A couple of weeks ago someone wrote me an e-mail to tell me she was going to give me lots of information about their recent trip to Murmansk, but I think in the excitement of bringing their child home as well as summer vacation for the other children in the house her travelogue was pushed to the side.

No matter. I will tell you what I've found out about Murmansk and if she finds any time I'm sure she'll chime in later.

Here's what wikipedia says about Murmansk:

Murmansk (Russian: Му́рманск) is a city in the extreme northwest of Russia (north of the Arctic circle) with a seaport on the Kola Gulf, 12 km from the Barents Sea on the northern shore of the Kola Peninsula, not far from Russia's borders with Norway and Finland.

Wow. That sounds cool! I am very fascinated by the far north. My husband and I honeymooned in Alaska and we've always wanted to go back. I'd love to visit Murmansk one day. Here's a cool little personal website with pictures of Murmansk (I'm assuming the main city of Murmansk).

Here is what the website adoptingfromrussia.com says about Murmansk. Keep in mind the information on this site has been provided by people who've been to the region (dates are noted after some of the data) and it may have changed in the meantime. The dates after "Waiting period" are reported times that the 10-day wait was waived. It's my understanding that most regions don't waive waits at this time.

Murmansk
1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours by plane from Moscow; $150/person if not included in fees.
Waiting period: 12/99 10/00 1/01 3/02 10/03 10/03 2/04 12/04 12/04
Total days in Russia: [10/00]: 7, [1/01]: 12, [3/02]: 10, [10/03]: 14, 15, [2/04]: 12, [12/04]: 14.

Hotel Arctic Service
Cost/night: [5/00]: $65 for a huge suite.

Hotel Poliarnie Zori (Northern Lights).
Cost/night: [10/00]: $110, [3/02]: $100, [2/04]: $120.

Nicer, much more European than Arctic Service. Comparable to a Holiday Inn. Professional, helpful, English-speaking staff. Business center with $4/hr internet rate. Close to shopping. Safe.

The room and the hotel were great. Two double beds, a small sitting area, cable TV including one British news channel, a modern bathroom (shower only). The gift shop was very reasonably priced and nice craft items including many examples of Matroskya dolls. The best part of the hotel was the free use of the sauna. If you are staying in a business class room or a suite you get free use of either of the private saunas. The larger one has TV, dining/conference table (where you can order room service), a steam sauna and (the kids loved this) a small swimming pool. If you are staying in a less exensive room you can still rent the saunas, but I think that they are expensive.