...anyone been?

loads of people I would imagine....

... in that case...anyone been to Helsinki?

Just been talking to someone who went on a cruise there and unless you go with an organised party you don't get off the ship. Some people had pre organised visas and were able to hire cars and make there own way around the place but other than that access was limited.

I don't think I'll have that problem.

I went three years ago.

The old eastern block is a big interest of mine. I'd been to Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, East Germany and Hungary before going to St Pete. I really looked forward to it because what I liked about all the Eastern Bloc countries I had visited was they're differentness to the west. I'd found the peoples open and friendly.

St Petersburg is no more dangerous or restrictive than any city in Europe you can go where you want, do what you want- it certainly felt less intimidating than Berlin or London does. The architecture is incredible, the Winter Palace beautiful - so is seeing the Nueva frozen. However the russians are the most grumpy, rude, miserable and greedy people I have ever met.

Everywhere else in the old Easten Bloc I have been I would love to go to again but I won't ever go to Russia again. I don't know why Napoleon and Hitler bothered- the Russians are welcome to Russia.

If you want somewhere different but friendly go to Vilnius or Kaunas before the easyjet drunk stag dickheads ruin them as they have done Prague and Riga.

I have been to both of those cities, Snowy.
What is it you want to know????

It's just a general idea of what the place is like.

It depends on how much time you have in St Petersburg, but a must is a visit to the Hermitage.
The exhibits in there were collected by Peter the Great and Catherine the Great. It is huge. They say that if you spent one minute looking at each exhibit it would take you over four years to view them all.
A guided tour is essential in order to get the most out of it.
They were very fussy regarding just wandering around and frowned on it............but it might have altered.
A check with the Russian Embassy will tell you the current do's and dont's.

Helsinki is one of my favourite cities, a bit like Prague with it's tram system.

I don't obviously know your itinerary but pre visit reading is a good tip.

Quite a lot of info available on Google. Just type in the city name and follow your nose.

Cheers Mr Derwent, thanks for taking the bother, ... Oops, and you too pde147.