or anywhere. Every country brags about their chocolate, ice cream, coffee and beer....and the beauty of their women. The ice cream is pretty good, but there is no question about the beauty of the ladies here.

A recent comprehensive survey of environmental rankings presented by US scientists in the USA at the recent G-8 conference listed Russia 32nd in the world and raising. The US was ranked 28th and falling trend lines.

For Stanj



Thankyou for previous answers.. Hilary asks a question to which I dfidn't understand your answer.. Is online booking to Hermitage a commitment to a particular time, or cazn the ticket be used any time?



thanks



Helene

Do you know the exact date for the fireworks day in Peterhof this spring?

Thank you both for your replies.

Stanj, did you mean that the new water treatment plant serves all St Petersburg?

and please, do the filters stop the parasite getting through as it seems like one thing if the water is abit metallic, but quite another if it has the parasite that causes diarrhoea and stomach cramps.

I do actually prefer continental coffee so that should be good!

Your suggestions are very welcome-Elly's request for ideas for presents for the homestay hosts has been useful to us aswell.

Thanks, Hilary

Hilary, we just walked into the Hermitage last summer, in July, no reservations, no problem. Maybe a ten minute wait at the ticket line. I don't know if that was unusual. Most Western tourists seem to be on massive group tours from cruise ships and the like; they use a separate entrance. Take the time to wander around the Hermitage. The prehistoric Russian exhibits are facinating (and deserted), as well as the other Russian exhibits. And remember that the Hermitage galleries are in the Winter Palace-- so see the beautiful palace rooms. You don't need a tour any more than in any other museum. Ask for an English language map at the entrance.

The Scythian Gold Room requires a separate, very expensive ticket. You can reserve this in the morning for an afternoon visit. This ancient gold collection from the steppes of Western Asia is spectacular. Amazing work that exists nowhere else in the world.

Ask Stanj if the hydrofoil to Peterhof is running in May. So convenient and lovely views-- fun, too.