Way to Russia Talk Lounge

Dr Fauste · Site Admin Joined: 23 Nov 2004 Posts: 654

I will be going to Yoshkar-Ola in late March from Moscow. I was wondering if someone could tell the best way to get there?
I heard the flying to Kazan and training it
or the train to Kazan then YO.

Also what is the best way to get Novgorod after that? I want to hi to some for day. I am only going to be in Russia for 2 weeks and I rather not live in a train or an airport.

Another Item, Wavessed can you tell me what you consider to be a nice appreciate item to bring over as a friend gift from Canada?
I brought over Maple Syrup last time and it was not well liked.
I am thinking Smoked Pacific Salmon or Crown Royal.

patrick_b · Frequent Guest Joined: 25 Jan 2005 Posts: 44

Dr. Fauste,

My wife and I are also going back to Yoshkar Ola in June, so her mother has been looking into plane tickets.

Every time I have been there so far, I have gone by train from Moscow, and that has taken about 11 hours. One time I actually had to take the train to Kazan due to flight timing, but that's about the same, and then a two hour drive to YO (longer if traffic is bad getting out of Kazan). I haven't taken the train to or from Cheboksary, but my wife has, and that is a closer drive than Kazan (about 50 minutes).

As for flights, direct flights to YO are spotty at best, and in March they may not even be running yet. However, my mother-in-law tells us that the flights to Cheboksary are going every day even in the middle of winter, so that might be a better choice than Kazan, since it is closer. Sorry, but I don't have any pricing information. As far as timing, I don't have the times in front of me, but I believe the flight to Cheboksary leaves around 17:00 every day. Don't know from which Moscow airport, sorry. But it gives you something to look for...

Don't have anything I can add on Novgorod, never been there.

wavetossed · WayToRussified Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 337

You could try a gift of English tea. I gave someone Twinings Earl Grey tea and they really liked it. Early Grey is a black tea with Bergamot flowers added to it.

Since Russians eat so much fish, I think a Pacific Salmon should go over well. That far inland they have probably never even seen a whole salmon. Pack it in dry ice with some insulation and it should keep even as far as the YO. Cook it on a spit over live coals like shasliki.

If someone is seriously studying English, take them some books or, better yet, record some CBC radio documentary shows onto CDs and take those. It is hard for Russians to find ordinary English books or audio materials spoken by native English speakers.

Skip · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 5:35 am Post subject:

I have a sneaky suspicion airlines won't let you carry dry ice unless it's for a prearranged medical need (specimens etc) and I'm also pretty certain that some regulations prohibit taking in untinned perishable proteins like fish or meat Sad

Russian customs confiscated a French sausage and a wedge of camembert from my hand luggage in precisely the same connection two years hence, but the minute my back was turned I expect they had a little feast Evil or Very Mad

You can take the bus from Moscow to Y/Ola if you're brave, it takes some 17 hours though! Buses to the east mostly all run from the road terminus at Shchelkovskaya Metro station. If not then you could take the overnight train from Kazansky Boksal to Kazan, and then grab a bus or taxi to Y/Ola Razz

The taxis who wait at Kazan Boksal are accustomed to automatically fitting in as many people as three or four and dividing their fare amongst the occupants and Kazan - Y/Ola should not exceed 3,000py6 for the vehicle... or a maximum of 1,000py6 per person Cool

Of course... if you're feeling flush then for 4,000py6 or so you could get a flight out of Domodedovo in all probability...

International flights into Kazan were limited to Luthansa Airlines last time that I'd reason to check... connections being at Frankfurt or London Heathrow... but that's an expensive route, so much so that it would probably cost you twice as much as Canada to Moscow direct!

Hope that might help...