RUSSIA TRIP REPORT
It's been 4 months since my last visit to Russia. Nothing much has changed! Except to say customs and immigration have become even easier to negotiate. I arrived in Moscow on Friday 4th May 2001 and from the time of the plane landing to exiting customs it took less than 20 minutes! This included collecting my luggage. All the custom points were manned which meant we were all through in double quick time. The immigration official glanced at my passport and waved me through. As usual I like to declare how much currency I'm bringing into the country, my computer and other valuables. There is a red customs channel for this and it was closed! The place was empty and this was a Friday afternoon! My contact was waiting for me as I exited customs. Nadya escorted me through arrivals and outside to where our driver was waiting. Nadya explained I had plenty of time before my connecting flight to Volgograd and she suggested taking me for a drive around the city. This I was keen to do. I certainly did not want to sit in the domestic airport for 5 hours waiting for my connection.
The weather in Moscow was unseasonably for the time of year. It was 72c and sunny at 16.30 on my arrival. The roads were packed with people leaving the city to go to the countryside and their dacha's for the weekend. The pollution from the cars, lorry's and buses was horrendous. Because of the heat we had to have the windows open in our Lada and it only took about 15 minutes for my throat to dry up. Despite this it was very interesting to drive around the city. The air pollution is something I've not noticed before. My 3 previous visits have been during the winter. The warm weather and still air made the air pollution in Moscow and Volzhsky very noticeable to me. Bronchitis and other chest health problems are on the increase in Russia. It's no wonder when you see trucks and cars spewing out thick black smoke everywhere.
I have an agent in Moscow who can meet clients and transfer you to catch your connections onwwards. If you want Andrey to meet you email me.
Finding your way through to the domestic departure hall in Sheremeteyvo 1 airport is confusing at first if you are alone. That's why it's useful to have someone like Nadya with you. There is a door marked security and this is where you go through once your gate number has been called. Nadya waits to see you that you get through. And in here you are on your own! Don't panic! The TV screens have the flights in English and announcements are made in English. The check in staff and bar staff in the departure lounge speak English. And there are plenty of Europeans and Americans in there. My flight to Volgograd has just 20 people on board. 6 are English, there are 2 Americans and the rest I presume are Russians. All the crew speak good English as well.
I arrive in Volgograd at midnight and Elena and Igor are waiting to meet me. It was so good to see Elena. She's jumping up and down waving as I walk across the tarmac to the shed that is used as the luggage retrieval area. Luggage retrieved it's off to our apartment which is in Volzhsky about a 40 minute drive away.
The weather in my first week in Volzhsky has been exceptional. Warm and sunny during the day and cool at night. Perfect really. Elena is working during the day so I get bored easily. I check my mail at Anastasya's (my agent in Volzhsky) office every couple of days. I try and meet Elena for lunch and in the evenings we normally go to one of 4 restaurants in the city.
Anastasya has a Canadian client here at the moment but tells me June is completely open with no men visiting. What is going on!!!! June is probably the best month to be in Russia. It is warm and sunny most of the time. The women all look incredible. The summer clothes are on! Light tops and short skirts are the norm, high heels and tanned legs are everywhere. Not that I'm looking of course! Once you go into July and August the temperature in Volzhsky hits 40c every day. There is no air conditioning down here! I'm going to be back in the UK for the cooler weather by this time I hope!
I've noticed a lot of men writing to women and inviting them to their country without going to meet them first. I'll tell you 2 reasons why you won't get any success with this approach. 1: No woman in her right mind will travel 1000's of miles to a foreign country where it's likely she does not speak the local language and to meet a man who is a complete stranger except for a few letters and phone calls. 2: America, Canada and the UK will NOT issue tourist visa's for Russians, Ukrainians or Belarussians. Or for any countries from the old Soviet empire if you have not met in person. This is not negotiable. It's a fact! Gentlemen, you are going to have to go and meet the ladies. There is no other way around it. Sorry but that's the truth. If anyone on the list has managed to get a Russian woman to the US, Canada or the UK without meeting previously please let me know and I'll eat my hat!! Why more men don't travel is beyond me. If you book with us the only time you will be on your own in Russia will be the time you spend in the departure lounge waiting for the connecting flight to Volgograd. You have nothing to worry about and will never be on your own. Anastasya provides an interpreter and driver free of charge for you use 24 hours a day if you so wish for every day you are here. In fact the biggest headache clients have is finding time to meet all the women they like! All you need is a visa, flight, deposit, 2 weeks of vacation time and about ^2000. And then have the time of your life!
Move on to read about meeting Elena's family and our 18 hour train journey from Volgograd to Moscow
