Helpwithsomequestions?

[Jeffrey S. Eagen]

At 04:39 PM 10/6/1999 -0400, you wrote:
>Dear Seelangers,
>
>National Textbook Company has asked me to update my <The Russian Way>, the
>last edition of which was printed in 1997. I would appreciate if those who
>have been in Russia recently could answer any of the following questions and
>reply to me off-line.  (The "points" below refer to the headings in the book.)
>
>Point 2.  Advertising. What things are advertised in Russia on billboards?
>Snickers were advertised all over the place when I wrote the first edition of
>the book.  Now, are they still being advertised?  I understand that
>cigarettes, drinks, travel agencies are big.  What else? Computers? Cars?
>
I was in St. Petersburg this summer and the most prominent, and largest,
billboards were for Coke or Marlboro.  There were also banners advertising
internet providers, i.e. Peterlink, Cityline, etc.  As for the
advertisement of computers themselves, I only saw smaller advertisements in
the area of the computer stores.  The most memorable advertisements in the
metro stations were for Gin&Tonics, or the ever popular "Mozhet byt' vasha
reklama zdes'".


>Point 67. Toilets.  I understand that the situation has improved
>significantly with the advent of paid toilets. Any comments on this point
>will be appreciated.
>
Yes, the public toilet situation is much improved!  The pay toilets usually
ran, again in St. Petersburg, from 2-3 rubles and toilet paper was
available from the attendant, but you had to ask for it.  I was not charged
for the paper.  There were even porta-johns in some market areas, but not
along main streets or "touristy" areas.

>Thank you in advance,
>
>Zita Dabars
>
>CORLAC in retirement
>7223 Lanark Ct.
>Baltimore, MD 21212
>(410) 821-1994 (phone and fax)
>e-mail: zitad at aol.com