If you are staying in St. Petersburg for a long time, a video player can be a very comforting device. Be aware, however, that there are several different standards; NTSC for North America, SECAM for most of Europe, and PAL for Russia. These systems are not interchangeable unless you have multi-system capable equipment. Also be sure that your video player is compatible with the television you plan to play tapes back on. For greater ease, selection, and price, consider buying a video player or television at Duty Free stores in the airports or at the highway border Duty Free when driving to Finland.