News from the motherland

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

The last time I went, my daughter was traveling with us. I had prepared her in advance that "from the minute you step foot in Russia, there's about a 40% chance at any given time that something bizarre will either happen to you, or around you." As we pulled up to the gate, I leaned over to her and said "let the craziness begin!" And sure enough, we wound up sitting at the gate for about 20 minutes because the mobile ladder they hook up to the plane to let people off was broken and they had to go get another one. And over the next week...that's pretty much the most interesting thing that happened. Or, I should say, the most unexpected thing that happened. Every other trip I've taken had surreal moments at least daily, and this trip was like a trip to Chicago or London. Very tame. Not boring by any stretch of course, after all eta Rossiya, but my daughter was understandably a little disappointed.

I had a similar experience in Irkutsk last time I was there. At the time the Faberge egss were making a tour and we went to a museum to see them. My wife paid 90 rb I had to pay 600 rb, then they darn near chased me out when I took a picture of one. I had to stand with someone while they went through all the pictures on my camera to make sure I deleted all the ones of the eggs. I thought I was head for siberia for sure, of course I was already there but I thought they might send me someplace worse.

[mox 298]

I really don't understand what the big deal with pictures is over there. We were in a florist shop and my daughter snapped a picture of a particularly beautiful bouquet. The shopkeeper came unglued. Museums, military installations, government buildings...yeah, I can understand they might be a little reluctant to allow photography. But a flower shop? Come on!

[BluesTraveler 0]

... placed a roll of all her money (don't ask how much, but it was a lot) carefully hidden inside of one of her panties in the bag ...

That is so strange...Usually you have to PAY a lot of money to get inside of a woman's panties. If I got inside of a pair of woman's panties AND there was money inside, I know I would be DREAMING!!!

Most people don't realize there are metallic strips in money that can show up on the xray equipment, or maybe the guy had a panty fetish and it was his lucky day.

[AKguy 1]

We got yelled at for trying to take a picture in the lobby of a movie theater. We ended up getting the picture though.

[slim 1,525]

but the look on my daughter's face was priceless.

Did you get a picture?

I thought I was head for siberia for sure, of course I was already there but I thought they might send me someplace worse.

Like Cuba?

I really don't understand what the big deal with pictures is over there. We were in a florist shop and my daughter snapped a picture of a particularly beautiful bouquet. The shopkeeper came unglued. Museums, military installations, government buildings...yeah, I can understand they might be a little reluctant to allow photography. But a flower shop? Come on!

This is what happens when you don't have copyright and/or trademark protection enforced in lower courts and by local police. Sure, you can sue over someone stealing your idea and making money off of it, but by that time, it's too late. Better to nip it in the bud (sorry, bad flower joke) and make sure the competition doesn't steal your idea of a great arrangement or product or whatever.

Contrast this with buying bootlegs in the subways. It's so common, nobody even expects you to care. Imagine if all the militsa that hassled you about taking photos would be out smashing DVDs and MP3s. They're so good at bootlegging, half the bootlegs have "official" seals on them!

That is so strange...Usually you have to PAY a lot of money to get inside of a woman's panties. If I got inside of a pair of woman's panties AND there was money inside, I know I would be DREAMING!!!

So my wife shouldn't be paying me?

Most people don't realize there are metallic strips in money that can show up on the xray equipment, or maybe the guy had a panty fetish and it was his lucky day.

Bingo.

On both counts!

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

That is so strange...Usually you have to PAY a lot of money to get inside of a woman's panties. If I got inside of a pair of woman's panties AND there was money inside, I know I would be DREAMING!!!

Its not hard at all put your left leg in then your right pull them all the way up and your in womens panties, they are kind of fun and if you hide your money in them while your traveling I guarantee you they wont search too hard. You can even wear them on your head. And they only cost 3 for $20 on sale at victorias secret!!!!

but the look on my daughter's face was priceless.

Did you get a picture?

I thought I was head for siberia for sure, of course I was already there but I thought they might send me someplace worse.

Like Cuba?

Nope OHIO

[BluesTraveler 0]

So my wife shouldn't be paying me?

Slim, I have seen your photo -- No, and let me repeat no woman is paying you for sex. They may pay you to NOT have sex with them.

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

So my wife shouldn't be paying me?

Slim, I have seen your photo -- No, and let me repeat no woman is paying you for sex. They may pay you to NOT have sex with them.

Not just women I think men will pay slim not to have sex with them. And come to think of it I think we should all send slim some money not to have kids

[slim 1,525]

And they only cost 3 for $20 on sale at victorias secret!!!!

I get FREE panties all the time from Vickie. Just get on the mailing list and you'll get like 20 catalogs and a free pair of panties every month.

Nope OHIO

Oh snap! I would argue, but since you have tape on your Sig, I'm going to be quiet and keep on walking.

Slim, I have seen your photo -- No, and let me repeat no woman is paying you for sex. They may pay you to NOT have sex with them.

It's like Charlie Sheen said, "You don't pay them for sex.... you pay them to leave."

Not just women I think men will pay slim not to have sex with them. And come to think of it I think we should all send slim some money not to have kids

I've been abstaining from reproduction as a public service for years... bout time I got my propers!

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

And they only cost 3 for $20 on sale at victorias secret!!!!

I get FREE panties all the time from Vickie. Just get on the mailing list and you'll get like 20 catalogs and a free pair of panties every month.

Hmm I guess you dont get free panties with Time or Scientific American. Does that mean that the subscription to Elle (that I got for the wife) comes with free model every month, this could work out well, better than some dumb football phone.

Nope OHIO

Oh snap! I would argue, but since you have tape on your Sig, I'm going to be quiet and keep on walking.

I dont put tape on my sig, I want everyone to know who I shoot how else can they confirm kills and give me a medal for reducing crime!!!!

Not just women I think men will pay slim not to have sex with them. And come to think of it I think we should all send slim some money not to have kids

I've been abstaining from reproduction as a public service for years... bout time I got my propers!

Kennedy said it best "Ask not what your country can do for you, Ask what you CANT do for your country" add to that Roosevelt "Speak softly and carry your big stick"

[slim 1,525]

Correct on all counts, Thomas.

However, the football phone is pretty cool!

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

Correct on all counts, Thomas.

However, the football phone is pretty cool!

They never sent mine I am bitter

[AKguy 1]

Correct on all counts, Thomas.

However, the football phone is pretty cool!

They never sent mine I am bitter

I got the sports watch. That broke when I was playing football.

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

Correct on all counts, Thomas.

However, the football phone is pretty cool!

They never sent mine I am bitter

I got the sports watch. That broke when I was playing football.

And for some reason I never got a swimsuit issue, my dad always told me they must have forgot to send it or they ran out before they got to our subscription.

[Ivan in VA 2]

That is too funny as I was "detained" there for arriving 1 hr early. Everyone was on the take. I had a young molice that escorted me upstairs to pay my fine at a window. I handed the girl the money and she informed me I hadn't paid the fee to pay the fine. Of course I began to explain in a very loud voice that "...alot of Americans like you Russians but when you do something like this!!" He was apologizing and she offered to lower the fee to 40 rubs. Inside I was laughing my a** off.

I stayed up till midnight on the upper most level drinking coffee with a Vietmanese national who had been detained too. Then at the stroke of midnight my pumpkin burst and I was kicked back out into the main terminal and told to be more careful in the future.

The next morning I went to the ticket window to purchase a new connector flight and was quoted 11500 rubs. I walked away scratching my head but after 50 feet I turned back around to make the purchase. The woman behind the window was gone so I went to another woman. Her price was 5500 rubs, which I quickly paid for.

Those cab drivers were vultures. There was an accident between terminal 3 and the main. They wanted $100 to take me there. I was so adamate but I really didn't want to pay for a third ticket to Khabarovsk. Still, American and stubborn go hand-in-hand. When the bus finally turned the corner I gave them a real good look and made it to the terminal just as they were calling the flight B)

That experince in Moscow has to have been the grandest adventure I've had in years