Update from Russia - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

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Update from Russia
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Posted by: jeffs

Thought I'd pop in and drop you all a line, as it's something familiar and maybe my head will stop spinning. On the romance front all is great. Sveta did a good job making our small apartment seem like a home. Had coffee with her mom and two dictionaries.

Vologda Russia... what a trip. For those of you who have not been to Russia yet you are in for a suprise. I hired someone to take me from the airport in Moscow to the train station and from there I was on my own. An 8 hour train ride and being the only american on the train was a bit odd. Train was hot and uncomfortable, and that is second class (first was sold out) but only means two beds instead of 4 on the train.

When I got in my cell phone wasn't working, I was exhausted and it was raining. Sveta didn't expect me that early as I cuaght a different train. Wierdest thing... I was trying to communicate with some military guys outside the station here and one of them called sveta and two others started loading my bags into a UAZ (like a russian army jeep). Scared the hell out of me. They kept motioning for me to get in, and I kept saying nyet... Ended up, they were just being nice, and gave me a ride to where I needed to go, but talk about a scary ride.

The place I went to register my visa told me I had to go back to Moscow to register it. So beware... I will try and get a private courier service to take it to where I bought my invitation letter from. The lady there was a real pain in the a*s. I ended up getting a friend of Sveta's who works at a hotel to register me for 10 days to get a little breathing room.

So my observations of Vologda Russia to date...

Buercracy Sucks, all russian women are not gorgeous, there are not tons more men than women here, deodorant is widely available and rarely used by some, graffiti is everywhere, my elevator smells like pi*s, streets are dirty, parks are pretty, not many people speak english, and kiss manners good bye.

Since I've only been here since Friday night I'm still going to need some time to get my head to stop spinning. Hopefully I'll get internet access in my apartment sometime this week, but unfortunately it's pay by the Kb

.

Hope all is well - Jeff

Posted by: OzGuyLooking

Jeff, good read and good info. thanks for that. I hope things settle enough for your head to slow down to the rest of your body as well.

Posted by: skinsfan

Hi Jeff.....those of us that have been to Russia understand exactly what you are saying....Russian service is terrible, and not all women are beautiful (just like anywhere else).....deoderant...it surprised me very much also !! .. those Russian trains...WOW !!! enjoy your visit, and good luck !!

Posted by: obx2005

Glad to hear you at least made it OK...Tell Sveta I said hello...Contact me as soon as you can...Need anything, you know how to get me...Later

Jeff

Posted by: mistermopar

Jeff,good to hear you are doing good and made it to Vologda.

Hope you have a good time.

Randy

Posted by: jeffs

Thanks for the kind words all. I'm now able to get drunk in 3 languages!!! Had Sveta's mom and dad over for dinner last night, made meatloaf, they loved it. Her dad and I got pretty trashed on Vodka and a bottle of Havana Club Sveta's friend brought back from Cuba. Nice people, and considering we live like two buildings apart I imagine I will see alot of them.

Can someone here do me a HUGE favor? Can you find out what the Moscow number for gotorussia.com is? All I can find is the toll free one to atlanta... and I haven't managed to find a phone card yet.

Thanks!

Jeff

Posted by: firemansam

Hi Jeffs, I had a poke around the web site and all I could find is this...
*************
Our main office is located in Atlanta. Please contact our Atlanta office for airline tickets, hotel reservations, tour and transfer services and visas:
1-404-827-0099

Our San Francisco office is located only five minutes away from the Russian Consulate General, in the heart of the San Francisco’s shopping district. Our address in San Francisco is 1804 Union Street (corner of Union and Octavia). Phone number: 1-415-593-4455
*************
I'll send them an email for you and see if they respond...
You may have had already had someone else reply before I gat an answer though...
Cheers,
Sam.

Posted by: AkMike

You should be able to find phone cards in any bazzar or kiosk near a subway or main metro station.
I'm sure that Sveta will know where they're hiding.
Good Luck!!

Posted by: firemansam

Hey Jeffs,
here's a list of numbers for you.

****************
7-495-225-5012

Best Regards,
Dimitri Bogachev

GO TO RUSSIA TRAVEL

Main Office:
309 A Peters Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30313
1-888-263-0023 or 1-404-827-0099, ext 22. Fax: 1-404-827-0435

San Francisco office:
1804 Union Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
1-888-217-1178 or 1-415-593-4455. Fax: 1-415-593-4456

Moscow office:
13 Leningradsky Prospect, Office #58, Moscow, 125040, Russia
Tel. 7-495-225-5012; Fax 7-495-251-0774

***************

Cheers mate and gext of luck with your trip!!!!

Sam.

Posted by: jeffs

Thanks for the help! You guys rock...