To those about to fly to R/U/B

[payxibka 10,045]

Our typical experience - thanks for confirming. Let me know how she finds the road to Kherson, if they take the raod. I have been hearing horror stories, and reports that the roads are being repaired frantically.

Well, I wish I could give you a "hands on" road report but they are summering in Payxibka where mom & pop live.... When Sveta goes to Kherson (to sell our flat) she will go by train. If it sells, then pop will drive to Kherson for a load of goods, but that right now is a BIG if....

I have also heard horror stories, particularly the road from Mikolaev to Kherson as being really bad.

[sanuginz 0]

Can anyone recommend a VIP service in Moscow? We leave Tuesday and google shows up many results. I don't want to be scammed.

[sanuginz 0]

bump. anyone?

[LvivLovers 39]

Just an update...my wife has really been enjoying her time in Lviv despite lots of rain. She said there appears to be many more tourists these days...apparently the major of Lviv has been working hard to encourage this. Lots of souvenir shops now around the opera house and main market square where there were almost none before. Also, the roads around the opera house have no been closed and many benches/tables added making it more and more of a hangout. She said there have been festivals just about every day and there is now a little newspaper showing all of the things that are planned and going no in the city. She's been to the opera house several times already...they now have a translation board above the stage...another sign of catering to tourists. She was, however, disappointed to see that prices on food and many other things were about 3 times higher than when she left 3 years ago. She and her mother are planning to take a 10-day trip to Odessa...I'm sure she'll have more to report about that soon too.

[Brad and Vika 129]

bump. anyone?

I don't know if Moscow is different, but in Odessa and Kiev, any VIP service that you can get to from an agency renting apartments and drivers is probably legit. You may find that they share personnel and lounge space, etc. I usually use the agency I rent from to schedule the VIP pick up and drop off, and swear by it.

Just an update...my wife has really been enjoying her time in Lviv despite lots of rain. She said there appears to be many more tourists these days...apparently the major of Lviv has been working hard to encourage this. Lots of souvenir shops now around the opera house and main market square where there were almost none before. Also, the roads around the opera house have no been closed and many benches/tables added making it more and more of a hangout. She said there have been festivals just about every day and there is now a little newspaper showing all of the things that are planned and going no in the city. She's been to the opera house several times already...they now have a translation board above the stage...another sign of catering to tourists. She was, however, disappointed to see that prices on food and many other things were about 3 times higher than when she left 3 years ago. She and her mother are planning to take a 10-day trip to Odessa...I'm sure she'll have more to report about that soon too.

Thanks for the update, although it made Vika get all teary for Ukraine (again).

[mendeleev 68]

I haven't used a VIP service in Moscow to help me get thru passport control/customs faster and am skeptical about such a service.

However, we have used Moscow Rick (google him as Moscow Rick) to rent apartments three times now. They provided reliable drivers to get us to and from airport. It is Moscow, and his cheaper apartments are only OK. His more expensive service provides really nice flats in a very nice area of Moscow. If you're looking for a few days vacation in Moscow, his service may be good for you. But if you're just looking for help at the airport, probably not.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I don't know if Moscow is different, but in Odessa and Kiev, any VIP service that you can get to from an agency renting apartments and drivers is probably legit. You may find that they share personnel and lounge space, etc. I usually use the agency I rent from to schedule the VIP pick up and drop off, and swear by it.

Thanks for the update, although it made Vika get all teary for Ukraine (again).

Well here is one to make her feel better...

Skyped with Alla today and she said "The water is horrible, worse than I remember and I had to buy a 10 liter bottle and carry it up the stairs (5 flights) to use for drinking and washing dishes. I asked her why she didn't just boil it like we used to and she said the water LOOKS terrible and boiling doesn't help.

While waiting at the bus stop with her friend Natasha they were approached by a "completely drunk, bad smelling man" who offered them wine from his bottle and then offered to take them to his flat for "hours of wonderful lovemaking" Um, she said she was tempted but she is so loyal to her loving husband she just couldn't go through with it. The man was seen to stagger away screaming "Yanukovich is MY President!" Hurray for east Ukraine! She also had to do battle with the internet company to get the internet turned on, even though we paid in advance and had money on our account and she has had hot water for a bath 2 nights out of 9 so far. But it was nasty looking water. And this is a very nice flat in central Donetsk. It is the "good neighborhood".

She also reports that many of the coal mines and steel mills are shut down and "many young girls are on the street offering to do bad things for money"

Feel better Vika?

[LvivLovers 39]

Thanks for the update, although it made Vika get all teary for Ukraine (again).

Has Vika been back to visit yet since coming to the USA? For Oleksandra it's been a really great trip. She missed Lviv, her friends, and most of all family, but she's also now missing "home" here in the USA and will be ready to come back. I think next time the plan is that we'll both go back to Lviv, but I'll definately make sure it will be in the middle of summer! I've been 3 times all in the winter months...not doing that again!

There have been a few negatives she had forgotten about by the way: bad roads, expensive food, crappy weather, and occasionally cold showers! Sounds like she's really loading up on Ukranian/Russian DVDs so I guess that's in my future. I sent her with a video camera this time too...she's filled up 6 tapes so far and has 8 more to go.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Well here is one to make her feel better...

Skyped with Alla today and she said "The water is horrible, worse than I remember and I had to buy a 10 liter bottle and carry it up the stairs (5 flights) to use for drinking and washing dishes. I asked her why she didn't just boil it like we used to and she said the water LOOKS terrible and boiling doesn't help.

While waiting at the bus stop with her friend Natasha they were approached by a "completely drunk, bad smelling man" who offered them wine from his bottle and then offered to take them to his flat for "hours of wonderful lovemaking" Um, she said she was tempted but she is so loyal to her loving husband she just couldn't go through with it. The man was seen to stagger away screaming "Yanukovich is MY President!" Hurray for east Ukraine! She also had to do battle with the internet company to get the internet turned on, even though we paid in advance and had money on our account and she has had hot water for a bath 2 nights out of 9 so far. But it was nasty looking water. And this is a very nice flat in central Donetsk. It is the "good neighborhood".

She also reports that many of the coal mines and steel mills are shut down and "many young girls are on the street offering to do bad things for money"

Feel better Vika?

Sorry - no dice. She doesn't believe (at this point) that anything in Ukraine could be "bad".

Has Vika been back to visit yet since coming to the USA? For Oleksandra it's been a really great trip. She missed Lviv, her friends, and most of all family, but she's also now missing "home" here in the USA and will be ready to come back. I think next time the plan is that we'll both go back to Lviv, but I'll definately make sure it will be in the middle of summer! I've been 3 times all in the winter months...not doing that again!

There have been a few negatives she had forgotten about by the way: bad roads, expensive food, crappy weather, and occasionally cold showers! Sounds like she's really loading up on Ukranian/Russian DVDs so I guess that's in my future. I sent her with a video camera this time too...she's filled up 6 tapes so far and has 8 more to go.

Yes, she went back as soon as her AP came in and I could make a reservation. She was fine for a few months after she got back, but now anything that reminds her of Ukraine causes no end to nastalgia. Also, her BFF here just went back to Kherson for 10 weeks! Life looks black All will be well when SHE is the one getting ready to leave, and balloon-headed BFF is on the receiving end

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Sorry - no dice. She doesn't believe (at this point) that anything in Ukraine could be "bad".

Yes, she went back as soon as her AP came in and I could make a reservation. She was fine for a few months after she got back, but now anything that reminds her of Ukraine causes no end to nastalgia. Also, her BFF here just went back to Kherson for 10 weeks! Life looks black All will be well when SHE is the one getting ready to leave, and balloon-headed BFF is on the receiving end

Sorry Brad, I tried. It is all true what I said, but Alla is having a good time and seeing all her friends, and going to cafe's and walks at the river. She went to the dentist and had her annual checkup and stocked up on contact lenses yesterday. She will be going to Moscow for a week and some of her friends from here are there now also on vacation. She had a hard time with the time change for the first time in her travels (it never seems to bother me much, except the first day when I come back)

Vika's turn will come.

It is interesting that it seems each time she misses her home here more than the last time and notes some good points. She has said that life in the US "has many good points and only a few bad ones" I think moving to the city took care of most of the bad ones.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Sorry Brad, I tried. It is all true what I said, but Alla is having a good time and seeing all her friends, and going to cafe's and walks at the river. She went to the dentist and had her annual checkup and stocked up on contact lenses yesterday. She will be going to Moscow for a week and some of her friends from here are there now also on vacation. She had a hard time with the time change for the first time in her travels (it never seems to bother me much, except the first day when I come back)

Vika's turn will come.

It is interesting that it seems each time she misses her home here more than the last time and notes some good points. She has said that life in the US "has many good points and only a few bad ones" I think moving to the city took care of most of the bad ones.

Thanks Gary. I agree that things are bound to get easier as her turn comes closer. Keeping busy seems to be the thing. Yesterday she correctly concluded that our every day silverware was dangerously rusty. WallMart stuff I bought before she got here - way before. I would have just thrown out one rusty piece at a time but she tossed it all and shopped around for something suitable, and a new outfit, and a new bathing suit (vavavoom ).

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thanks Gary. I agree that things are bound to get easier as her turn comes closer. Keeping busy seems to be the thing. Yesterday she correctly concluded that our every day silverware was dangerously rusty. WallMart stuff I bought before she got here - way before. I would have just thrown out one rusty piece at a time but she tossed it all and shopped around for something suitable, and a new outfit, and a new bathing suit (vavavoom ).

Alla will need a new bathing suit when she gets back, she has been asking about the water temp. Lake Champlain is not too quick to warm up (some would say it never really does...wussies) I told her that her "Victoria's Secret" bathing suit catalog arrived and she told to me to find what I like, but them I pointed out the catalog was full of women in bikinis. Silence on the other end of the line. Sometimes I just don;t know when to shut up.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Alla will need a new bathing suit when she gets back, she has been asking about the water temp. Lake Champlain is not too quick to warm up (some would say it never really does...wussies) I told her that her "Victoria's Secret" bathing suit catalog arrived and she told to me to find what I like, but them I pointed out the catalog was full of women in bikinis. Silence on the other end of the line. Sometimes I just don;t know when to shut up.

[visaveteran 1]

Alla will need a new bathing suit when she gets back, she has been asking about the water temp. Lake Champlain is not too quick to warm up (some would say it never really does...wussies) I told her that her "Victoria's Secret" bathing suit catalog arrived and she told to me to find what I like, but them I pointed out the catalog was full of women in bikinis. Silence on the other end of the line. Sometimes I just don;t know when to shut up.

Gary, I have some simple advice for you. Act like a man! You're starting to sound like one of those TV show buffoon husbands.

There was a time in America when it was commonplace to find Playboy magazines sitting proudly next to the man of the house's easy chair...along with "Guns and Ammo" and "Field and Stream." My first wife actually got me a subscription to Playboy as a gift early in our marriage. Your wife can't handle Victoria's Secret catalogs! If I were you, I'd stock up on some Playboys and other such material and put them in a magazine rack next to your favorite chair.

[Neonred 3,522]

It's been almost three years since my wife and I have been back to Russia. I was up for a trip there this summer and suggested it to my wife but she said "NO, why would I want to go back there? It's dirty, ugly, and expensive. Let's see some place new." We are traveling to Canada and visiting relatives and my old home town in upstate New York. Next year she wants to visit Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. After that.......