HP Access in Russia

In brief - NO access what so ever!
As I have offered to write a report of my 8 day visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg, I am glad I've left my HP wife at home and here is why:
Indeed, there are two giant negative comments. One, if you are not speaking Russian, I strongly suggest, have an English speaking guide next to you all day. All signage, including airports is in Cyrillic. Two, for a handicapped person, the only way to get around and sitesee either City is by taxi. You have to bargain with the driver, or else it will cost you at least a double. There are excursion buses. Here, you have to have a guide, but as a foraigner you will be charged three to five times more as the Russians pay for the same tour. I speak Russian fluently and I did get away as a "Russian" purchasing my tours in St P. (in Moscow, I had a friend as a guide). Now, that you are on the bus, there are numerous limitations, what excactly you can see. Everywhere
and everything has steps and NO elevators, including their subway. And speaking of subways, as much as there are escalators - about a "mile long into the bowels of the earth", once you get off - a lot of steps everywhere, all directions in Cyrillic only, and elbow to elbow people. For my whole visit, I did not see one person in the wheelchair, however a lot of people on crutches. I did speak to one older lady using crutches, slowly making her way through the park. She explained, that her world is limited from her home to the grocery store, and then she smiled telling me that "her government is making all the HP people in Russia rather good sportsmen"!
A final note in RE to the cruises stopping in StP. You would have a very limited time seing the City and its riches. Example, a tour to Pushkin to see the Empress Elizabeth'
palace and the Amber Hall, takes 6 hrs. Remaining time, I recommend taking a boat ride through all the canals (StP is called : the Northern Venice)
If any one has questions or comments, pl. do not hesitate to ask via my e-mail.
Kind regards,
Vladimir

Vladimir,

I am wondering if the museums and palaces will have any wheelchairs available to rent while we tour them. I can walk for awhile but I cannot stand and walk for an extended period of time. I was hoping that once we got to each place, I could rent or use a wheelchair for that particular tour.

Are these available, do you know? We are planning on using the Red October tours for our guides. We will be going next summer, August of 2005.

Any info on renting a wheelchair would be helpful. Thank you.

Ginny

[KLD]

I would not depend on this even in the USA, much less in Russia. Why not purchase or rent a wheelchair and take it with you? You will need it on the airport and ship anyway, and you cannot depend on these being available from the cruise line, or for them to allow you to take them ashore.

Hi Ginny,
Sorry, I am only a couple of months late. My Dell was belly up.
KLD is right - try to take your own WC. Not only you will have mobility aboard, but also on shore. The Red October is a reliable TA and I'd suggest you tell them to plan
your visit accordingly. I think you will be OK, if you can make a few steps on your own at
the museums, so that the WC can be brought up to the next level, where you can ride again. Example, Empress' Elizabeth Palace in Pushkin. There is a bunch of steps to enter, then inside, after placing soft mittens on your shoes, proceed to the second floor. I don't know if there is an elevator, but if you can walk up the steps, all the gigantic halls are on the same level, and OK for the WC. If I am understanding correctly, the cruise ships are in StP only for two days, in reality - 6 to 7 hrs the first day and even less the second if a departure is around 5PM. (...and missing your ship would be a bad
and costly experience in Russia!) You are in good hands with Red October, bur I am suggesting, do your homework on Internet. There are many St Petersburg sites and all
in English.
As for renting WCs there, they would not know what you are talking about and the ship's
crew would not let you take their chair , obviously IF one were available.
Kind regards,
Vladimir