Author Topic: ExGingi's 3 generation wedding & Pesach trip to Russia. (Read 27299 times)

Took our time to get off the train, and probably were the last ones off our car. As we approach the station exit DD asks me if she can give her passport back to me, and it hits me that I left my passport under my pillow on the train.

I started walking briskly back to the platform where we got off the train, but it wasn't there. I saw what I thought was a train further away, but when I reached it it was only a locomotive. I asked someone where's the train that arrived from S. Petersburg, and he responded (via Google translate) that it's in a parking area. My round-trip brisk walk to the parked train, getting on to retrieve my passport, and back to the station exit took about 45 minutes!

ExGingi · « **Reply #147 on:** April 18, 2024, 12:36:23 AM »

Quote from: tmendy226 on April 17, 2024, 11:41:43 PM

Which shul in Istanbul gets close to the coral of petersburg?

I wasn't necessarily referring to shuls, and I only visited the Ashkenazi shul in Istanbul. That shul is barely used (they actually pay some sephardic community members to have a daily Shachris minyan there, and that isn't in the main sanctuary). Totally incomparable to the S. Petersburg situation.

The Choral Shul in S. Petersburg underwent renovations (patch, paint etc.)

ExGingi · « **Reply #148 on:** April 18, 2024, 02:05:16 AM »

Baruch is having a Bar Mitzvah. I can't imagine a display like this in a large community shul in NY.

ExGingi · « **Reply #149 on:** April 18, 2024, 07:09:30 AM »

Example of micro art. Regular photo. Maximum phone zoom. Microscope view.
This is gold on top of human hair.

ExGingi · « **Reply #150 on:** April 18, 2024, 07:12:55 AM »

Some of the mild items in the medieval torture museum.

ExGingi · « **Reply #151 on:** April 18, 2024, 07:16:41 AM »

Through microscope

Regual photo

Enlarged photo on canvas

ExGingi · « **Reply #152 on:** April 18, 2024, 07:18:59 AM »

Photos from within the Peter & Paul Fortress. If going between October 1 and April 30, don't go on Wednesday, as most exhibits (including actual prison) are closed.

Being a top tourist destination, there are more bilingual signs in S. Petersburg than in Moscow. But it's definitely a hit and miss. Some exhibits had bilingual explanations, while other were Russian only.

ExGingi · « **Reply #153 on:** April 18, 2024, 07:28:16 AM »

Some pictures from boat ride.

ExGingi · « **Reply #154 on:** April 18, 2024, 07:49:58 AM »

Going to a Russian Metro was on my bucket list, so we decided to take at least one point to point trip on the Metro.

One can pay directly with a Russian Credit or Debit card (similar to Omni in NY), but only for one passenger per card. So we bought a card at the vending machine (bi-lingual) for RUB 80, but were having issues loading it, so we went to to cashier, who loaded it with with 350 Rubles (I am guessing that's the minimum load). After using it for 5 entries the remaining balance was a little over RUB 20. So it's just under RUB 70 (about $0.75 - the price of a NYC subway ride in 1983).

Escalator to go down is very long, station is clean, no graffiti. Train cars are clean but not as modern as most NYC subway cars. Cellphone service works on the train, and the trains go quite fast.

ExGingi · « **Reply #155 on:** April 18, 2024, 07:53:08 AM »

Portrait of the micro artist composed out of a mosaic of his artwork. As well as another exhibit and Guinness World Record certificate.

ExGingi · « **Reply #156 on:** April 18, 2024, 08:09:21 AM »

Choral Shul pictures. Unlike Moscow where Mikvah is free, in S. Petersburg it's RUB 50 that is payable using the kiosk at the lobby.

AsherO · « **Reply #157 on:** April 18, 2024, 08:25:44 AM »

With the Ruble so weak, are there any purchases/services/experiences you opted out of because of cost?

ExGingi · « **Reply #158 on:** April 18, 2024, 08:41:18 AM »

Quote from: AsherO on April 18, 2024, 08:25:44 AM

With the Ruble so weak, are there any purchases/services/experiences you opted out of because of cost?

Everything adds up, especially with a group of 18 people. But generally, no. Unless you call buying 2nd class train tickets instead of 1st class giving up on something due to price.

ExGingi · « **Reply #159 on:** April 18, 2024, 10:10:44 AM »

Stations where one can rent a portable power pack are ubiquitous. I am not sure how the rental process works.

Electric scooters are also ubiquitous. They have license plates, and there are several services. I only have the YandexGo app installed with a Russian debit card, so I can only rent those.

Poll

Should I toivel in the Berezina or in regular mikvah before Shabbos/YT?

Author Topic: ExGingi's 3 generation wedding & Pesach trip to Russia. (Read 27299 times)