I have visited Russia several times independently and speak basic
Russian. Now I want to visit Belarus and have some questions.

1) Travel
It seams like it is much cheaper to fly from Oslo to Vilnjus and take
a bus that I have read takes 4-5 hours from Vilnjus to Minsk, than to
fly from Oslo to Minsk. Can anyone tell me if this bus still operates?
If anybody knows any reasons I might not have though of, why it might
not be a good idea to fly to Vilnijus and take the bus, I appreiciate
your comments.

2) Visa
If I have got it right Norway is covered by the embassy in Stockholm.
I know the Russian system, where I need an invitation from my host to
apply for visa. Is the system the same in Belarus?

Is there an Belarus Embassy in Vilnjus and can I apply for visa there?
Does it cost more to get the visa the same day in Vilnjus compared to
10 days in advance, as for a Russian visa?

Must I register the visa within 3 days and will my hotel take care of
this for me as in Russia? Must I register my visa if I spend the night
in other cities, but not if I go there on a daytrip?

3) Accomondation
I prefere a homestay. Anybody knows where (mail, website and/or
phonenumber) I can book a homestay? Links to where I can book
inexpensive hotels are also appreiciated.

4) What to see and do in Minsk (and other places in Belarus).
I know, if you allow I put it that way, its stunning tourist magnets
is not the main reason to visit Minsk. I have heard thet tha opera is
excellent and that the nature in western Belarus is worth seing.
Anybody that have further info?

I am also interested in smaller scenes to see theaters (including
puppet theatre) or livemusic (local or English - rock, jazz, folk,
classic), nice and inexpensive restuarant (i like lots of different
cousine, including Georigan and Russian), markets, a place nice place
for a beer, museums/galleries and places to meet locals.

5) Univeristy with English students (maybe even Norwegian students).
In Russia I have sometimes met locals by exchangig languagepractice.
They meet someone to speak Enlish with and I meet someone to speak
Russian with. Does anybody have conatactinfo to a university with
Englishstudents in Minsk? (Either so I can mail them and ask if any
students are interested drop by for instance the University canteen
myself.


Thank you in advance,

Jan

for buses
pls go to www.eurolines.com

as to language.. of course everybody will understand russian

but they do not speak russian..
"?ystein" <[email protected]> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:[email protected] om...
    > I have visited Russia several times independently and speak basic
    > Russian. Now I want to visit Belarus and have some questions.
    > 1) Travel
    > It seams like it is much cheaper to fly from Oslo to Vilnjus and take
    > a bus that I have read takes 4-5 hours from Vilnjus to Minsk, than to
    > fly from Oslo to Minsk. Can anyone tell me if this bus still operates?
    > If anybody knows any reasons I might not have though of, why it might
    > not be a good idea to fly to Vilnijus and take the bus, I appreiciate
    > your comments.
    > 2) Visa
    > If I have got it right Norway is covered by the embassy in Stockholm.
    > I know the Russian system, where I need an invitation from my host to
    > apply for visa. Is the system the same in Belarus?
    > Is there an Belarus Embassy in Vilnjus and can I apply for visa there?
    > Does it cost more to get the visa the same day in Vilnjus compared to
    > 10 days in advance, as for a Russian visa?
    > Must I register the visa within 3 days and will my hotel take care of
    > this for me as in Russia? Must I register my visa if I spend the night
    > in other cities, but not if I go there on a daytrip?
    > 3) Accomondation
    > I prefere a homestay. Anybody knows where (mail, website and/or
    > phonenumber) I can book a homestay? Links to where I can book
    > inexpensive hotels are also appreiciated.
    > 4) What to see and do in Minsk (and other places in Belarus).
    > I know, if you allow I put it that way, its stunning tourist magnets
    > is not the main reason to visit Minsk. I have heard thet tha opera is
    > excellent and that the nature in western Belarus is worth seing.
    > Anybody that have further info?
    > I am also interested in smaller scenes to see theaters (including
    > puppet theatre) or livemusic (local or English - rock, jazz, folk,
    > classic), nice and inexpensive restuarant (i like lots of different
    > cousine, including Georigan and Russian), markets, a place nice place
    > for a beer, museums/galleries and places to meet locals.
    > 5) Univeristy with English students (maybe even Norwegian students).
    > In Russia I have sometimes met locals by exchangig languagepractice.
    > They meet someone to speak Enlish with and I meet someone to speak
    > Russian with. Does anybody have conatactinfo to a university with
    > Englishstudents in Minsk? (Either so I can mail them and ask if any
    > students are interested drop by for instance the University canteen
    > myself.
    > Thank you in advance,
    > Jan

"?ystein" <[email protected]> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:[email protected] om
    > I have visited Russia several times independently and
    > speak basic Russian. Now I want to visit Belarus and have
    > some questions.
    > 1) Travel
    > It seams like it is much cheaper to fly from Oslo to
    > Vilnjus and take a bus that I have read takes 4-5 hours
    > from Vilnjus to Minsk, than to fly from Oslo to Minsk.
    > Can anyone tell me if this bus still operates?

Don't know about the bus, but it's also possible to take a train
from Vilnius to Minsk.

There are direct trains at 0:19 (3rd, 7th, 11th, 15th, 19th, 23rd,
27th of each month), 1:27 (even dates), 6:26 (daily), 15:18
(Wed,Sat,Sun), 17:02 (daily), 17:43 (daily), 20:00 (even dates)
and 22:37 (even dates).

The trip takes between 4:05 and 4:45. See
http://fahrplan.oebb.at/bin/oebb.w02/query.exe/en


Tickets are available from EUR 4,25 (train at 15:18).



    > If anybody
    > knows any reasons I might not have though of, why it
    > might not be a good idea to fly to Vilnijus and take the
    > bus, I appreiciate your comments.
    > 2) Visa
    > If I have got it right Norway is covered by the embassy
    > in Stockholm. I know the Russian system, where I need an
    > invitation from my host to apply for visa. Is the system
    > the same in Belarus?


I think so.


    > 3) Accomondation
    > I prefere a homestay. Anybody knows where (mail, website
    > and/or phonenumber) I can book a homestay? Links to where
    > I can book inexpensive hotels are also appreiciated.
    > 4) What to see and do in Minsk (and other places in
    > Belarus).
    > I know, if you allow I put it that way, its stunning
    > tourist magnets is not the main reason to visit Minsk. I
    > have heard thet tha opera is excellent and that the
    > nature in western Belarus is worth seing. Anybody that
    > have further info?


http://www.inyourpocket.com/belarus/minsk/en/ might be useful
regarding accomodation, transportation, sightseeing, etc.



--
Helmut Uttenthaler,
Graz

    > 4) What to see and do in Minsk (and other places in Belarus).
    > I know, if you allow I put it that way, its stunning tourist magnets
    > is not the main reason to visit Minsk. I have heard thet tha opera is
    > excellent and that the nature in western Belarus is worth seing.
    > Anybody that have further info?

There is a WWII memorial just outside the city. Any local would
know how to get there. Considering that 25% of Belarus citizens
died during the war, you might visit it. My Russian teacher told
me that I would cry when I visit it (I have not yet), so it must be
worthwhile.


Pete

"Helmut Uttenthaler" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > "?ystein" <[email protected]> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
    > news:[email protected] om

1) travel

Thank you for help with busses and trains from Vilius to Minsk. I now
see that there are several daily alternatives

2) Visa

Anybody knows if I have to go to Stockholm myself or if I can send a
fax or letter? Is a copy of the passport ok or do I have to send the
original?

Is there an Belarussian embassy in Vilnius?

3) Accomondation

Anybody knows if there is possible to get homestay in Minsk and where
to book?


Thank you in advance,

Jan

?ystein wrote:

    > Is there an Belarussian embassy in Vilnius?

http://www.belarustourist.minsk.by/e...diplomatic.htm

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