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Well, as ill luck would have it, no one is going there when it is so necessary...

You can hand over neither a gift nor money. And how pleasant it would be, if they felt that I take care of them, as usual, make gifts, joke and just remind of myself as if I were near. Well, next time I will be more far-sighted. But, again next time? I will have my hands full with problems at home and at work, remember the holiday at the last moment and everything will be repeated again. But if someone reminded and advised me on a gift, I would never forget about anyone and I would always be remembered...

How often did we find ourselves in such a situation? And every time we put everything off until later. “That is enough”, we said and made “ПОДАРОК”!!!

What do you need to do to choose a gift?

You need to visit the site, look through our recommendations, make a choice, complete a gift certificate and define the address of the receiver – we do all the rest ourselves. Your friends will get the paid certificate with indication of the place that you have chosen. They will be able to visit it whenever they like. Presentation of a gift certificate will be a pleasant unexpected surprise for your relatives.

This is how it works. We promise to place emotions, opinions and photos on our site. Have you become interested in it????

WELCOME!!!!

Russian Christmas Folk Traditions

Russian Santa: Grandfather Frost is the Russian Santa Claus. He brings gifts to the children at New Year’s, which is the most popular Russian holiday celebration. His grand-daughter, the “Snowmaiden,” accompanies him to help distribute the gifts. All of our Russian Santas ares hand-carved and hand-painted in one of the traditional wood carving villages of old Russia. Linden wood is the most commonly used wood for these wonderful Russian Santas.
New Years Eve - December 31st - is the big day for the celebration of Russian Chrsitmas in post-revolutionary, Russia. On New Years Eve Grandfather Frost (Russia’s version of Santa Claus) arrives with his granddaughter the Snowmaiden. They bring bags of candy for the children and Grandfather Frost listens to the girls and boys sing songs and recite poems. After this, he gives small Christmas gifts to the children.
Russians decorate their homes with a Christmas tree and often put pine leaves on their front doors, and in the house. The Russian Christmas tree is usually taken down at the end of January after the feast day of the Baptism of Christ.
“C novom godom!” (snow-vum gode-um)- meaning “with the New Year” - is a common New Years Eve - Christmas holiday greeting.
Russian Christmas Religious Traditions
Russian Orthodox Christmas takes place on January 7th (following the Old Calendar this is the 25th of December) and the celebration lasts for six days.
In the Orthodox tradition nothing is eaten or drunk on Christmas Eve until the first star appears in the sky. The star is symbolic of the great star that led the Magi to the newly born Christ. Once the first star has appeared in the sky, the festivities begin with a Lenten meal - meaning meat or dairy products (including chocolates) are excluded. This Christmas Eve meal is “The Holy Supper” .
The family gathers around the table to honor the coming Christ Child. A white tablecloth is used to symbolize Christ’s swaddling clothes and hay is displayed as a reminder of the poverty of the place where Jesus was born. A tall white candle is placed in the center of the Table, to symbolize Christ - the “Light of the World.” A large round loaf of “pagach”, a special Lenten bread, is placed beside the candle to symbolize Christ - the “Bread of Life”.
The father begins the Christmas meal by leading the family in the Lord’s Prayer, a prayer of thanksgiving for the blessings of the past year and for the good things to come in the new year. The head of the family greets those present with “Christ is Born!” - the traditional Russian Christmas greeting - and the family responds with “Glorify Him!” The Mother then draws a cross with honey on each person’s forehead, saying a blessing - “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, may you have sweetness and many good things in life and in the new year.” The Lenten bread (Pagach) is then broken and shared. The bread is dipped first in honey to symbolize the sweetness of life and then in chopped garlic to symbolize life’s bitterness. The “Holy Supper” is then eaten. After dinner, no dishes are washed and the Christmas presents are opened. The family goes to church for the Christmas Mass which lasts until after midnight.
Traditionally, the “Holy Supper” consists of 12 different foods, symbolic of the 12 Apostles. Although there was also some variation in the foods from place to place and village to village, the following is a good summary of what is typically served.
1) Mushroom soup with zaprashka (or Sauerkraut soup)
2) Lenten bread (”pagach”)
3) Chopped garlic
4) Honey
5) Baked fish
6) Fresh Oranges, Figs and Dates
7) Nuts
8 ) Kidney beans (cooked slowly all day) seasoned with shredded potatoes, lots of garlic, salt and pepper to taste
9) Peas
10) Parsley Potatoes (boiled new potatoes with chopped parsley and margarine)
11) Bobal’ki (small biscuits combined with sauerkraut or poppy seed with honey)
12) Red Wine
On Christmas morning the family returns to church for the Christmas day Liturgy. After church the family gathers together to exchange gifts and share a special Christmas meal. Children go from door to door caroling the song “Thy Nativity”.
“C Rodzhestvom Kristovom”(srod-zshest-vum krist-o-vum) is a common Russian Christmas greeting, meaning “with the Birth of Christ!”

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Top 10 things to see in Moscow

As the capital of the country, Moscow is perhaps the most visited place in Russia. However, not all tourists and city guests may have enough time to visit all worth sightseeings and see all the interesting things that Moscow can offer. In this case, one must know what places of the many it is better to focus on first.

1) Red Square, Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin`s Mausoleum. They are considered the symbols of Moscow, located in the very heart and historical center of the Russian capital. St. Basils Cathedral still lets its visitors feel the spirit of ancient Russia. Lenin`s mausoleum can be of interest too - the body of a Soviet leader always attracts tourists (besides, there are rumors that the mausoleum can be eliminated in the future).

2) Pushkin Fine Arts Museum. Presents original and reproduction arts in thematic halls: Russian, European, Greek, Egyptian, and some other. Presents one of the world’s best ballet and opera with participation of great Russian artists.

3) Kolomenskoye Park. The park is located not far from the metro station Kolomenskaya. Undoubtedly it`d be better to visit the park in summer when it is full of trees, including a nice apple garden. However it is a wonderful place to visit in every season: you can enjoy the views of old Russian architecture and a small but cute cemetery near one of the churches.

4)The Bolshoi Theatre. Presents one of the world’s best ballet and opera with participation of great Russian artists.

5)The Tretyakov Gallery. It is one of the world-famous galleries which presents a vast collection of Russian arts.

6) The Novodevichy Convent. A fascinating place with wonderful architecture and a special cemetery, where a lot of famous Russian people are buried.

7) Vorobyovy Gory. The place is located at the Moscow River (Vorobyovy Gory metro station) and opens a picturesque view of water, hills, trees, and a great panorama of some parts of the city. Considered the highest spot in Moscow, and besides, it is situated not too far from the famous Moscow State University named after Lomonosov, which looks amazing in the evening, when the illuminations are on.

8 ) Park Pobedy (Victory Park - Kutuzovskaya metro station). A spacious area dedicated to the victory of Russians over the Nazi Germany. Monuments, memorials, fountains (in the warm time of the year), the Victory Museum, military equipment of the Soviet times.

9) Moscow Metro. It`d be better to travel from one metro station to another at weekend, when there are no crowds of people spoiling the view of great architecture and design inherited from the Soviet times. Committing a metro trip in rush hours can be a disaster as Moscow Metro is considered one of the most overcrowded in the world. The most peculiar stations are: Novoslobodskaya, Kievskaya, Novokuznetskaya, Komsomolskaya, Ploschad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Arbatskaya, Belorusskaya, Park Kultury, Kropotkinskaya (always seems to be the least crowded in Moscow metro)

10 ) VDNKH. A vast area of exhibition halls, located in buildings constructed in the Soviet times and therefore beautiful. Fountains in summer add more charm to the place, but it is still appropriate for having a walk and enjoying the nice planning and architecture of the territoryin in any time of the year. In spring and summer visitors can also find a vast open-air exhibition of beautiful flower compositions.

How to Get a Russian Visa

Although it is possible to arrange your own Russian visa, most travelers choose to hire a visa service to do the work. Russian consulates have many options for visa processing, from a regular 2-week (cheapest) processing, to a very fast (and terribly expensive) same-day processing. If you live in a city with a Russian consulate, you may save some money by going and applying on your own. Beware, that most Russian consulates only accept paperwork early in the morning.

But if you want to make sure you get your visa on time and without losing any sleep over it, hiring an experienced visa-expediting agency is the way to go. Since Russian visa also involves getting a Russian invitation, you want to deal only with those agencies that can assist you in both. Invitations can cost anything up to and beyond $500, depending on the type and the speed of service. For an extra $30-$70, agencies will offer full processing (invitation, taking visa to a consulate and sending it back to you). The best services will take care of registering the visa when you arrive in Russia. Given that each Russian consulate and embassy has different tastes and temperaments, it's usually best to have somebody who knows the ropes do the dirty work.

How to Read Your Visa

A Russian visa is a special document attached to your passport, that grants you a permit to enter and to leave the Russian Federation during a period of time specified in the visa. Every foreign citizen needs a Russian visa to enter / leave Russia, except nationals of some CIS countries (former USSR without Baltic States).

A Russian visa looks like this:


russian visa example

Additional visa-related information:

1. Always keep your passport with your visa on you while in Russia.
2. Make two sets of copies of your passport, visa and other travel papers and keep them separately – one in your luggage and another in your office or with your family and friends.
3. When planning to stay in Russia for over 90 days make sure to obtain an HIV test certificate. You may be asked to display it to medical officer at a Russian border checkpoint. Such certificate is not necessary when traveling for a lesser period of time.
4. When traveling with your pet, you’re required to obtain an international health certificate from a local certified veterinary doctor.
5. It is advisable to have medical insurance coverage valid in Russia. Check your medical plan and request such coverage if you do not have it. On the basis of reciprocity, citizens of Estonia, Israel, Finland, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain are required to have mandatory medical insurance.
6. Medical drugs can be brought to Russia in quantities sufficient for personal consumption during your stay.
7. Military-type firearms, narcotic drugs, explosives, radioactive, poisonous and other dangerous substances are prohibited to import to Russia.
8. Travelers carrying sport-guns or shotguns in their luggage must receive special permits through their Russian agents to take them in and out of the country.
9. Foreign travelers can bring to Russia their photo and video cameras, binoculars, laptop computers, etc. tax free if these are to be taken out of the country upon departure. Just mention them in your customs declaration or ask a customs officer.
10. Travelers over 16 years of age can take to Russia tobacco products (1000 cigarettes or equivalent), wines & liquors (2 liters) tax free.
11. There is no limitation on the amount of foreign currency to be taken to Russia. Just mention in your customs declaration all your currency over $500 and other valuables, including objects of art, which you take into the country. Keep declaration to present it to a customs officer upon departure.
12. If you are traveling on a double or multiple entry visas, prepare a copy of your visa before departure from Russia – a copy of your visa will be asked of you by the passport control officer.
13. Your Russian visa must be registered in the first 3 calendar days after your arrival to Russia. If staying at a hotel, your hotel will register your visa, if staying with friends or relatives – our Russian offices will be happy to assist with your visa registration on the spot. Please check with us for details or read our welcome letter.
14. Prior to your departure for the airport to fly to Russia, please, check your passport, visa and other papers again. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call us. When calling, have last name of the travelers and their birth dates ready.
15. The Consulate of Russian Federation and our agency cannot be held responsible for any errors in visas not brought to our attention before your departure for Russia.

About Russian Visa

All foreigners (except citizens of some former Soviet republics) visiting Russia need a visa. In order to get one, travelers need an invitation from a Russian citizen or a company, which is then taken to a Russian embassy or consulate, where the actual visa is issued. Within three business days of arrival in Russia, the visa needs to be registered by the person/organization that issued the invitation. If you don't make it through this bureaucratic loop, you may have problems leaving the country.

Registration requirement for all Russian Visas, obtained through Go To Russia! Travel can be satisfied by one of the following:

* Hotel registration clerks will register visas for tourists who stay at hotels
* Lastly, for those staying in Moscow or St. Petersburg, our office locations will offer registration on the spot.

Prices for processing Russian visas vary according to the applicant's citizenship and the embassy/consulate applied to. Perhaps in response to the trials the U.S. Embassy in Moscow puts Russian visa applicants through, U.S. citizens routinely pay more for Russian visas.

__________________________________________________________
There are six types of Russian visas, but most travelers get one of three kinds:

Tourist Visas

Tourist visas are best for short visits. In theory you to have a hotel and an itinerary planned for each night of your stay in order to get a tourist visa, but this rule is broken more often than it's followed. Many agencies can get you a visa and have it registered without a night booked in a hotel. All Go To Russia! Travel clients are provided Russian visa invitation with visa processing and do not have to worry about obtaining it separately.

Business Visas

Business visas aren't just for foreigners working in Russia. Far more flexible than tourist visas, they are often the best choice for tourists who are visiting friends and don't need a hotel, or who are looking to spend an extended period of time in Russia, especially those who want to travel independently or extensively. In order to get a business visa you need an invitation from a Russian firm, which can usually be arranged through a qualified visa agency. You do not need to plan hotel reservations or an itinerary to get a business visa. Ask Go To Russia! Travel visa consultant for information or visit Russian visa page at www.gotorussia.com for complete details.

Homestay Visas

Homestay visas are your best bet when you have friends or relatives in Russia who plan to host you during your trip there. Homestay visas are issued for up to 3 months, and, therefore, are more flexible then regular tourist visas. What’s not very flexible about them though is the invitation your Russian hosts will have to get for you – it takes sometimes up to 2 months for local UVIR’s to process their request and then an original has to be sent to the Russian consulate abroad for processing.

Russia Visa Application

To download, just push on link.
Good Luck!

Russia Visa Application Form for US citizens.pdf

Russia Visa Application Form for non US citizens.pdf

Russian Moscow subway(metro) map.JPG

New car!

Sochi 2014 Discusses Economic Aspects of Olympic Games with Swiss Business Community

The CEO of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Organizing Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko, today delivered a presentation on 'Business opportunities for Swiss companies in relation to The Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games' at a Russian Conference for Swiss Entrepreneurs here in Zurich.

Approximately 200 participants took part this forum, representing international companies from various sectors including sport, finance, building, energy and telecommunications. This is the third in a series of speeches that Dmitry Chernyshenko is delivering across Europe with a focus on the economic impact of major sports events.

The Sochi 2014 CEO covered questions relating to the expected economic outcome of the Olympic Games in the next seven years, as well as informing the participants on the various opportunities for national and international businesses (such as partnership agreements, Organizing Committee operations and construction of infrastructure and facilities).

The Olympic and ParalympicWinter Games in Sochi provides major business opportunities for the Swiss business community who possess a vast experience in areas related to the organization of the Olympic Games. On the eve of the Russian Conference in Zurich, Dmitry Chernyshenko said: “To be in partnership, for example through sponsorships, with the Olympic Games is an ideal marketing instrument for any company wanting to enter a new market, in order to strengthen the business and political connections and launch new products. I look forward to a long and fruitful cooperation with the Swiss business community on the exciting and challenging journey that lies ahead – our journey to produce the best ever Olympic Winter Games.”

Previously, Sochi 2014 CEO took part in the "Sport 2020. Changing face of the global sports industry" conference organized by The Economist in London on October 25th. On October 30th, Dmitry Chernyshenko moderated an Olympic Conference organized by the Russian business daily "Vedomosti" that took place in Moscow.

Online dating with Russian women

Nowadays it has become a fashion for foreign people to search for young beautiful Russian women and to bring them to their successful and happy countries. There are many various opinions concerning this tendency. Some people think that Russian and Ukraine brides are free housewives; they are sexual and beautiful and have genetic East fidelity to their husbands. Others still believe in love and find Russian and Ukraine brides romantic and gentle. So Americans and other foreign men, hearing or reading relationship advice and dating tips about ideal East wives and modern matchmaking, try to find perfect Russian women by means of the Internet.

Internet can be a good way to find someone with whom you are really compatible. By getting to know people well before you meet them, you have a chance to weed out those whose interests and lifestyles are not compatible with yours. You can control many aspects of your relationship and change anything that needs to be changed before it is too late. Here are some advantages of on-line dating:
• It’s very easy to place a personal ad online and it’s usually free. Millions of singles are looking for partners online. With so many people you can meet and many options to choose from, you’ll increase your chances of meeting people that share your interests or meeting that special someone.
• Unlike offline dating, you don’t have to wonder if the person you’re interested in meeting is available for dating. Everyone using the online dating service *is* available to date.
• With online dating, you can learn so much about people before meeting face-to-face. How do they present themselves in their profiles or personal ads? Do they seem funny, articulate, interesting, charming or obnoxious?
• Pictures are worth a thousand words. Do you think you can be attracted to that person or not? Of course, some people look better or worse when you meet them in person.
• There’s less pressure on dates when you’re using online dating services. When you’re on a date with the only interesting person you’ve met the last six months, there’s so much pressure for that date to go well in a standard dating situation. When dating online, you know that when your date doesn’t turn out well, you’ll have other opportunities to meet many other interesting people.
• There’s so much more pressure to be liked during a standard date; so, people end up not being themselves during the date. When you’re getting to know people online, you can relax and be yourself. So, you have a better chance of being liked and accepted just the way you are. Whether you’re a gorgeous, athletic god/goddess or a couch potato on pizza and burger daily diet, you will have a chance of meeting your match.
• With online dating, you’ll have a much better chance of building a relationship that lasts. You can form deeper and more intimate relationships when you can establish mind-to-mind, heart-to-heart and soul-to-soul connections with someone. With standard dating, there’s usually so much more focus on physical attraction instead of character traits, values and mind-heart-soul compatibilities.
• By exchanging emails or talking on the phone before meeting in person, you’ll have a much better chance of evaluating your connection with that person before you develop any physical attraction. Attraction and lust can often cloud one’s thinking. Most relationships primarily based on physical attraction often lead to pain and heartache for the people involved.
Unfortunately on-line dating has its own disadvantages:
• It’s easy to think that someone who writes you or talks to you daily for weeks or months may be a good catch. But, this person may be hiding behind those great emails or phone conversations and may be incapable of having a more concrete relationship.
• Almost all online dating services are for singles, but some married people may be lying and using the service. If something doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts.
• Maintaining a high level of members can be a challenge. Initially, the numbers will grow but over time, people drop off for one reason or another, usually because they have made a connection, which is a good thing for them but that is one less potential person for you.
• If you were to meet someone in another city, state, or country that interests you, and that relationship builds to something more than friendship, one of you would have to make a decision regarding relocation
• Internet dating is limiting in the sense that you’ll only be meeting folks who spend time on the Internet, which excludes a whole raft of people.
• Getting to know someone online, may give you a false sense of security. Just like off line dating, there are bad people online. So, always think of your safety when you’re meeting someone you don’t really know.

Tougher Visa Rules - What They Mean

01/11/2007

Demonstrating that it is resolute in introducing immigration laws similar to those in Western countries, the Russian government recently unveiled new, tougher business visa regulations. Foreigners - particularly those living and working in Russia on business visas - are worried about how this will affect them. Some seeking to renew their business visas in a third country were finding that what used to be a breezy, one-day procedure could turn into a 10-day wait. Meanwhile, new regulations seemed to target the entire practice of getting visas in third countries.
One of the more considerable changes came in a decree on visas passed by the new Prime Minister, Viktor Zubkov, on October 4. Now, foreigners traveling on business visas can remain in the country for no more than 90 days at a time, even if they have multiple-entry visas. And it's soon going to become much harder to obtain them in third countries.
Business visas are popular among expatriates who live in Russia over long periods of time, extending their visas regularly by travelling to neighboring countries. But the new decree toughens rules regulating this type of visas, an apparent attempt to force expatriates who live and work here to obtain work visas instead.
Point 9.1 in the decree reads:
"A foreign citizen who is present in a state that he is not a citizen of may only get a visa if he has a permit for a consecutive stay of at least 90 days in that country." What this means for some citizens of Western Europe is that a trip across the border from Russia is no longer enough to renew their business visa.
In a statement to The Moscow News, the FMS confirmed the new restriction but pointed to several exceptions - these could be based on "a decision by a diplomatic representative" in cases where a foreigner needed to attend various "international and domestic official, economic, socio-political, scientific, cultural, sports or religious events." Another exception was a close relative who was ill.
A clause lower down in the decree clarifies that an exception is made "based on the international principle of mutuality."
Alexei Filippenkov of the Visa Delight agency explained what this means. If a European country allows Russians to obtain visas from a third country, then citizens from that European country will have the same privilege when it comes down to getting a Russian visa.
"Our migration legislation is being brought in line with analogous international legislation," he told The Moscow News.
The same concerns another important change. Now, foreigners who obtain a multiple entry business visa that is active for a year will be able to stay for no more than 90 consecutive days, and no more than a total of 180 days out of a year.
"It's impossible to work in England or the United States if you have a business visa," Filippenkov said. Foreigners are hard pressed to obtain a work visa.
According to an FMS statement, "issuing visas of all categories and types is... in the competence of diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Russian Federation. We recommend that foreign citizens address the Foreign Ministry of Russia regarding practical questions."
It was unclear whether the minimum wait for a visa had indeed risen to 10 days. The Russian consulate in Riga, the Latvian capital where expatriates frequently go to renew business visas, when asked if this was the case, told a Moscow News reporter to read the official Rossiiskaya Gazeta, where the changes were published. But there was no mention about any new wait for visas. Asked how long it would take to issue a visa to a British citizen, an unnamed official said that the consulate was "not issuing visas to British citizens who had no permanent residence permit in Latvia." Asked the same question about U.S. citizens, the official said that the process will take from 10 to 14 days.
The FMS said that, as under the previous law, visas must be issued within 20 days after the appropriate documents had been filed.
There were reports that foreigners that usually got their visa renewed in one day now had to wait 10 days, but a Moscow News correspondent who is a British citizen obtained her business visa in one day in Kiev this week.
"Right now it's a little chaotic over there because they haven't come to a unified reading of the decree," Filippenkov said. "For now, people will still be able to go over there for visas, but that's going to end soon."
According to Filippenkov, considering that Russians have to wait weeks - sometimes months - to get their European visas, the 10-day wait isn't that long.

By Anna Arutunyan

Technorati Profile

Culture background

Russian culture has a long history and tradition, which Russian people are very proud of.
Russians consider themselves as a well educated nation. They read a lot: books are cheap, and one can afford to buy 5-10 books a month without serious damage to a family budget.
Russians are also fond of live performances at theatres and since tickets are affordable (prices in cinemas and theatres are comparable), they enjoy attending theatres: opera, musical, ballet, drama etc.
Generally every city has a few theatres. The theatre culture was developed during the Soviet times when tickets were sold through schools and enterprises: cities were divided into areas and there was a theatre agent responsible for each particular area. The agent would bring tickets for distribution to every enterprise and school in his area and the person responsible for “culture sector” would organize collective visit to the theatre. People had the opportunity to attend theatres from the early age, starting from attending performances in a Muppet theatre, then moving to the Youth Drama Theatre, then to Drama, Musical and Opera, according to their age. Also attending performances in a company is always much more fun, which contributed to the popularity of theatres. This is how most Russian people have developed their taste for live performances.
Movie theatres are also becoming popular in Russia and they are equipped with the latest sound systems. When Russian people talk about movie theatres, they will usually say “cinema”; if they talk about “theatres”, they mean live performances.
Russian culture is non-individualistic. The power of an individual in Russia is much less than in the western countries and most deals are pushed through family, friends and acquaintances. A Russian saying is, “One is not a soldier in the battlefield” . In Russia, you still need to know people in power to make things work. This is why they maintain more friendships than an average westerner. They often have to rely on their friends to help them out. You know someone who knows someone who is in power; this is the way most Russians have the things done. If you know the right person, you can have the most difficult things done with little effort.
The majority of Russians consider themselves as Christians, and belong to Russian Orthodox Church. Church service in Russia can be attended any day of the week and performed every day 2 or 3 times (early morning at 3 a.m., then at 8 a.m. and then in the evening at 7 p.m.). Church marriage is not official in Russia. A couple has to register their marriage with government authorities first to be allowed to have church ceremony performed.
Medical aid and education in Russia are free, though Russians joke that education becomes less and less free with every year. One can still get a university education for free by passing the entrance tests (exams), but the universities have to decrease the number of students studying on a free basis because of poor state financing.
Since both education and culture facilities used to be widely available, Russians can be considered a highly cultured nation. Their general knowledge is very good: they know a little bit about virtually everything. At secondary schools, they study not only the history of Russia but also the world history, including American and European history. In the same secondary school course (11 years school qualification is mandatory in Russia) young Russians study world literature, world music, and world geography. Many books of western authors are mandatory reading in the course of literature (in Russian translation of course). The standard secondary school program includes studying of a foreign language for 6 years (grades 5-11), usually it is English but also can be French, German or Spanish. Most subjects in the course of a secondary school are mandatory for all schools throughout the whole Russia, and only since recently there are some subjects that students can choose in addition to the general course.
Intellectually, Russians are interesting people to talk to and enjoy deep subjects. Philosophy is still a mandatory subject when you study for a degree and one of the 3 compulsory subjects for PhD qualifying exam (the other 2 are foreign language and the specialty itself).
Russians are very straightforward. Their manners are not bad, they are just Russian. Russia is quite a tough country and Russians usually do not hesitate to say what they think in a way that doesn’t leave room for any misunderstandings. When they meet or phone each other, they seldom spend time on questions like “How are you?” and go straight to the point. They are not rude; it’s just a way of doing things.
Having a university or college degree is common. Russia has a high educational level (more than 40% of the total population has college or university degree).
It’s not of any wonder if a woman with university degree works as a secretary. Having a Ph.D. is also not a big deal, and doesn’t give you a big advantage; good knowledge of English will provide you with a better competitive edge. The position that one has in a company is not as important as the company in which he or she works.
Russians like to emphasize their different attitude towards material values and consider themselves as sincere, cordial, understanding and unselfish. They like to talk about “specifics of Russian soul” or “mysterious Russian soul”, and repeat the famous phrase of a Russian poet “You can’t understand Russia by your mind”.
Generally, Russians love their country. They can criticize it severely, but if you try to do the same they will defend it furiously. They feel like citizens of the largest county in the world, which has rich history and deep cultural roots, and they are proud of it.

Attention!!! Russian Love!!!

New Russian Visa Regulations

There has been some changes in Russian visa regulations, which were implemented a few days ago.

1. A foreign citizen can now obtain a Russian visa ONLY in the country of his/her citizenship. One can also obtain a Russian visa in another country but will need to present to the Russian consulate a permit of stay in that country valid for more than 90 days. A visa may also be issued in a country other than an applicant's own in case of urgent necessity, such as participating in international, governmental, official, scientific, sport and cultural events. A final decision in these cases would be left up to the consulate.

2. A multiple entry business visa allows nationals of all countries to stay in Russia up to 90 days out of the period of 180 days.

3. A multiple entry visa is only available for people who have been issued a Russian visa before. If this is your first visit, you are only eligible to obtain a single or double entry visa for 1 to 3 months, which is the only way now to stay in Russia for longer than 50% of time if you plan to live here (apart from getting a residence permit or an official work permit, which enables you to stay in Russia for as long as you are employed here). A copy of your previous Russian visa should be enclosed in your application for a multiple entry invitation.

A possible workaround for the 1st rule would be to get a simple registration, not an official visa-permit of stay and try to get a visa with it. It's still an official document, and the consulate might be OK with it. For example, in Germany one can get a "registration" (anmeldung) quite easily in a local area council office. If anybody knows about this possibility in other countries, please, post it here.

Bill Gates :-)))

10 things to know about Sochi

1. Sochi is the largest resort region of the Russian Federation. It stretches for 147 km along the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar region and includes the Krasnaya Polyana mountain resort area.

2. Sochi is divided into four administrative districts: Adler, Khosta, Central and Lazarevsky, and it borders the Georgian Republic in the south.

3. On the map, Sochi can be found on the same latitude with Toronto, Nice and the Gobi desert. As its charming landscapes and scenery are so reminiscent of the Mediterranean, Sochi is often referred to as the “Russian Riviera”.

4. As Sochi is situated between the Caucasian Mountains and the Black Sea, it enjoys the most northern subtropical climate on earth. As a result, its Krasnaya Polyana mountains have great snow conditions and are largely protected from the wind. These unique conditions cannot be found anywhere else in Europe.

5. Mount Elbrus (5,642 m) in the Russian Caucasus is considered the highest mountain in Europe. Mont Blanc in comparison is 4,810 m. The average height of the Caucasus mountains around Sochi are 2,000m.

6. The climate in Sochi is subtropical and the city usually has 200 sunny days a year. The average summer temperature is +26° C and -3° C in the winter. You can swim in the sea from April until October, and go skiing from October through May.

7. There are no large industrial facilities in the Sochi area, so the air quality, especially in Sochi’s Krasnaya Polyana area, is considered among the very best in the world.

8. Sochi is a city with more then 400,000 inhabitants representing over 100 nationalities. Over four million tourists visit Sochi annually and with over 250 spa facilities in the area, health and leisure tourism are the city’s leading sources of economy.

9. Sochi has over 200,000 hectares of forests, 4,000 of which are within Sochi Centre. Sochi encompasses several specially protected natural zones: the Caucasian National Biosphere Reserve, Sochi National Park, the Russian Federation National Wildlife Sanctuary, and over 30 botanical gardens and parks and nature sanctuaries housing over 30,000 wild-life plant species.

10. The Sochi tennis school became the launching pad for the careers of many Russian tennis stars, including Maria Sharapova and Yevgeny Kafelnikov.

Russian cuisine

Traditional Russian cuisine is an important part of Russian national culture. Russian cuisine is one of the most popular and widely spread in the world. French cuisine is festive and elegant, Chinese cuisine is exotic, Russian cuisine is healthy and delicious. Russian cuisine derives its rich and varied character from the vast and multicultural expanse of Russia. Its foundations were laid by the peasant food of the rural population in an often harsh climate, with a combination of plentiful fish, poultry, game, mushrooms, berries, and honey. Crops of rye, wheat, barley, and millet provided the ingredients for a plethora of breads, pancakes, cereals, kvass, beer, and vodka. Flavorful soups and stews centered on seasonal or storable produce, fish, and meats. Pies have always been a part of the holiday fare. The pies are customarily filled with different kinds of meat, fish, and berries. Large areas covered by woods and forests were abundant in berries and mushrooms and this accounted for a wealth of “gifts of the forests” on the Russian table.
Russian cuisine was renowned for diverse delicacies, especially refreshments (zakuski), made of fish. Russian rivers, lakes and seas yielded much of this tasty and useful kind of food. Soups and stews that were made from the poultry and meats that were hunted, were richly flavored and popular meals throughout the cold winter months. Bread is a staple of Russian cuisine, and there’s nothing in the world to compare to Russian black rye bread. Heavy and meaty, with a characteristic ’sour’ taste, Russian rye bread is nearly hearty enough to be a meal in and of itself, and a meal is not complete without bread.
Russian cuisine represents a wonderful bouquet of many cultural traditions and influences that have been absorbed over many centuries. For instance, a drink as Russian today as tea, was brought to Russia as the most precious gift from a Mongolian khan. Today Russia is the largest importer of tea in the world, and Russians drink tea 3–5 times a day. Tea has always been served with candies, pies, pryaniki (Russian gingerbread) and pastries.

As centuries passed, growing contacts with Western countries led to numerous borrowings in Russian cooking, enriching Russian cookery. Smoked meat, pastry cooking, wines and chocolate are a few culinary items that were introduced in the 16th to the 18th century. Although most of these refined foods were only available to the rich and aristocratic circles in Russia, it added to the Russian cuisine and meals that would become traditional Russian dishes. Primordial Russian products such as caviar, smetana (sour cream), buckwheat, rye flour, etc. have had a great influence on world-wide cuisine.

Russian visa requirements

All of the following documents must be received by our office before processing your visa to Russia. These requirements apply to citizens of all countries with the exception of immigrants from Russia and the Soviet Union. Former Russian and Soviet citizens should call our office for further details.

RUSSIAN VISA REQUIREMENTS:

* Order Form, thoroughly completed
* Your actual passport with at least 2 blank visa-designated pages. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months after intended departure from Russia
* One passport-size photograph
* US citizens: Two copies of this Russian visa application form, completed and signed
* Non-US citizens: Two copies of this Russian visa application form, completed and signed
* Payment: A company or personal check or money order made payable to "RussiaGateway.com". To pay for your Russian visa by credit card, please download the credit card authorization form. Include the form in the package that you mail to us.
* If you apply for a visa valid for more than 3 months you must submit HIV Test (AIDS) Certificate.

Russian visas to citizens of the following countries are issued only upon providing proof of permanent residency in the United States (photo copy of the green card) and own letter of invitation (discounts apply). List of countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Nigeria, N. Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri-Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam.

On the basis of reciprocity, mandatory medical insurance is required, for the citizens of Estonia, Israel, as well as for the citizens of Schengen Agreement Member States (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden).

Children apply for separate visas if they travel on their own passports. Non-traveling parents must confirm in an affidavit their consent for their children's travel. If the child's surname differs from that of his (her) parents, a copy of the child's birth certificate must be enclosed.

Russian Visa Registration Procedure

As you may perhaps know already the new Russian visa registration procedure was implemented in 2007. The rules are changing quite often, but today we were able to compile a clear and correct outline, which explains how to register your visa if you are staying in a private apartment (rented or as a guest). It actually became much easier to do it.

If you're staying at a hotel, the hotel will register you for the period you're staying there.

The main change is that there is no need anymore to go to OVIR if you're staying at an apartment and that all the documents can be submitted by post. Also, from January 2007 registering your visa is the sole responsibility of your accommodating party (hotel or landlord) and should be done by them, not by you and not by the agency, which issued your visa support.

Below is the detailed explanation of the registration process...

1. A foreigner submits his passport and migration card to the landlord. The landlord takes these to the local police station and fills out a registration form (see a sample below). He also enters his own passport details and needs to have his own passport when going to the police. It's essential that the landlord himself is registered at this address. The good news is that no approval of the other people registered at the apartment is needed (as it was before).

2. The authorities accept the form and give a tear off coupon to the landlord. He gives it back to the foreigner and the foreigner keeps it until departure. Please note that the foreigner himself is not supposed to go to the police at all.

3. The registration is to be done within three business days upon arrival.

4. When leaving, the foreigner render the tear off coupon to the landlord (he does not need to show it at the border) and the landlord passes it to the police. This should be done within 24 hours after departure.

5. The procedure can be accomplished by post. In this case the same documents are presented to the post office, they check them and give you the coupon back and when the foreigner leaves, you can send the coupon back by post as well. This procedure (submitting the registration by post) should work in Moscow, we do not yet know if all the post offices in Russia are aware of this procedure.

Lamborghini!!!!!

Russian police :-))