Wyborg (Dezember 2001). „Nein, im Hotel Druschba sind keine Zimmer mehr . Free "The hotel front desk makes no hope that perhaps a reservation is canceled," Our tourists are always "Whether White nights in the summer or chilly winter. Reaches every weekend, a caravan of colorful coaches the peaceful Russian provincial town of Vyborg on the Finnish Gulf breathes and lives. Vyborg is next to the Estonian capital of Tallinn, the Centre for Finnish tourists drinking in general.
Vyborg - a city in a deep sleep
Vyborg, in Sweden from the 13th ruler Knutsson Century was founded under the name Viipuri long been a part of Finland to Stalin the small neighboring country in 1939 with its divisions invaded and annexed the eastern part of Karelia. Since the end of the Second World War, the city is finally on the Leningrad region. But on the weekend, the Finns get back the sovereignty over their ancient trading city.
on the market place where locals crystal glasses, fur hats and pirated Hollywood films sold in the Finnish dubbing, Finnish is however long become the lingua franca. Even the beggar pray in the language of rich neighbors for alms. The visitors only 30 kilometers away from the neighboring country are not homesick tourists, like the Germans in East Prussia, once again want to see their old home. They were not really interested for the medieval castle or partly preserved old town.
champagne in one hand, vodka in the other hand
Most Finns flee from the Scandinavian restrictive alcohol legislation and the astronomical prices for hard liquor. Vyborg is a mecca for those who do not like on Saturday night to put up with a sticky-sweet lemonade. "In the summer they sit on the roadside, in one hand and a bottle of champagne in the other a bottle of vodka," says Marina, cloakroom attendant in Vyborg local history museum. "The Finns Vyborg love it."
And although the Finns do not Vyborg absolutely loves it thrives on them. In every street of the city cries out for fresh paint and new plaster. Many historic buildings that the civil war between the White and Red Fins and later survived the heavy fighting between the Soviet army, the Finns and their German allies, fifty years after the war, only dilapidated ruins. In the narrow streets, in which the Finnish visitors often get lost with its garish jackets, Vyborg still sleeps his long sleep and waits for an end to the steady decline.
Without the Finnish neighbors see it in the city certainly made even sadder. And therefore depends the shop windows along the Lenin prospectus (probably the only street of this proud name in Russia with cobblestones) everywhere sticker with Finnish flags and the words "tuloa Terve! Hello world! ".
"At the invitation presented by the Finns at the border stands as a cultural exchange trip purpose, often," laughs Arsenjan arsenic, while he chases his car on the empty street Saimaa Canal to the north. "This is really a nice form of cultural exchange that is practiced here."
Arsenjan also earned his living thanks to the guests from the rich neighbor. He is a taxi driver between the worlds. For the equivalent of about 30 dollars, he drives his red Lada practically every day, the route from Vyborg to Finland and zuürck. What is the purpose of the visit he stated that when he asked his Finnish permanent visa, he was not told.
"Many Finns go only up to the first gas station behind the Russian border control, and fully recharge once again contact," says he. Forty minutes would take the trip from Lappeenranta to Vyborg, the first major town on the Finnish side, if it were not for the border. But only stop on the Russian side, each car at four barricades. In summer, it then quickly five or more hours waiting.
But knowing not only the Finns the benefits of a visit to appreciate in the neighboring country. More and more Russians are coming to shop in Finland. High-quality clothing and electronic goods are often much cheaper here than in St. Petersburg or Moscow. Moreover, the Russian tourists shopping at the border can refund the 15 percent VAT.
And because in the meantime, the Lappeenranta Restaurants by four-star hotels as well as basic kebab stalls have naturally on Russian menus, could be the integration of Russia into Europe really a great one day be irreversible.
Originally published in Russia cur- .
0 comments:
Post a Comment