Arrival in Volzhsky
I am picked up on time and taken to the airport to catch my domestic flight
to Volgograd. The weather is clear here unlike in Volgograd which I am to
learn about later. I am dropped of outside and told it's ok, all the information
inside is in English. I give the driver another ^40. I step into Sheremetyo
2 airport in to what can only be described as total and utter chaos. There
are people everywhere pushing and shoving each other to get where only they
know! I don't! I can see my flight on the monitor. Now where is the Aeroflot
desk to check my luggage in? All I can see is a crowd of people trying to
storm through a door marked security check. I have 4 hours before my flight
and in this time I manage to work out that I have to wait until my check
in time is announced and to go through the security door. When my turns comes
it includes about 500 Russian's who decide it's a good time to organize a
mass rugby scrum and they all pile in at once! Queing does not exist in Russia.
Once through I check in and my luggage is 23k. 3k overweight. Off to another
booth to pay a hideous fine of ^3 for the excess luggage! The hall where
you wait for your flight is very basic. There are a couple bars to get food
and drinks. That's about it. There is very little seating and after standing
for 4 hours I could do with a chair. Getting old! Nothing much happens and
my flight time comes and goes. I have found a seat finally and take a good
look at my fellow passengers. I want to keep an eye on them all as there
are groans as an announcement is made. There are no English announcements.
I have no idea what is going on. Many get up and go upstairs. Some sit it
out down stairs. Another hour goes by, and another. I notice a couple of
men who do not look like Russians. I'll speak to them and see if they speak
English. One then picks up a copy of the Daily Telegraph! A fellow Brit!
I end up sitting and chatting to him and he tells me there is fog in Volgograd
and they will not allow any planes to land there until after 20.00. We eventually
take off at 19.30. 3 hours late. I have been in the airport for 7 1/2 hours.
Not too bad when a fellow Brit was delayed a day only 3 days earlier! The
plane is a 1930's Aeroflot model!! First class meant you got a hanger to
hang you coat on. No in fairness the flight was good and the food was edible.
I sat next to a black Russian who wanted to drink a bottle of Vodka with
me. I had to decline and he didn't seem to be offended!
On landing it is raining and about +2c. Anastasya is waiting for me with a driver. My first impression is that she is a very friendly lady with a bubbly personality. Her English and sense of humour is superb. We have a 15 minute wait outside in the rain waiting for the luggage to arrive on a trolley. When it arrives so does the obligatory free for all. Luggage collected it's off to my apartment at 90 mph. Driving in Russia is going to be an experience I can tell! It is a long way from the airport. At least a 30 to 40 minute drive. Again you must have someone meet you. There were some interesting fellows offering a taxi service to you when you get off the plane. I arrive at the apartment safe and sound. It is fairly large, clean and has a couple of tv's and a video. Anastasya has kitted it out with some food and a bottle of very rare gasless water. Most of the bottled water to be found in Volzhsky is fizzy. That is better than drinking the water from a tap! The first night I sleep in fits and starts. I reckon I had about 3-4 hours in total. Next
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Near Moscow Airport |
Volzhsky |
Anastasya and Staff |
