The Cathedral of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood The most beautiful sight in the town of Saint Petersburg is this cathedral. It was erected on the place where Russian Emperor Alexander II was murdered on the 1st of March, 1881. The tsar was mortally wounded by the terrorists from the People's Will revolutionist organization. Today one can see the preserved fragments of railings and the pavement and some cobblestones of the carriageway where the Emperor fell bleeding profusely. The day following his death the Municipal Duma decided to build a cathedral in the same spot to honor his memory. There was a contest held to see who would build such a moument and Alfred Parland was the winner. As the old story goes, the Mother of God appeared to him and showed him what it should look like. The cathedral was constructed in the style of the 16th-17th century Russian architecture and has a lot in common with the Church of St. Basil the Blessed that stands on the Red Square in Moscow. The Cathedral of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood stands out for its complicated and picturesque outline, as well as rich and multicolored decoration. The rich mosaics that cover the walls of the cathedral both inside and outside are of a great value. The mosaic panels were made in Frolov's workshop. Several Russian artists contributed such as Vasnetsov, Nesterov, Riabushkin and others. The total area of the mosaic is impressive 7,050 square meters and the height of the tallest dome is 81 meters. Inside the cathedral holds Italian marbles and Russian semiprecious stones such as jasper, topaz, rock crystal and others. On the socle of the cathedral, there are 20 granite desks dedicated to the major events and reforms of the ruling of Alexander II and on the belfry there are coats of arms of all the regions and provinces of Russia. Also, 1000 square meters in area are covered with jewelry enamel. The domes are gilt and covered with colorful enamel and the one over the altar is adorned with golden smalt. The Cathedral of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood was greatly damaged under the Soviets. Like many other churches in Saint Petersburg it was closed soon after the revolution of 1917. In November 1931 the Regional Committee for Cult Affairs decided that that the Savior on Spilled Blood Cathedral should be disassembled in parts. After remaining on the agenda for some time the resolution was later cancelled. The issue rose again in 1938. The action was planned for 1941. It seemed at the time that the fate of the church, just like the fate of many other churches in Russia, was decided. But after the WWII started, demolition experts were sent off to the front right before they were set to begin. During the blockade the Savior on Spilled Blood served as a morgue where bodies of famished Leningraders were delivered. After the war the cathedral was leased by Maly Opera Theater who made it into a stage set storage. Destruction of the building continued. The building, which did not serve its direct purpose stood with broken windows, gaping holes in the roofing and the cupolas caused by splinters, through which moisture accumulated inside the building. 1956 was another critical year in the fate of the church, when the city authorities once again decided to demolish the church in order to build a new street. The new campaign of tearing down religious buildings continued for over ten years. By the late 1960s the unique monument of Russian architecture had been in drastic condition and in 1970 the restoration works that lasted for almost 30 years were started. Such duration of the restoration was difficult to explain and people talk that unless the scaffolding stood, the Soviet power would last. It is strange but the scaffolding was taken away in 1991 short before August crises in Moscow. Thus the prophecy turned to be true. The first stage of restoration was completed by August 19, 1997, when Savior on Spilled Blood Cathedral and Museum opened its doors to visitors. The exposition of the Savior on Spilled Blood serves as the media for learning Russian history and culture. The objective of the museum is to present the historic and artistic value of the Cathedral, and make our contemporaries feel a part of Russian historical and cultural tradition. The Cathedral of Resurrection is the only surviving monument to Alexander II in the city.

Russia Tap Water Nothing ruins a good trip like getting sick -- and this is not a few extra bathroom stops. Contaminated drinking water is one of the leading sources of health problems for travelers and it can be a big problem in Russia. In Russia giardia is a bacteria found in the water almost everywhere. Giardia is a germ that causes diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps. Giardia is found in infected people’s stool and cannot be seen by the naked eye. This germ is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body and in the environment for long periods of time. The best way to protect yourself is to avoid local tap water and instead seek out bottled water; when that's not available, boiling tap water generally kills most micro-organisms, and there are a number of good water filters and purification tablets that can easily be stowed in your carry-on. But remember you do not need to drink contaminated water to be exposed; always consider alternate sources of exposure, like the water you use to brush your teeth, or to wash your contact lenses or dentures. Be sure to use bottled, boiled or purified water for these purposes as well. Also remember not to drink beverages with ice in them unless the water has been boiled first or eat foods that may have been washed with contaminated water.

Toilet without a toiletseat in Vladimir...at least its clean Toilets in Russia...What's the Problem? Toilets in Russia are a bit different than what you'd expect in the United States or Western Europe. While serviceable public toilets are becoming more easily found, especially in well-populated areas, you will still encounter some old-style public toilets in Russia. One difference that may be encountered in Russia is paying to use public toilets. These restrooms are most common in such places as train stations or large shopping centers. Don't be too upset, the fee is usually prominantly displayed and will amount to only a few cents. You may avoid this situation by using the restroom before you leave your hotel or utilizing every cost-free restroom that you encounter. However, sometimes you'll find yourself in a situation while traveling in Russia when a pay toilet is the only accessible restroom. To be best prepared keep some change handy. A second difference is the availablility of toilet paper. Public toilets often do not equip each toilet stall with toilet paper in Russia. Sometimes toilet paper is available outside the stalls, such as right inside the restroom entrance or other times there just isn't any. It is best to bring a small roll of travel sized toilet paper with you on your trip. Such rolls can be found at most travel sections in supermarkets or convenience stores. Even nose tissues can come in handy. A third difference and possibly the worst difference is what I like to call "squatty potties." These little adventures are just what they sound like. You must squat while you do your job. They are a sight to see, but they are clearly recognizable. It is just a hole in the floor with treads on each side of the hole. The treads are not there for a bottom massage, no. They are grips for your feet. You must put each foot on the treads, squat down so to be perfectly positioned over the hole and...release. At first glance, I imagined I could use it in a regular way: just sit normally without touching the hole to my skin. But that is NOT going to work. These "squatty potties" are usually built on a raised platform and if you try to manuver yourself over the hole without squatting you're bound to make a mess. My advice is to use these only for emergencies, otherwise, try to wait until the next possible stop. The next difference is cleanliness. As we all know, public restrooms in the United States carry their own filth; however, Russia brings a new card to the table...a much more dirtier card. Most bigger establishments, such as shopping malls and restaurants will have very nice restrooms. Yet, train stations or smaller establishments are most likely to send you running. It is just something to adopt while you are there. Waterless hand sanitizer is a good idea. The fifth difference is how toilets are in private homes or apartments. In most residences toilets are in a separate room from the bathtub and sink. If you ask, "Where is the bathroom?" you will most likely be led to the sink and not a toilet. When you leave the toilet room you will have to most likely cross the house to enter the bathing room to wash your hands. This is normal for them and no one will think it is weird. The last difference is the way Russian toilets flush. There is most likely not a lever on the side or front of the toilet. Most flushing mechanisms are placed on the top of the tank. You will either have to push a button or pull up on a lever. At some point you may run across a toilet that does carry enough power to flush down toilet paper. If so, there will usually be a sign posted to place your used toilet paper in the waste basket.

Children housed at an orphange in Vladimir Orphanages in Russia Russian institutions are bursting with abandoned children, who now total more than 600,000 children. These children are defined by the state as being "without parental care." During each of the last two years, more than 113,000 children have been abandoned, reflecting a breathtaking rise from 67,286 in 1992. Another 30,000 are reported to run away from troubled homes each year, clogging the urban railway stations and metros, sometimes ending up in shelters and orphanages. Since the collapse of Soviet rule in 1991, these children have felt the worst of the repercussions of Russia’s stormy economic transition. Their families are often poor, jobless, ill, and in trouble with the law; these abandoned children have come to be called "social orphans"—indicating that ninety-five percent of abandoned children have a living parent. All abandoned infants spend their first three to four years in a baby house, and are then distributed to institutions under the control of either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Labor and Social Development. Among those under the Ministry of Education, one group of children is deemed to have no disabilities, and the second group contains children diagnosed as lightly disabled, and officially termed "debil." The most common institution for the "educable” children is called a dyetskii dom (children's home), which generally houses boys and girls. They generally attend regular Russian public schools for the compulsory nine years, where they can earn a secondary school diploma, or they can leave school at the age of fifteen. Abandoned children may also live in school-internaty, where they receive their education inside the institution where they live. Following secondary school, these children in the care of the Ministry of Education may receive two to three years of further training in a trade, which they pursue at another boarding institution under the Pedagogical Technical Directorate (PTU). While studying skills such as carpentry, electricity, masonry, and stuffed-animal making, among others, the children are housed in dormitories staffed by the Ministry of Education. Under Russian law, the state must provide all orphans leaving the care of the Education Ministry with an initial stipend, housing and employment. But the economic crisis since the introduction of market reforms and privatization of apartments makes this increasingly difficult. Indeed, the prospect of life in the outside world is a source of great worry to the orphans and child welfare experts alike. One problem is that approximately thirty percent of all severely disabled children in special homes—a staggering figure—die before they reach eighteen. While officials of the orphanages say that these children are at high risk due to their mental state, it also attributes to part of the crowding, poor hygiene, and low standards of care. It is not uncommon for parents to give birth to a mentally retarded baby and the doctors tell the young parents to put it in an orphange and "try again." Most Russians associate orphanges with mentally retarded children and that is all that is housed in orphanges. Some even believe that children in orphanges are "not really human." This speaks for not only the lay person but even orphanage staff. A journalist once commented on this fact by saying that there was report written about a baby house where children with defects live. A few days later the readers wrote a reply, that these kids should be killed. “We don't want to see them,” they said. "People are not ready to share any money with those that are disabled." One orphanage in Moscow was visited by a group of journalists trying to do a study and they brought with them stuffed animals and five cartons of yogurt. The nurse that spoke to them told them that the stuff animals would be sold at the market across the street the next day and the most they would get from the yogurt would be two cups each. This nurse was fired the next day.

Russian feast prepared by the Militia complete with vodka Russians and Their Vodka What does it mean to drink Russian Vodka "a la ruse"? It means that you should drink it in accordance with Russian drinking traditions... Vodka has long become an international drink without forfeiting its Russian roots. It isn't by chance that it's universally known by its original Russian name! You will only get the feel of true taste of Russian Vodka if you drink it "a la ruse"... Drink by little by little, but drink up all of it! Russian drinking traditions are hundreds of years long dating back to the early medieval ages. Moreover, none of them is random for all of them carry their special meaning… You will only be able to fathom the secrets of Russian Vodka if you choose to follow them! Russian Drinking Tradition Rule #1: No Martini… This habit stems from Russian severe winters and other peculiarities of the Russian national character. Statistically speaking, 95 out 100 bottles of vodka in Russia are consumed unmixed! Russian Drinking Tradition Rule #2: No Ice "Russians serve Vodka cool and drink it from special vodka glasses..." It's more or less clear about Vodka being served cool. Just keep in the fridge. Russian Drinking Tradition Rule #3: With "zakuski"… "Vodka is drunk during meals..." Russians have a special idea of their HORS D' OEUVRES TABLE. In other words, it's a table laid specially "for vodka"... At the onset of its history, when vodka was a Czar's monopoly product and was only sold "from tap" in CZAR'S TAVERNS, no hors d' oeuvres were served with it: CZAR'S TAVERNS offered vodka only... Admittedly, vodka at that time was different. It only contained maximum 20-25 per cent of alcohol. Vodka has been getting "stronger" as the time passed, therefore nowadays Russians would only drink vodka without any hors d' oeuvres when they have none. In the past, when a dinner is served in the Russian household, the hostess was obliged to offer each guest vodka for clearing his throats and for better appetite and kiss the guest as she offers him vodka glasses on a tray. It was said that it builds up the appetite; the hostess' sweet kiss adds pleasant scent to my lips and vodka, to my teeth. But a joke was said that if the hostess was not a beauty hopefully they would serve the vodka when the dinner was over. Russian Drinking Tradition Rule # 4: With toasts... "Russians drink vodka with toasts..." Russian toasts constitute also a separate subject. If more than two people get together to have a drink of vodka (Russians are not accustomed to drinking alone, unless they are alcoholics or people in the arts), prior to filling the next glass someone needs to say a short toast. After that the drinkers clink their glasses, knock down their drinks, take a bite at their "zakuski," and refill the glasses, etc. (See "Russian Tradition #5"). As the Russian saying goes, "the first charka (class of vodka) comes like a stick in your throat, the second flies in like a falcon, the others just dive like small birdies". Russian Drinking Tradition Rule #5: Often, much, and for long... Russians drink vodka quite often. They usually drink profusely and spend many hours drinking vodka. Sometimes they drink it all night long and knock out the hangover the morning after with just another shot of vodka - just to feel better. It is not suggested that anyone visiting Russia try to accomplish Rule #5. They should first practice the first four rules to get the feel of it. Russians do drink much vodka, probably, too much... It's a Russian old and persistent habit dating back centuries ago. It developed long before the advent of vodka in Russia and it is reflective of Russians' pagan cult drinking sprees in which they indulged in various occasions. Such sprees lasting for several days, even weeks. Since the time when the Moscow Grand Duchy introduced the state monopoly on vodka in the 1490s, Russian Czars made several attempts at imposing temporary restrictions on the consumption of alcoholic beverages. As a result, vodka could only be sold on special weekdays, or even several times a year to mark major church holidays, as was the case under Ivan III in the 16th century and in the early years of reign of Ivan IV the Terrible. Those restrictions, however, led to the emergence of Russians' new tradition to drink excessively "whenever you're allowed..." As another Russian proverb goes, "He who welcomes a holiday gets drunk long before dawn." a Danish diplomat, described the streets of St. Petersburg on the eve of 1710: "Wherever we walked or rode we could see multitudes of drunken people scattered in the streets and on the iced river. They had just dropped from their sleighs and lay in the snow snoozing. The whole city reminded us of a battlefield all strewn with dead bodies." One of the peculiarities of the Russian feasts was abundance of meals and drinks. The host was usually going out of the way trying to get his guests drunk - to the state of complete oblivion, if possible, so he would bring them back home unconscious. The host was usually frustrated if any of his guests drank too little. It was also a shame for a Russian to get drunk too quickly. To a certain extent the Russian drinking sprees resembled tugs of war. The host was doing his best to get his guests drunk, while the guests offered strong resistance. There were numerous occasions at the Russian feasts when certain guests were forced to drink by any means possible, including beating. Such occurrences took place even at the court of Peter the Great who was known to have a strong penchant for merry drinking carousals. There was a popular belief that the guest's respect for his host was measured by the amount of vodka he consumed in his house! Usually the guests took a long and noisy leave from the host's house parting with one another several times in a row, drinking many a "one for the road," etc. When they came out of the house to the yard, the host treated them to "one for the stirrup," especially if his guests were riding horses. Finally, when the guests left and could no longer be seen, the host sent out a rider to chase them with more charkas of vodka, and they drank their "ones for over the hill." This tradition has almost been forgotten due to the advent of automobiles... In the meantime, "one for the road" has survived and remains a frequent Russian farewell toast even now!