About Arkhangelsk.

My main purpose by writing this is to inform Norwegian students about
Arkhangelsk. This is just the first information needed
when planning the journey and arriving here, more can you get for
example in Tourist Information, Russia 163004 Arkhangelsk, tel
+ 7 8182 2140 82, email tic@pomorland.info website www.pomorland.info
You should have a detailed map to find the way in the city (buy in a book store)

I write about following items-
1. Invitation and visa
2. Flight tickets
3. Language
4. Change the money
5. Russian hotels
6. Post, internet, telephone
7. The Regional Hospital of Arkhangelsk
7.1 The Physiotherapy Department
8. Department and book stores
9. Leisure activities
10. Tv and radio


1. Invitation and visa
If you want to stay longer than 28 days in Russia - limit for the
tourist visa - you need an invitation from the receiving institution. (Tourist: Ask more for example Grenseland AS, Sovjetreiser, Kongensgt 1-3, Kirkenes, tel 78 99 25 01.)
I recommend that you try to get the invitation about two months before planned
departure. It can be sent to Russian Consulate to Kirkenes. After
that you have to apply for the visa. Contact them; Russlands
Generalkonsulat i Kirkenes, Anatolj Smirnov, Radhusplassen 2,
9900 Kirkenes, tel 78 99 37 37, working hours 9-12, and ask them
to send you the correct application form. You or someone in Kirkenes
has to go to the consulate personally and take there your passport,
application form with the photo, and receipt for the paid processing
fee. You get the account number in the consulate. Calculate about 10
working days, also two weeks, before you get the visa. You get it
quicker if you pay more, fees vary from 250-900NOK.

2. Flight tickets
You can take the flight from Tromso to Arkhangelsk, via Murmansk.
Travel Agency Arkangelsk Airlines has an office at the airport
in Langnes, Tromso. They don't always follow the opening hours,
so call them first to be sure that someone is present.
Telephone 776 75 350. Mobile 951 435 87.  Price for
the student return ticket Tromso-Arkhangelsk is about 3500 NOK.
You don't have to order the ticket earlier than about one month before
the departure.

3. Language
You should learn some Russian if you want to stay outside of the most
expensive hotels. It is important to know the alphabet, because it
helps you to understand signs, what you are buying in the shop and
so on. Always carry a little pocket dictionary. Some of the younger
generation in Russia speak good English, but they study English only
about 4 years at school, and it is still not usual to study other
foreign languages.

4. Change the money
Euro and USD can be changed almost everywhere. Look at the city map for list of banks. To change NOK, go to bank i Vaskresenskja 99, and there to disk 14 and 15, they are for changing foreign currency. You need to show your passport when changing money.

5. Russian hotels
Don't drink water from the tap! There can be a container in a corridor
where you can get water, otherwise you have to buy it. It costs about
24rb (6 NOK) for 5 litres. To not to be disturbed by mosquitoes by
night, you should have 'mosquito plug', and special small plates to
insert in it. You just put in on when getting to bed, one plate
is enough for about one night.

6. Post, internet, telephone
The main post office is in Troizkii Prospekt 45. In the post office you
can also buy telephone cards, which you can use in the telephone
automate on the wall. The card with 200units (304rb-76NOK) is enough
for about 10 min to Norway or Finland. You can also try different
card used by tasting codes in usual office or home telephone, but
quality is variable and they are complicated to use. I experienced
that connection was almost non-existing. Internetcafe; just opposite
of the post office, in the'highhouse', 14th floor. The best in the town.
30 rubles per hour and computers usually work.

7. The Regional Hospital of Arkhangelsk
Somatical hospital. About 600 pasients, 1500 employees.
Departments/wards;
- cardiology
- trauma
- nevrological
- functional diagnostic
- ear/nose/throath
- 3 surgeries; abdominal, thorax and lower extremities, nevro
- 2 therapydep; 1.therapy-hematology, kidney, diabetes
2.therapy lungs, bronchitis, astma, abdominal, revmatical diseases
- physiotherapy
- policlinic - not a department but a part of the hospital
- one department for pasients who can pay more - not so crowded,
better facilities

There is one social worker and 1,5 psychologist working for the
whole hospital. You use your own clothes in the hospital, just taking a white hospital jacket on them. Be aware of that it can be quite cold in the autumn and winter in the hospital rooms. They have lunch about 11.30-12.00, it is usual to take own food with you, but there is also a canteen in the hospital.

7.1 The Physiotherapy Department
3 (special)doctors, 5 nurses with massage education, 6 nurses working with
the physical factors (machines)
Giving following treatment;
- laser
- light treatment
- elektromagnet
- warmth treatment
- massage
- gym/exercise
- information/guiding

to pasients with following diagnosis; revma, astma/bronchitis, hearth
diseases, fractures (extremities), back pain, head injury

8. Department and book stores

There are some quite big deparment stores with a good selection of products, almost everything you need. Try one in Troizkii Prospekt 52 - this area is them most important shopping area in the town. In Pomorskaja you will find some shops with interesting Russian products, like bonecarving and traditional souvenirs. It is smart to ask you Russian friends where to find special products you are interested in. It is interesting to go to book stores as well, but you should know Russian then. Specially dictionaries can be interesting and cheap for one coming from Norway.


9. Leisure activities
Many possibilities.
Maley Korely (biggest outdoor museum in Russia, 140 hectares)  Museums. Theatre, concerts, cinema. Libraries.
Russian sauna. Go skating. Cafees.


10. Tv and radio
You hear only Russian from both tv and radio. After a while it will
be a little monotonous. Films don't have subtitles, but are dubbed
in Russian. Well, foreign newspapers can be read in the internetcafe.