April 05th, 2010
Our office has moved!!!
parallel 60 travel company has moved to a new office. Now we are in the very heart of St.Petersburg, just in 5-7 minutes walk from "Ploschad Vosstaniya" metro station and Nevsky Prospect. Our new address is 2nd Sovetskaya Street, bld.#7 (SENATOR business center), office #501 (between the 5th and 4th floors). For your convinience, we have made up a map of how to get to us - http://www.parallelsixty.com/how-to-get-to-us.shtml You are welcome to visit us ))
December 1st, 2009
Ticket sales are launched for high-speed Sapsan train
On 18 December 2009, the high-speed Sapsan train service will be launched on the Moscow – St Petersburg – Moscow route. Ticket sales for the Sapsan trains are now open.
The first journeys will begin at 06:45 in the morning, when two trains will depart simultaneously from Moscow and St Petersburg. The journey time will be 3 hours 45 minutes.
The price of a first class ticket includes hot food (passengers will have a choice of meals), reading materials, internet access, travel packs (containing ear plugs, eye masks, and slippers) and children’s packs. Passengers in second class carriages can order hot food from the bistro carriage for additional payment, use the internet, order taxis, and watch and listen to video and audio programmes. In addition, while travelling on the Sapsan, passengers can purchase tickets for other trains.
November, 2009
The Grand Hotel Europe is the leading luxury hotel in the world
The Grand Hotel Europe, St Petersburg’s oldest luxury hotel, has been named the Leading Luxury Hotel in the world by World Travel Awards – travel industry’s equivalent to the Oscar’s (quote by Wall Street Journal).
The Grand Hotel Europe has added yet another prestigious award to its collection of accolades. World Travel Awards, an international organisation that stimulates innovation and creativity and encourages hotels to strive to provide travellers with the best price-quality ratio has declared the Grand Hotel Europe the winner in its key category, “Leading Luxury Hotel in the World.” The awards ceremony took place on 8 November, 2009 in London, on the eve of the World Travel Market.
On 17 October, the Grand Hotel Europe was named “Leading Luxury Hotel in Europe” by the same organisation, as a result of which the hotel was nominated for the world’s top tourism award.
“Our hotel is a truly historic and cultural landmark of St. Petersburg and Russia, and we work hard to ensure that our guests enjoy a level of comfort and service appropriate to a hotel with such a history,” said Thomas Noll, the Managing Director of the Grand Hotel Europe. “I am happy to see that our clients and partners appreciate our efforts and work aimed at improving the hotel’s infrastructure and perfecting our service standards.
October 30th, 2009
New number in the Federal List of Russian Tour Operators
Due to the amendments made in article 17.2 of the Federal Law # 123 dated by June 28, 2009 "About the fundamentals of the travel industry in the Russian Federation", Parallel 60 Ltd. was given a new number MBT 001743 in the Federal List of Russian Tour Operators starting from September 28th, 2009.
December 10th, 2008
The Hermitage: a Cat's Cradle
The valuable exhibits of the State Hermitage Museum are protected not only with modern security systems but also with rather unusual guards - an army of cats. Their deployment is the only way to deal with dangerous saboteurs who can do more harm than human vandals. The mini-criminals that have kept the museum in a state of horro for centuries are rodents.
The tradition of the guard-cats has its roots in the early 18th century. The first cat was brought to the Hermitage from Holland by Peter the Great. Some years later, his daughter Empress Elizabeth ordered a whole carriage of cats with developed hunting skills to be delivered from Kazan.
Since then, St.Petersburg's main museum has been inhabited by cats. They rule the underground floors, in the so-called Cat's Cellar, where every door has a special cat-flap. The feline custodians prevent all rodents from entering the ceremonial halls above.
"Cats are nice, gentle, soft and, most importantly, they never have a negative word - it's as if they are psychologists," said one of Hermitage staff. One of cats, Vasya, proved to be something of a mascot for the museum. Life in the cellars wasn't to his liking, and he would find routes only known to him to reach the upper floors. "Vasya preferred to hang out in the Throne Room and in the 1812 Gallery. He would stand up on the benches and study the pictures", one of the museum attendants once said. (St.Petersburg Times)
October 6th, 2008
Russian VODKA Room #1 - New restaurant in St.Petersburg!
Russian Vodka Room #1 is the first place in St.Petersburg to present Russian cuisine from different historical periods. Here, you can try pre-Petrine dishes such as "oven-cooked buckwheat porridge with chicken hearts and porcini mushrooms"; dishes featuring cuisine of the merchant and aristocratic classes, such as "pike perch rissole with mashed potato"; and Soviet cuisine such as "chicken Kiev" or "Russian salad". The restaurant's premises comprise two spacious rooms with a capacity of 160 guests. Next door there is a well-known Museum of Russian Vodka which presents fascinating exhibits dating back to the appears of vodka drinking many-year traditions in Russia and running right through to the present day. The restaurant also has a "rumochnaya" (a "standing-room-only" cafe) decorated in the 20th century style where you can sample a variety of vodkas with traditional Russian "zakuski" snacks. The restaurant is located at 4, Konnogvardeysky Boulevard, open 12.00-00.00. Tel. 570-6420
October 4th, 2008
"Gorkovskaya" metro station will be closed
"Gorkovskaya" metro station will be closed from October 6th, 2008 untill November 30th, 2009. The main reason is the crawler repair works and hydroisolation. The station was planned to be closed at the end of 2007 but the metropolitan administration made decision to postpone the closure due to the State Duma Elections.
For your information, the following touristic and cultural places and hotels are located near "Gorkovskaya" station:
- Peter and Paul's Fortress,
- Music-Hall,
- Baltiysky Dom Theatre,
- mini-hotel "Zlatoust",
- mini-hotel "Kronverk",
- mini-hotel "Aurora Petrogradskaya".
Please use the nearest metro station "Petrpogradskaya".
July 4th, 2008
New fountains are opened in St.Petersburg countryside
In June 2008 in the lower park of Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna several wonderful fountains were launched. These fountains were actually planned to be built by Peter the Great back in the XVIII century, when he was going to have a fancy sea Residence with a big park and lots of fountains. A brand new canal system was constructed by the fountain masters in the lower park here but then it was found out that Petergof is a more appropriate place for such Residence due to the better land altitude differences for making natural waterflow in fountains. So masters had moved to Petergof.
Nowadays Strelna visitors may enjoy a Classic French park in the style of XVIII century. 8 fountains operate here during the summer season: "Water-lily", "Roses", "Gladioluses", "Lilies of the valley", "Tulips" and others. You may go there on your own or book an excursion "Russian versalia" through us. Please ask managers for more details.
February 27th, 2008
We have launched our special interests group "parallel 60" on a newly made popular Russian portal VKONTAKTE.RU (more than 8 mln. visitors as of today). Just to remind you - parallel 60 is the latitude that St.Petersburg is on, so welcome all who love St.Pete, who have something to say or share..... 39 photos have been uploaded already. Come on and send yours :)))
January 31, 2008
Have you ever travelled on a train which looks and feels like a 5-star hotel? Grand Express train operating between St.Petersburg and Moscow is changing the existing stereotypes of comfortable traveling by railway.
You will be impressed by the level of service on
Grand Express - it is indeed a real hotel on wheels. It is Russia's first privately owned luxury passenger train, offering overnight trips from Moscow to St.Petersburg and backwards. Only 'Grand Express' can offer you spacious sleeping carriages with toilets, shower cabins and air-conditioner, with wide sofas and LCD-TV sets, with DVD-players and Wi-Fi Internet access.
The train has 14 cars:
- two cars with Grand de Luxe class suite-compartments,
- two cars with Grand class room-compartments,
- two cars with Premium class room-compartments,
- seven cars with First-class room-compartments.
Prices start from 4800 RUR p/ticket. For more details and pictures of Grand Express please go here.
December 19, 2007
On December 1st at 6pm an opening ceremony of the he largest temporary skating rink in Europe, the area of which amounts to about five thousand square meters, took place in Palace Square in St. Petersburg. Nearly 1000 people came to try the ice of the new skating rink. Amongst the guests of the opening was the Mayor of the city Valentina Matvienko, Olympic figure skating champions and showmen.
The skating site in St Petersburg has its own infrastructure: an office of skates rent, changing room, a shop, café, and a first-aid post. The organizers claim the skating complex to be safe for Palace Square and the neighbouring Alexander Column and Hermitage. A waterproof podium will protect block pavement.
Pyrotechnics shows will be forbidden.
On the day of opening there was organized a TV-link-up with Muscovites who also came to Red Square in Moscow to see the opening of a skating rink on Saturday. The Skating Rink on Palace Square will be open from 10 am till midnight, adult ticket will cost from 200 to 300 rubles depending on time of day, and children will pay 100 rubles. War veterans and children preschool age will be able to skate for free. Skates rental office will be at everybody’s disposal.
Today on December 19th a figure skating stars show will take place here. In addition to the rink itself three hockey pitches will be arranged, and on January 18 a hockey match with participation of players of the National Hockey League and Russian players will come about here.
The rink will also host events on the occasion of New Year, Student’s Day, Defender of the Motherland Day, and the Pancake Week. If you plan to visit St Petersburg by the end of this winter and to stay at one of its hotels, do not lose the chance to skate near the Hermitage.
November 16th, 2007
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Spoil yourself by celebrating New Year's in the luxurious, exclusive and unique atmosphere of Europe's landmark hotel, the Grand Hotel Europe in the city of the Russian tsars. See our New Year 2008 package here
October 19th, 2007
St.Petersburg Open 2007, the World-famous XIII International Tennis Tournament, will take place on October 22-28. A few days before the start, on Nevsky prospect, the main avenue of St.Petersburg, near Gostiny Dvor, you will see an unusual installation -3-meter tennis ball will be cut into the ground early in the morning and will be removed only late at night….. Spoil yourself by celebrating New Year's in the luxurious, exclusive and unique atmosphere of Europe's landmark hotel, the Grand Hotel Europe in the city of the Russian tsars.
For the last 13 years the tournament has lived through many grand changes – the main was about the Prize Fund, which has grown from 300 000 to 1 000 000 USD, the level of participants, the tournament partners and sponsors. The only thing that has remained – passion towards tennis and energy that it creates.
The audience of the tournament includes the directors and owners of the biggest St.Petersburg companies, well-known politicians, public figures, foreign countries representatives. The President of the Organization Committee is mayor of the city – Valentina Matvienko.
At different times the St.Petersburg Open winners were Evegeny Kafelnikov, Magnus Gustafson, Tomas Yuhansson, Richard Kraychek, Mark Rosse, Marat Safin, Sebastian Grozhan, Gustavo Kuerten, Mario Anchich. (
http://www.spbopen.ru)
October 1st, 2007
Dear Friends, our summer with all those warm days and romantic white nights is over. But this is not the reason for sorrow ))).
St. Petersburg looks great at any season and waits for its guests at any time. Our
golden autumn is just beautiful – you may see that in parks of
Pushkin, Pavlovsk or
Petergof – the peaceful atmosphere there lets you feel relaxed and well-minded. It is of course not only about the positive atmosphere but also about the lower prices - now the off-season rates are set in, which in some cases are twice lower than those during the summer. You are welcome to check it out yourself.:))))
September 6th, 2007
Days of Helsinki will be held in St.Petersburg during the Jubilee Year of the
90th Anniversary of Finland independence.
Different cultural events will be organized due to this reason. The official opening ceremony will take place on September 11th by starting two photo expositions: One of Jussi Tiainen photographer - in the Atrium of Komendantsky House of Peter and Paul’s Fortress – it is dedicated to the modern architecture of Helsinki.
The second photo exhibition, called “Helisnkin street fashion” – made by photographers Liisa Jokinen and Sampo Karjalainen – will show interesting, not typical people on the streets, squares, in cafes and shops of the Finnish capital. Days of Helsinki also include musical arrangements. Cantores Minores’ boys choir of the Helsinki Cathedral will perform in the Finnish Church of Saint Maria on November 10th. The Helsinki Festive orchestra will give a concert in Academic Capella of St.Petersburg on October 6th.
The most striking event of the Days of Helsinki will be the concert of the Helsinki Philharmonic orchestra (which, by the way, celebrates its 125th Anniversary this year) in the St.Petersburg Philharmony named after Shostakovich on November 13th.
St.Petersburg has in its turn prepared a musical present for Helsinki. On November 10th for commemoration of 140th Anniversary of K.G.Mannergeim’s birthday for the first time in history a new musical work – cantata, written by the Russian composer Y.Falik will be performed in St.Petersburg Philharmony.
September 5th, 2007
The Annual fireworks show “Fountains Festival” will take place on September 15th 2007. It will take place as usually on Big Cascade in the lower park of Peterhof. The show starts at 21:30 and will last for about 45 minutes. We are to inform that regularly on this day fountains of the lower park are open until 15.00 and then they get turned off because of the preparations for the evening event. Tickets for “Fountains Festival” are available from 19.00.
This is not the last day of fountains functioning in Peterhof. Fountains are closed up on October 7th, 2007.
August 01, 2007
We are sorry to inform you that from 01/08/07 we stop approving for payment American Express cards.
July 07, 2007
Today, 7/7/07, provides a great opportunity for superstition and marketing to come together: starry-eyed happily looking couples are tying the knot, casinos are over-booked and Live Earth concerts as well as the proclamation of the world’s seven new wonders take place this day. “Number 7 has a magic sacred side and the reputation of bringing luck,” said numerologist Jean-Daniel Fermier. So several sevens could bring an extra dose of good fortune. “Number 7 is the union of 4, symbol of matter, and of 3, symbol of the spirit,” said someone else. No matter what people say, we will keep thinking that number "7" will simply bring good luck to us, today and hopefully tomorrow too. Numbers and numerology are fascinating, aren't they? :))))))
June 06, 2007
Due to the Federal Russian Law #12 from February 5th, 2007 all Russian tour operators are obliged to have bank guarantee in the amount of 5 000 000 rubles or have insurance for the indicated sum in order to be included into the Federal List of Touroperators.
"parallel 60" is now officialy included into the above list and has the following number - MBT #002203
Full list of companies included into the Official List of Russian touroperators may be viewed on the website of the Federal Tourism Agency of the Russian Federation
here (in Russian)
February 19, 2007
Yesterday Russians all over the country celebrated Maslenitsa, a famous traditional holiday, indicating the end of winter and start of the Lent - a forty-day religious fast. The pancake week, lasting from February 12 till February 18, ended with an open-air merrymaking - burning of a straw man, climbing the post to get presents, round dances and fights between groups of men. We had maslenitsa celebrations in several places of St.Petersburg: Arts Square, Krestovsky island, Yunona market.
January 10, 2007
Where and by whom was the first Theatre in St. Petersburg built?
The very first theatre was opened by Peter the Great’s younger sister – Natalia Alexeevna and it was located on Nevskaya embankment, not far from the Liteyniy yard.
December 19, 2006
Restaurant "RESTORAN" (V.O., 2, Tamozhenniy Per., tel. 327-89-75) welcomes you for HANG-OVER DAYS starting January 1, 2007. The menu includes: Russian schi (sauerkraut soup), pirozhki with cabbage and beef, pickled and marinated vegetables, hot potatoes, cucumber brine, ice Vodka, home-made Vodka with different flavours - horse-radish, cranberry, nut.
November 20, 2006
The Official Declaration of the New 7 Wonders of the World will be in Lisbon, Portugal on July 7, 2007 - 07.07.07. The parallel 60 team have voted for St. Basil’s Cathedral and 6 other relatively young historical masterpieces. The Moscow Cathedral on Red Square is unfortunately the only Russian sight, included into the list. Anyone may vote on
www.new7wonders.com
November 12, 2006
Two St.Petersburg hotels have changed their names recently - former Pulkovskaya hotel**** became Park Inn Hotel**** and former Sovetskaya hotel*** is now Azimut hotel***. We have written both names for your convinience.
September 09, 2006
Many business people coming to St.Petersburg look for those hotels which have Wi-Fi Internet connection. We have marked the ones that do have Wi-Fi. Please check in the hotel description, top line of the table.
August 08, 2006
We have launched our new website. The advantages of this website are in its simple navigation and fast page loading. We have tried to construct it as if we were potential customers – the service description, price and booking procedures are presented very conveniently. Please e-mail us if you encounter some difficulties or have suggestions.
359-366-235
Hi Slava
We are back to USA. We had great trip. Both your guides in Moscow and Guide in St. Petersburg were great and so were the drivers.
thanks
-sarla ...