Targeted shopping. Recommendations.
Many shops offer many nice goods, many people love ordinary things and ordinary gifts. But if you have a gift for looking for gifts, I give you a tip where to find unusual things or where to buy with pleasure in St. Petersburg.
1. First of all, visit a market around the Church of Resurrection (Savior on Spilled Blood). This is a traditional souvenirs market, but sometimes really unexpected things can be bought there. And rather useful at the same time! A T-shirt "Vodka. Connecting people" and something like that, "Vodka without beer - lost money" (written in Russian, reflects specific Russian humor). Military items such as a tank helmet with earphones and a flask with military symbols. What is bad about this market: when sellers see a foreigner, they try to sell expensive (think you are not much surprised). What is good about the market: it's possible to lower the price (hope you are trained). It works even in the winter time.
2. The Book House. One of the largest in the city selling books, travel guides and so on. Nothing unusual in goods choice for you. But the building itself is worth visiting. It's called Singer's house, named after the world-wide famous company Singer. Built in 1902-1904 in a style of modern, the shop has interior resembling the old times, first years of the XXth century. Just take a book, there are many in English, and go to a café on the 1st floor. Windows overlook the prospect and
the Kazansky cathedral.
3. Another shop is called "A book store", but really it is not. Though a couple of shelves are still there, they sell old coins (many countries), old postcards and old badges. Cheap. Prices vary, and every item is unique, as anywhere at antiquarian shops, be and large goods are not expensive. When I write "old" I mean the time period may encompass two-three centuries deep. Including the Soviet times, of course. So, a little metal badge with face of Lenin or Stalin, and a postcard featuring the friendship of the Soviet Union and, for example, India or China may surprise your friends. It's much better than a newly made souvenir. It's a real authentic thing reflecting the country's history (and international issues too).
4. Gang. You know this is the name of the river in India. As you may guess, a shop with such a name in St. Petersburg is dealing with Indian things, including exotic ones like aromas, hookahs and chess as well as staff you may use even if you have never heard of India at all - statuettes, vases and candlesticks. A very wide choice.
5. For those love beauty and something sophisticated - shops of the Lomonosovsky Imperial porcelain manufactory. If you are going to buy a gift and then present it somebody, you should now the "bio" of the company to make the process of giving a gift excited. So, the plant has been founded by the decree of Peter the Great's daughter Elizaveta. It was first in Russia and third in Europe porcelain plant. Its specialization was serving the Imperial family, Romanov's Majestic House.
Cups, tea sets, coffee sets, and souvenirs adorned with themed pictures - all this at brand shops located in the city. Below I give you two addresses as well as a link to the company's site with its online trading.
1. Griboedov's canal embankment, 2a. You will see, this is very gorgeous and tall. http://eng.cathedral.ru/saviour
2. Nevsky prospect, 28. http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Файл:Zingers_Tower.JPG
3. Bankovsky pereulok, 3. Just between the Sadovaya and Gostinny dvor metro staions. A few meters of the Sadovaya street.
4. Fontanka river embankment, 25. http://www.gang.ru/
5. Vladimirskiy prospect, 7; Nevsky prospect,160. http://www.ipm.ru/enstart