The biggest news, or perhaps it isn’t big news after all, is that there are no private meetings scheduled for President Putin and his American counterpart, Mr. Obama. The two are not exactly on speaking terms at the moment after Mr. Obama publicly characterized the Russian leader as a slouch…looking like that bored schoolboy in the back of the classroom, when asked at an American news conference about the awkward body language between the two leaders. The Obama comments infuriated the Russian president.
Hermitage/Winter Palace. (photo: Svetlana Korobova)
For readers who will be in Saint Petersburg this week, give yourself a lot of extra time for moving about the city as security will be high for the G20 Summit for which President Putin will be the presiding host. Anytime you take 20 of the world’s top leaders, plus their invited guests from developing countries, and put them into a compact city there will be delays in traffic, some pedestrian areas restricted and certain sites of tourist interest may be closed or operating at reduced hours .
Mr. Putin arrived today (Monday) along with the Finance Ministers from each G20 nation for agenda meetings and the official sessions with World Leaders beginning on Thursday, 5 September.
We like to ballroom dance and for those interested: on Wednesday, this 4 September, there will be a special dance lesson at Club Insight, a popular night club, sponsored by the group Master Class. The dance taught will be Latin Hustle.
Cost: 150 rubles ($ 4.55 per person)
Lesson Time: 19:00 to 20:00 ( 7 -8pm) The dancing will continue into the evening.
Skype for information: 8921881 65 14
Venue: Club Insight, at Kazanskaya Street # 7 , near Metro Gostiny Dvor.
For Russian speakers:
Date : September 4 (Wednesday) For whom: for beginners
Time : 19:00
Cost: 150 rubles. (payment before the master class)
Venue: Club Insight , m Dvor , st. Kazan , Building 7 , Room 417
Tel. 8921881 65 14
