Slightly OT

[nadyezhda.livejournal.com]

Hi all,

I'm going to be going to Belarus in about a month, and was wondering if there were any recommendations from the peanut gallery: things to see? things to miss? things to eat? things to bring home/good souvenirs?

You were all very helpful last year when I went to Moldova so I thought I'd throw this out here.

Thanks!

Comments

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

The main thing to miss is the police. Belorussian militia is not your friend, definitely. The key technique is to avoid the eye contact with them.
My last visit to Belarus was six years ago, so I'm not really sure if I still remember what to recommend. Minsk (if you go to Minsk) was completely destroyed during the World War II, and rebuilt in ugly Stalin Empire style of 1950s, so there's not that much sightseeing, as far as I can recall.
Things to eat are pretty much the same as in Russia; of local kitchen, don't miss драники (delicious... er... not sure how to describe it -- composite fried potato chips :)))). No local wine available; vodka is represented in abundance.

[kart.livejournal.com]

The achitecture in Grodno managed to escape most of the destruction of the 20th century. The old neighborhoods are supposedly very quaint and old world looking.

[stephan-nn.livejournal.com]

Babruisk)))))))

(it's a joke)