FAQ BY RUSSIA-BOUND VEGETARIANS AND VEGANS
ANSWERED BY UNCLE PASHA

This is an outdated page. Please use my Guestbook to discuss questions of general interest

Carnivores and cannibals may find these interesting too. All questions here are real. A full answer will be sent to you directly, and  a slightly edited version that respects your privacy (and at times your right to stupidity) will be added to this list. Direct your inquiries to inbox@unclepasha.com 

Q. Do I need to bring my own food?
A. If you ask this sort of questions, better stay home or go to Europe, to the Bahamas or whatever..

Q. Can one buy vegetables in Russia?
A. (Before answering this one I take a deep breath and count to 20.) I don't recall any time since 1993, when I relocated here from Canada, when I wasn't able to buy fresh, and resonably priced fruits and vegetables. Be prepared, though, to eat what is available. If you happen to need a constant supply of asparagus and broccolli and Thai peppers for complete happiness (as I do) you'll be disappointed and miserable (as I often am).

Q. Found your name on the internet and wondered if you might be able to offer a few words of advice. My wife and I are vegetarians (no fish) and would love to visit both St Petersburg and Moscow. All the guide books suggest that unless we stay in a top hotel we are going to struggle to find anywhere that will cater for us.
A. (Majorly annoyed but still in possession of myself.) I spend a good deal of my time in a woodstove-heated cottage. I use old newspapers to start fire. Would you please bring this guidebook here to server this noble purpose as it has long outlived its usefulness. Seriously though St.Petersburg's vegetarian eating establishments have been very well documented, and in a matter of weeks I plan to write up where the strictest of vegetarians/vegan can stuff himself in Moscow. Check my site once in a while. I can take you for a shopping tour in Moscow or have a refrigerator full of "clean" food waiting for you in the apartment you'll presumably rent through us (see Moscow Accommodation).

Q. Is Russia an expensive country?
A. Establishments which cater to New Russians and foreign capitalists are twice as expensive, places for the ordinary folk are three times cheaper than in Canada. I assume that Canada is on par with the US while Western Europe is, on the whole, 30% more expensive. Transportation is almost free, except aircraft. Click HERE for a random selection of prices for everyday commodities.

Q. Are foreigners free to travel around the country?
A. Technically, you are supposed to have your destination on your visa. Silly laws, however, are compensated by very reasonable people, from traffic cops to district bosses, who will not make obstacles provided your actions and intentions are good. 

Q. Is street crime a serious problem?
A. In a word, NO. Use your common sense, don't flaunt valuables, don't associate with wrong sort of people and you'll be fine. Petty theft is, alas, common. Always lock your bicycle. A good friend of mine, the famous GG, recently had her baby cart stolen! But crime against person is fairly rare. I wouldn't let this consideration affect my plans if I was a traveller. PS. One guest of mine managed to have four attempt on his wallet in one day. He was of the UA variety, so I'd rather blame him than the scene. Others spend a lifetime without encounting any crime agains property or person.

Q. I was told that I need an invitation. I don't know anyone who could issue me one.
A. Lucky you that you've come here. Information I need from you to start working on your invitation is HERE. In addition to information, I'll need 50 or so bucks. Order your invitation at least two weeks before your visit to the Russian consulate, and remember that it will take them another 2 weeks to issue your visa. If you leave things to the last minute, expect to pay extra - much extra. And do expect Russian style service at every stage of the process. Even from me to some extent. Although I am trying to soften the impact of the local scene on you, I am still a part of it.

Q. When receiving my invitation, I was told at the Consulate that I would need something called "notarized petition for a home stay from the apartment owner". Can you issue one?
A. I can. But I won't spend two days at the OVIR to do that. Normally, whoever issued you an invitation would put the appropriate stamp on your visa. Failing that, I will be able to recommend someone who will put such a seal on your visa for a reasonable fee. But check first with your visa support guys. If you are my client, I recommend you arrange for your invitation through me or whoever I recommend. If you still insist of that specific paper, I could in theory do it for you, but it will take a lot of my fairly pricy time.

Q. Are there any vegetarian restaurants in Moscow? In St. Peters? In other cities?
A. There is a vegetarian cafe at the Hare Krishna Temple (Begovaya Metro Station) and another place somewhere near  Belorusskaya Metro. Most Russian cities will not have specifically vegetarian cafes. Still, in most establishments you will be able to get a reasonably meat-free or even vegan meal. St. Petersburg is a notable exception, with at least one excellent vegetarian restaurant off Nevsky.  Look for newest information on www.vegrussia.org. Some St.Petersburg cafes are mentioned in The St. Petersburg Times article on vegetarianism - proceed HERE???. I am compiling something of a vegetarian shopping/eating guide for my neighbourhood for those who rent my pad - you'll find it HERE????

Q. Is it safe to buy food on the street?
A. Use your common sense. My understanding and impression is that the food industry is tightly controlled by health authorities, who regularly take probes for germs and bugs. I've never been sick from eating out except for cases when I overindulged. Most food poisonings are, of course, due to meat and as a vegetarian you don't have much to fear. I mostly eat on the street, and have been doing so since '94, and seem to be alive and well, physically at least.

Q. I want to see the "real" Russia, away from tourist haunts.
A. Lucky you are to have come here. I prefer dealing with independent tourists which do not need the Bolshoi-Arbat-Golden-Ring-Red_Square routine.  In particular, I invite you to visit the City of Staritsa, Tver Region, and the village of Dubrovki, where I am trying to carve a livable niche for myself.

Q. How do I get to Moscow from the airport?
A. $40-50 will convince me to overcome my distaste for driving and be there waiting for you in the smoke-filled and mafia-infested arrivals hall with a silly little sign with your name on it.  If you are an experience traveller, $3 will get you to Moscow by public transit. I had some unpleasant experience dealing with the taxi mafia at Sheremetyevo-1 a couple of years ago and don't recommend them. Perhaps things have changed since, but I would be very careful hiring cabs never-the-less. One of my clients recently tried saving $40 on my services, got lost, and ended up having $20 bucks extorted from him by a street punk, and about the same by a taxi crook for a 3-km ride.

Q. Where do I find the cheapest prostitutes?
A. Outside of Moscow you'll be able to get your VD, have your money and documents stolen and otherwise make your Russian trip memorable for mere 5 bucks. They usually stand alongside highways. In Moscow you'll accomplish the same for about $100. Those who come here for cheap debauchery will also save a bundle by being denied the priviledge of being my clients.

Q. What is the age of consent for sex in Russia? I am interested in boys 13-15 years of age.
A. Russia is not a good place to for that sort of tourism. Social tolerance is low, and consequences may be severe. And I am totally unable to render any services to this type of a client.

WE'VE BEEN GETTING MORE DATING/SEX/MARRIAGE INQUIRIES AS OF RECENT. BUSINESS IS BUSINESS, LIFE IS TOUGH, AND HERE WE ARE OFFERING OUR SERVICES TO THE SORT OF CLIENT WE'VE SLIGHTED BEFORE.

Q. I want to come to Moscow as an ESL teacher. Do you know of any links to organizations that I can inquire with? I've looked some but haven't really found anything.
A. I'd contact English schools in Moscow and did some advertising on my own. Conceivably I could do a search of the Moscow telephone directory as well as going over my own telephone list, but that requires time and effort I can't at the moment spare. I've copied your inquiry into my FAQ folder and perhaps will compile a list of contacts.. If you actually find yourself here, I promise I'd share with your whatever information/ideas I may have, and maybe some clients too. Also, I can assure you that jobs are plentiful for anyone with a resemblance of professionalism and work ethic, both of which are in short supply in my dear motherland.

Q. What can I bring to Russia? What can I buy and save?
A. In the mid-90s the answer to thing would be a long list. Now the markets have pretty much reached balance, and no answer of the sort "bring a VCR and you'll sell it at a huge profit" is now possible. Of export items, I'd recommend vodka if it is expensive in your country. I'd also suggest taking care of your dental problems here, as it will cost several times less than in Europe or Canada or the States.

Q. It is March and I want to visit Moscow. Everyone I wrote or called seems overbooked. What do I do?
A. Yes, March of 2001 is particularly tough. At certain periods there is an influx of visitors. Be assured that no one yet had to spend a night on a park bench. Be prepared to spend more money ($150-250 will ALWAYS get you accommodation), or lower your expectations to a couch somewhere in the outskirts of Moscow for $25.

Q. I don't understand why I need a visa at all. And I am totally buffled by that visa support business.

....

I'm really interested in rock climbing and caving.....

Are you insured?

We will be visiting Moscow and would like to rent a scooter.

We are a group of 5 and we are travelling first to St. Peters, then to Lake Baikal. We would feel more comfortable if someone was to accompany us. We would be delighted if you did that in person if you have time and if we can afford to pay; if not, please recommend someone..

What should I bring with me apart from the obvious?

How should I dress?

 

Trust I've addressed your concerns, dispelled a few doubts and alleviated some fears. Over the years I've noticed that the general theme of good 2/3 of your questions is safety.  And vegetarians seem, for some reason, to be more prone to that worry than others.

May I try putting you at ease by pointing to some recent scientific studies that prove beyond reasonable doubt that an average of only one death per person per lifetime takes place in Russia, which puts us on par with the safest and most developed nations and places on earth..

Send me your questions, comments and what not. 
You will receive a personal response. In addition your question will appear on this page. We reserve the right to be snappy to the point of rude-ish in responding particularly silly questions.

March 15, 2002
From now on please post questions to my BBS so that others may benefit from discussing them.

Latest revision: December 12, 2001