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[outdated; synchronize with Russian]
HOW TO GET HERE
Large map. Print it out if driving here. The simplest route is through Tver. The most pleasant one is through Lotoshino.
The Staritsa District The map is of poor quality and will be replaced soon.
Public transit from Moscow
- To Tver by bus or train, then take a bus to Staritsa. The last bus leaves to Staritsa shortly after 5pm.
Taxi
- Moscow to Staritsa ride will cost you 2000+ roubles if you hire the car is Staritsa. Not much more in Moscow probably. Makes sense if there are 3-4 of you.
A direct bus just started going daily from M. Tushinkaya in Moscow to Staritsa. Leave at 10:20 every morning (not verified) and 4:25pm (verified) daily. The evening bus arrives at 8:30 to 9:30pm, depending on traffic jams on leaving Moscow and road conditions. Most people get out in Volokolamsk, the bus becomes nearly empty and you can take a comfortable nap. No lighting so don't count on being able to read. The cost of the ticket is 116 roubles ($4). Better buy tickets in advance, especially on weekends.
There are rumours of 50% student discounts.
The bus leaves Staritsa at 10am and 4:05pm daily, which makes returning to Moscow easy.
The route was established by the transportation authorities of the City of Volokolamsk,, which is a worthy destination in itself for, eg, WW2 history buffs, but that's another story.
FROM ST. PETERSBURG
Direct train to the Staritsa Station takes 6 hours and arrives at 7 or 8 in the morning. The Station is 15 km from the city and about the same distance from us.
Meeting places in staritsa
- The bus station
- The Molodezhnoye ("Youth") Cafe recently renamed into Bylina ("The Epic"). Also knows as Shaiba ("Hokey puck") because of its round shape on the other side of the bridge over the Volga.
[photo]Watch for this military van with which we are likely to meet you in Staritsa or be ready for a buggy ride. Be warned that Russian rural-style buggies lack suspension.
The Bus Station
The bus station. You will find a few taxi drivers there who will take you to Dubrovki for 250-300 roubles ($7-10). On cold days they aggregate in the station cafeteria. Make sure they take you to _Dubrovki_ and NOT Dubrovino, Dubrovniki or anywhere else. The village of Dubrovki you want is near Kholokholnya. To get there by a good road, which is 3-4 times longer than the trail along the Volga, you go through Pankovo to Penturovo, then turn right at Penturovo to the Village of Kholokholnya (total 28km while walking trail is 7-8). Dubrovki is on the other side of the Kholokholenka river, on top of the hill..
A new telephone has recently appeared, and it costs just one rouble to make a call. If you have trouble, speak to very nice tetechki at the station, and they will help you.
Most of your natural needs, including our craving for informational input, can be satisfied at the Staritsa bus station. "Bufet" means "cafeteria" and "Tualet" means just that.
Always let us know that you are coming! But if you didn't we'll try to welcome you to the best of our ability anyway.
If you get lost in Staritsa, call 23036 or 23425, ask for Svetlana Viktorovna. But not not bother her without a compelling reason, and when you do, speak with respect due to no one other than the editor-in-chief of the local paper Staritsa Vestnik.
Worst case scenario is that you will have to walk. Not that bad of a scenario actually. Get to the left side of the Volga and walk down 7 km (4+ miles). The first little stream is called Lipinka. Cross it any way you like but I would not trust the makeshift bridge. They don't have plastic casts at the local hospital, just the old-fashioned gypsum style, so watch out. On the other hand, emergency treatment is free! But that's another story.The second stream is Kholokholenka. Do not cross it but turn left and walk up the hill.
In the winter you can get to Dubrovki via the Ryblovo sand-pit, and then over the frozen river. But let's not attempting that on your own.
A bus from Staritsa can also take you to Penturovo. The bus shelter is decorated with graffiti that proclaim that Kholokholnya and Dubrovki are cool, or something to that effect. Follow the road to Kholokholnay, cross the stream, and walk up the hill. In the summer you can ask anybody. In the winter just look for signs of life.
