How is Russia viewed by a foreigner? (+)

[Inga_Tepljashina]

Hello, Petri!

<to compensate Russian come to finland and sell cheap gasoline>

...to compansate finns go to Tallinn and buy everything possible from cheese to alcohol!

Those finns who live close enough to russian border go to the nearest gas station to shop for fuel.
I'm not quite sure about "lots of finnish food" in Russia. I didn't see lots there. Basic stuff (e.g. bread, butter, meat product, milk etc.) is definately not from Finland.
I might be wrong, though, since I don't live in Russia.

Regards,
Inga

[ILay]

There is really not too much food products from Finland in Russia.

Most are domestic. Actually I don't remember if I saw _anything_ from Finland in a supermarket.

[Petri]

>>...to compansate finns go to Tallinn and buy everything possible from cheese to alcohol!<<

I know. I hope estonians don´t get a bad pictures of finns. I know when swedes go to denmark and buy cheaper products many dansih don´t like them for various reasons..

>>There is really not too much food products from Finland in Russia.<<

what? is this some kind of conspiracy? where am I??? HEELP!!!

[Inga_Tepljashina]

Hi Petri!

We are already used to seeing finns everywhere in Estonia. Last summer I was in Pärnu (our summer resort 130 km south from Tallinn), and I honestly thought I wouldn't meet any finns there... Ha-ha-ha, I was SO WRONG!!! They were all around the place!

Well, at least now I know, it's not only russians who drink A LOT!!!

We used to have a lot of tourist groups from Russia, now they are mostly from Finland.
Estonian economy only benefits from it. If estonian politicians were a bit smarter, russian tourists could've left their money in Estonia as well.

Regards,
Inga

[Nonson]

How many people here realize just how difficult it is to get truely accurate information about today's Russia? One might tend to think that there is a massive disinformation agenda being carried out. Or maybe its "tell the truth but tell it in such a way that only the insiders can understand". Peace

[ILay]

2 Inga:

It's a shame that Russian tourists are not visiting Estonia anymore. It would be nice to come to Tallinn, go 13 footsteps down to drink a beer and finish at Gloria with 'Vanna Tallinn'.

Now Russians prefer to go to Helsinki. Visas, transportation and attitude are better (not by my personal expirience - it was quite a while ago then I visited Estonia last time). Also a good possibility to buy some cheaper clothes and audio-video. Or make alpine skiing trip for week-end during the winter.


2 Nonson:

Strange isn't it?
It was reasonable during the cold war but now... And it seems that the propaganda machine is still working. Maybe it's because Russia does not meet the expectations of the westernees?

[caroline_m]

Ilay
I HAVE BEEN TO rUSSIA AND WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE COUNTRY. I LOVED IT AND BECAME VERY FOND OF THE PEOPLE. I AM A WESTERN CANADIAN. WE ARE NOT A RESERVED PEOPLE AND HAVE TENDENCY TO BE VERY FRIENDLY. WE FOUND THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WERE A LITTLE HESITANT TO RESPOND AS THEY APPEARED TO BE SUSPICOUS OF US. HOWEVER WHEN THEY REALIZED THAT WE WERE HARMLES THEY WARMED TO US. I FOUND THAT YOUR PEOPLE WERE VERY WELL EDUCATED AND TOOK AND INTEREST IN A VARIETY OF TOPICS. tHE YOUNG PEOPLE IN GENERAL WERE VERY WELL BEHAVED AND CURIOUS ABOUT OUR WAY OF LIFE. I FOUND THAT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE MIDDLE AGED WERE HESITANT TO DISCUSS A LOT OF SUBJECTS WITH US. I THINK YOUR PEOPLE SHOULD BE COMPLEMENTED ON THEIR PRIDE, AND SO THEY SHOULD BE FOR THEY HAVE INDEED SUFFERED TO MAINTAIN THIS DIGNITY.
FROM CANADA WE LOVE THE RUSSIANS AND WILL BE RETURNED AGAIN. GREETINGS