BELARUS MINSK
The capital of Belarusia is one of the most fascinating cities in Eastern
Europe. Famous as much for its extraordinary history as its impressive,
Soviet-style architecture, leafy parks and eccentric locals, Minsk is
unforgettable.
The City Minsk is one of the most intriguing cities you are ever likely
to visit. It remains, almost proudly, a Soviet capital right down to its
KGB building. The city is a city of reinvention. Minsk has been rebuilt
several times, most recently after the Second World War when the Nazis
reduced the city to rubble. Minsk is all about monumental excess, with
its grand boulevards and big squares. The Old Town is tiny. The best place
to start exploring Mink is at Independence Square with its statue of Lenin
and the Belarusian University building. Along the huge Francyska Skaryny,
you will find major pieces of architecture including the Main Post Office
and the GUM department store. Nearby on October Square head to the haunting
Museum of the Great Patriotic War. The Svisloch River divides the city.
Walking along its banks is quite beautiful in the summer, particularly
if you start your walk from the Old Town. The city has a fascinating past
and a lot of strange footnotes from history have been written here. Lee
Harvey Oswald, the man responsible for assassinating JFK, defected to Russia
and lived in Minsk. The apartment where he lived on Ploscha Peramohi still
stands. As you will quickly find, Minsk invites curiosity.
INFORMATION
Airports Minsk II (www.airport.by) is the main international airport located
42km from the city. You can get a taxi from outside the arrivals hall for
US$20 which will take you into the centre of town. The airport bus costs
only BYR 3,540 but takes longer to get into town and runs sporadically.
Public transport You can get around Minsk by using the
bus, tram, or the metro. All three are cheap and reliable. The two line
metro is an interesting
way of getting around as each station is decorated by a theme. For instance
the Oktober Square station evokes the 1917 revolution. Public transport
operates from about 5.30am to 1am daily and serves all parts of the city.
Trolleybuses 1, 2 and 18 pass through Minsk’s main street, Pr Francyska
Skaryny. The metro closes at 12.30am every night. Single tickets for all
modes of transport cost BYR 360. Remember to validate it by punching the
ticket on one of the red punching machines. Ten day or monthly passes are
available for all modes of transport.
Taxi Yellow cabs are the state run taxis that are best used. Prices depend
on distance but its nor ally about BYR 900 a kilometre. Taxis can be called
o 052 and 084.
Post Nezavisimosti (Skoriny) 10, Minsk, open Monday to Friday, 08.00 h – 20.00
h, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10.00 h – 17.00 h, www.belpost.by
Dentists There are 24 hour emergency dentists at EcoMedservice on Vul Tolstogo
4, who can be contacted on +375 17 220 4581.
Pharmacy Belfarmatseya (Open 24 hours) Address: Bulvar Schevhenko 11, Minsk
Phone: +375 17 227 83 40
Telephone Country code: +375 Area code: +17
Electricity 220V AC, 50Hz
Extra Useful Information Demonstrations in central Minsk are fairly commonplace.
Most of these pass off peacefully although some have been known to turn
violent. The resulting police response can be sudden and occasionally
frightening. The important thing to remember is that if caught up in
a demonstration, stay alert and get out of it as quickly as possible.
Minsk has a serious problem with prostitution. Particularly in bars and
lobbies, always be weary of overfriendly girls, or indeed guys for that
matter. 10 per cent is the usual tip. In some hotels in Minsk 10-15 per
cent service charge will be added to your bill.