Meet The Local in St. Petersburg

So you've been few days in St. Petersburg, enjoyed the city, toured obligatory museum and sights,  but have you ever thought about spending a day or part of your stay with local Jewish person?

Now you can! Although not a licensed guide, but well educated in art and history, and who can tell you how life was in Soviet Union for Jews and how it is now, talk about almost any topic which interests you - culture, music, art, share their city with you.

Meet Lena Prudovskaya. She is born and bred St. Petersburg resident, from cultured intellectual family, with perfect fluent English and you will enjoy time talking to her.  Lena by profession is an engineer, graduated from St. Petersburg Polytechnic institute.

After 1991 when Russia became a democratic country, she was working for adoption agency, hosting American families who came to adopt Russian children. Some of them even lived at her apartment, and she took care of them from hosting to translation, to taking them shopping, sightseeing, and various chores. As she recalls, these very interesting times.. While waiting for adoption documents, these Americans became accidental tourists.

Some of them wanted to sightsee and were fascinated with museums and palaces. Others wanted experience Russian food and drinks. Some wanted  buy Russian furs. One of the clients got quickly bored with sites and was looking for sport/excersise facilities. At that time there were no golf clubs in the city. So the self made gym was set up in the apartment building yard and the client was running rounds and doing pullups at bars while older "babushkas" cheered. Once babushkas spotted a rat and together with client they were chasing it. The American got it and become a hero in the eyes of locals :-) .

Lena reminisces: We had 3 Americans living with us, one of them was a sniper by profession. First, my teenager son was shy and would not leave the room. But he could not keep himself away from listening his stories how he ad to shoot the attacker and save the hostage. My son was fascinated and they became good friends. Even my cat started to sleep in guests room/bed.

Then there was an older lady who took pity on my worn winter coat (I did not have money to buy a new one). She sewed the lining on and my coat and I still wear it. She became like my mother.

She smiles when she recalls the way she saved her clients money - in Russia, there are different prices for museum and theaters  for foreigners and locals. But it is difficult for Americans to pretend that they are local. The trick was to organize a crowd - small group of people. With her few friends and American guests, they went to museum. Americans were instructed not to smile and do not say anything. This way, they entered Mariinski theater almost for free (for our American standards).

But all of them became as part of the family and Lena still has contacts with them even now when the company stopped doing adoption and Lena found another job by teaching English and sharing a love of her city and Jewish history with other travelers from USA, Israel and the rest of the world.

She takes people to Metro, which stations are pieces of communism art. She knows places where to shop and where to avoid tourist traps. She knows all locations for good toilets, where you can get a brief stop with tea, coffee, show rooms, porcelain factory, etc..  She can arrange hard to get tickets and she is a wealth of local information on music and cultural life in the city.

Her ideas for a good day in St. Petersburg or nearby countryside (going by taxi) are:

• Dinner with friends in Jewish or Russian Orhtodox family

• Shabbat in St. Petersburg with Jewish community

• Tea Ceremony

• City walks

• Metro tour and architecture

• Shopping

• Visit smaller less known museums, exhibits

• Obtaining tickets to theaters and exhibitions

• Trip to nearby cities with a driver:  Pskov, Novgorod, even Helsinki.

• Organizing Boat trip on Neva River

• Renting summer house (dacha), fishing, "banya" (Russian bath/sauna), catch your fish and cook it

• Any concierge services - anything client wants (nothing unethical, illegal and immoral)

What clients say about Lena:

Art H, group of 10 people from Washington DC, August 2011

Lena was fascinating. We go to the synagogue etc this morning and I think she gave us context for our visit.

E.M, Indiana, July 2011

Yes, we had an unforgettable 3 days.  And, someday I hope to return with my other sons and wives.  Thank you for all that you did.  Also, please keep in touch. I would love to welcome you stateside . You are the best guide!!!

Ellen Reynolds, Texas, 1999

I met Lena in 1999 when I was on a mission trip to Russia.  We became instant friends,  she was delightful and had a deep love for her country. She spent some very long days with us as our translator for visits to the orphanages, schools and hospitals. In our free time she made arrangements for us to see the sites and visit the symphony. Her knowledge  of St Petersburg added to the beauty of this amazing  city. When I returned to the states we continued our friendship through emails. Because of the friendship we developed I have returned several times. She is a wonderful hostess and a great cook. I loved spending time in her home. and enjoying fellowship with family and friends. Nights at the opera and symphony were awe inspiring. Visits to the local coffee shops and beautiful shopping was special times.  I promise you will not be disappointed if you choose to visit St Petersburg with Lena as your companion and guide. I am sure you will leave there with a new friend for life.

PS. Lena, I could talk about you all day. You are truly like a sister to me, I love you so much.

My husband & I meet Lena in March 2002 while visiting St. Petersburg. 

She was our interpreter for the four days we were there.   While we were there, we celebrated Easter Sunday. Lena took us to the English speaking church.  The preacher spoke was American and his Russian wife translated in Russian.  It was a beautiful service.  Lena also took us to a Bookstore upon our visit to purchase a few children's books in English.  The host couple we stayed with were very best friends to Lena.  It was a wonderful time.  Lena is a wonderful person and we have keep in touch all these years.