St. Petersburg: Any Advice?

[ambach123]

I have made two trips to Kiev in the past few months. I had a girl in Ukraine, but I have decided that I am not ready to pull the trigger with her. I want to know these women much better before I can commit for lifetime.

I had some issues with looking for a wife in Ukraine as well; there was a complete industry in Kiev trying to hook up WM with UW; very much mercenary in nature. On my first trip in September, I saw hordes of WM in Kiev with young blondes. In my second visit end of November, not so many, but that may be  the weather.

My experience with www.interdating.com was a disaster; these wer pro daters looking specifically for a meal from a WM.

I have decided to look into Russia; at least it is a road comparatively less traveled, mainly because of visa requirements and added expenses.

Initially I have a better response in writing letters to St. Petersburg girls than I had in Kiev.

I prefer St. Petersburg over Moscow which is big, and expensive.

AFA has a plan in which they introduce you to three girls per day for seven days for $695. Probably they subcontract this to a local agency. The meeting is in their offices,  for 15 minutes, if the parties want to continue, they move on to a cafe nearby. No meal is offered nor expected, so hopeully that would eliminate the pro daters; there is nothing in it for them other than the guy.

Anybody wants to go to St. Petersburg, we can pool, it is always nicer to have some company. I am planning for end of Januray, early February.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[viking]

Didn't you say you already applied for a K-1 after your first trip?

[ambach123]

I withdrew the application.

[Misha]

I had a girl in Ukraine, but I have decided that I am not ready to pull the trigger with her. I want to know these women much better before I can commit for lifetime.

Let me get this straight: you meet one woman, and hit it off with her. You feel that you are not ready to pull the "trigger" because you want to know a woman. This is good, but why not simply continue going to meet the first woman you met? How is the solution to wanting to know a woman, going to another country and another city to meet 21 women in one week a solution? Does not make much sense to me.

[GoodOlBoy]

I have made two trips to Kiev in the past few months. I had a girl in Ukraine, but I have decided that I am not ready to pull the trigger with her. I want to know these women much better before I can commit for lifetime.

OK, take some time to know these girls better. But, don't bail out to Russia? It makes no sense?

I withdrew the application (K-1).

What ?? If I may ask, what happened? Why did you change your mind?

[ambach123]

It did not appear to me that we would make good lifetime mates. May be I am overly cautious.
Also Ukraine is overrun by WM, it is an industry there, I don't know if Russia is any different, but I would like to find out.

[Misha]

It did not appear to me that we would make good lifetime mates.

Have you defined for yourself what you are looking for in a good lifetime mate? Your use of the word mate is interesting. Why mate and not partner?

May be I am overly cautious.

Caution can be good, but caution that is not guided by logic and reason can become paranoia.

[Pike]

St. Petersburg is a great city to visit.  But it will not be great in late January or early February.  It will not be great until May at the earliest.

But you are kidding yourself if you think Russia is going to be any different from Ukraine regarding the interaction of WM and the women.  True, the visa situation makes it much easier to visit Ukraine.  However, once you are on the ground, you won't know the difference between Russia and Ukraine (except for the local currency being used).

And why are you paying big bucks to meet women?  Go to the monthly pay and free sites, and get it all done for under $100.

[Misha]

It did not appear to me that we would make good lifetime mates.

In thinking it over, it is fair to ask you for more detail. You were very forthcoming in telling ALL the details while you were in Ukraine, why are you so shy now?  What were the reasons why specifically that it did not appear to you that the woman you met in Ukraine would not be good lifetime mates?

[UTRO]

St. Petersburg is a great city to visit.  But it will not be great in late January or early February.  It will not be great until May at the earliest.

I wouldn't say that's so true. Winter can be a good time to visit St. Petersburg. A lot less crowded at the Tourist spots...... except for maybe the skating rink at the Winter Place :)Due to its proximity to the Gulf of Finland the climate is milder than most of continental Russia. Summer can be fairly cloudy and rainy like Vancouver, Seattle or London. At least in the winter that rain falls as snow!
There is a saying in St. Petersburg... "Have you had a summer in Saint Petersburg this year?" "Yes, we have, but I was working that day."

[Jooky]

But you are kidding yourself if you think Russia is going to be any different from Ukraine regarding the interaction of WM and the women.

What makes you say that?

I've never been to Ukraine, but travellers there often report things like what Ambach wants to avoid:

I saw hordes of WM in Kiev with young blondes.

Go to Novosibirsk, for example, and it's a very different scene. You'll see plenty of young people out on the town, especially groups of young women, but a Western Man with a young hottie on his arm is a rare sight to see.

I haven't been in St. Petersburg enough to compare, but in my trips there it didn't stand out to me as a place inundated with Western Men seeking brides either.

Ambach, just be prepared for the cold (and darkness). If speed-dating is your thing, go and enjoy. I personally think it's a waste of time and poor way to meet women, but it works for some. I hope you have the resources to make many follow up trips. I agree, it does take time to get to know a woman enough for a lifetime commitment.

so hopefully that would eliminate the pro daters

Don't count on that. Putting up with a 15 minute meeting prior to a fancy dinner or shopping spree isn't going to deter a 'pro-dater'. No need to be paranoid, but keep a level head. Don't give yourself any false assurances.

I agree with Pike that you could just as easily use free sites to set up a bunch of dates.

[daveyj]

For accomodation I would recommend www.oksanas.net.  They provide a western calibre of customer service and professionalism.  Hotels tend to be very expensive, although if you go on expedia/etc you can find one equivalent in price to an Oksanas apartment.  The drawback is you have only a hotel room.  But on the plus side, you get the hotel amenities and concierge.

Also, I was surprised at how few people in St.Pete's speak English.  I haven't been to the Ukraine, so I can't compare.

Regarding the OP's history with the Ukraine woman, his reasons for choosing St.Pete's, choosing AFA, etc...Personally, I don't really care. He wasn't asking for opinions about his approach to seeking an FSU bride/his semiotic choice of words/his mindset/etc.  He just asked for info about St.Pete's.


ps. I may be in St.Pete's at the end of January (leaving on Jan 25) so maybe we can meet for coffee.

[Misha]

Well, there is maybe a reason why Western men are getting a bad rep for being sex tourists. 

[Faux Pas]

ambach

St Pete is a wonderful city. I was there in late March/early April and the weather was cool but comfortable. I would recommend that you start writing some ladies from there and also leave yourself enough time to "wing it" see the city and other sights. If you are at all adventuresome and personable you will meet many women. I noticed english is not spoken often or many places. Make arrangements for that if your russian is poor.

I found the people very open and accepting. They'll know you're an american without you ever opening your mouth (for the most part) and be very welcoming. It is a spectacular city and you are in for a wonderful time. I don't know that I would go in January but to each his/her own. I would also urge precaution. It is a big city and "we're not in Kansas anymore Toto" Like any big city there are places you don't want to wind up.

[Sculpto]

Well, there is maybe a reason why Western men are getting a bad rep for being sex tourists. 

Misha.. I feel that you could not be more correct in your comment.  Unless Ambach can come back with some really thoughtful reasoning it would seem he got his rocks off, got a confidence injection and now wants to see if he can upgrade.  I am not suprised at this turn of events based on his original TR.

promised the K1, got laid, stops the process.. classic.

[Phil dAmore]

Advice for Petersburg?  Okay...

1) Avoid AFA.  There are better, cheaper ways to meet quality women.  My Nina used to be a translator for their 'socials' in Petersburg and more often than not it went something like this:

a) 1st night:  This is where you will see all of the A-list women.  Also the highest percentage of scammers and other girls who may or may not have been bused in for the event on a promise of a free meal.

b) 2nd night: The B-listers.  These are the gals that have been previously married, or have a child or are a bit older.  IMO this is where one has the best chances of finding a decent gal.  The problem is most of the guys hooked up on the first night so they don't pay much attention to these women

c) 3rd night.  C- list, but remember that what is considered c-list in Russia is probably better than one could find at home.

Accommodations:  I have worked with http://oksanas.net in the past and she has always provided good service for my clients.  A bit of advice:  Don't stay on Nevsky prospect, especially if you are going to be there over New Years.  If you are within walking distance of a metro station you can get anywhere in the city quickly and cheaply.  Nevsky is a noisy street.

At that time of year be prepared for excessive darkness.  As I recall it starts getting dark around 3:30 in the afternoon and it does not get light again until around 9:30 the next morning.  Bring warm, waterproof shoes or boots.

Petersburg is cheaper than Moscow but not by much, or at least it wasn't back when I was there.  What with the Russian economy in the tank I don't really know how much things cost any more. Don't expect any deep discounts as I have never known Russians to truly understand the concept of things like supply, demand, and value for the money.

I always loved Petersburg the most right after a fresh snowfall, it just really brings out the charm of the place.

Good luck... and whatever you do, stay AWAY from metro Kanal Gribyedova... it is where you are most likely to have your pocket picked.

[HiTech]

Misha, and Sculpto; He answered your question.  Quite frankly it sounds like he has learned a little. And the first time it sounds like he got caught up in the romance and fantasy of the moment. Not a lot of guys would file A k-1 and then cancel it just to get laid.

I also wonder if Russia is the less traveled path? But Kiev is defiantly very worn.

[Misha]

Misha, and Sculpto; He answered your question.  Quite frankly it sounds like he has learned a little. And the first time it sounds like he got caught up in the romance and fantasy of the moment. Not a lot of guys would file A k-1 and then cancel it just to get laid.

Well, I simply wonder what she is thinking and feeling about this at the moment. Was she hurt in the process?

[HiTech]

Most probably she was emotionally hurt, but such is life in broken relationships. So has ambach been hurt in the process?

[GoodOlBoy]

Most probably she was emotionally hurt, but such is life in broken relationships. So has ambach been hurt in the process?

I would say Ambach has gotten over it pretty quickly, if he is already planning trips to Russia to meet women.

Maybe the girl's family in the Ukraine would be "looking"     for Ambach, if he went back.

I know in my old neck of the woods, Virginia, we don't take very kindly to our relatives (especially our Sisters or Daughters) being violated and discarded by strangers.

[Misha]

So has ambach been hurt in the process?

If he had, I am sure we would have heard of it by now 

[Sculpto]

We dont know if Ambach ever started papers for his girl.. we only know what he told us.. and he told us he had fun in the bathtub.. bragging like a first timer in highschool... smells bad to me.. sorry for saying so but if it stinks like a skunk....

[GoodOlBoy]

Sculpto, page 1

I withdrew the application. (K-1)

[Sculpto]

GOB.. I know what he says he did.. I just don't believe it.

[ambach123]

Sculpto, if you have nothing positive to add, move on. Worry about yourself.
Whatever you do or don't is your problem, I have yet to make any comments on you.