I'm outta here!!!!

[Tnic 5]

No I'm not bailing on VJ.

This will be my last post as a full-time US resident.

I head for the Airport early tomorrow and will rollin in my sweet baby's arms Monday evening (local time). It's gonna be great to be back home again.

[Neonred 3,639]

Good luck and have a great life there.

Early on in my time with my girl this had been my dream/fantasy. After a lot of time and thought I concluded it was just not for me. As much as I enjoy time over there, there are too many things and people I need, want, and enjoy where I live. Even now when I want to go and spend time at our apartment my wife says NO! She is spoiled now, does not want to even visit, and calls it a dump over there.

[visaveteran 1]

Given the harsh winter over there (Siberia is shut down right now...nobody's working or going outside it's so cold) I don't imagine I could ever live there. Maybe it's nicer in Ukraine but at my age and with health issues, I'm staying put.

But good luck!

Edited December 12, 2010 by visaveteran

[Sergi9 110]

No I'm not bailing on VJ.

This will be my last post as a full-time US resident.

I head for the Airport early tomorrow and will rollin in my sweet baby's arms Monday evening (local time). It's gonna be great to be back home again.

Hope you didn't forget your thermals !

My only question is WHY ?

[Brad and Vika 129]

Safe travels Tim!

[SMR 368]

No I'm not bailing on VJ.

This will be my last post as a full-time US resident.

I head for the Airport early tomorrow and will rollin in my sweet baby's arms Monday evening (local time). It's gonna be great to be back home again.

Definitely keep in touch with us. We're considering doing the same thing at some point.

I also want to ask why. Not an incredulous there is no reason to do this why but just would like to know your particular reasons (of which I believe there are many).

[Brad and Vika 129]

Definitely keep in touch with us. We're considering doing the same thing at some point.

I also want to ask why. Not an incredulous there is no reason to do this why but just would like to know your particular reasons (of which I believe there are many).

TO my recollection, he said it was because he is retired (and therefore has the time), and that everything is more affordable in Crimea - so his pension goes further. Oh yeah, and the scenery

[slim 1,530]

I think if I moved there for the scenery I'd be divorced.

ETA - then again, taking in the scenery is pretty standard over there.

Edited December 13, 2010 by slim

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I think if I moved there for the scenery I'd be divorced.

ETA - then again, taking in the scenery is pretty standard over there.

LOL God I know what you mean.

This may sound terrible, but if I had to do it all over again I would make sure I went over there without having anyone there waiting to meet me. It would be a solo run with an open field. Every time I'm over in Belarus I want to screw just about everything on two legs.

[baron555 934]

No I'm not bailing on VJ.

This will be my last post as a full-time US resident.

I head for the Airport early tomorrow and will rollin in my sweet baby's arms Monday evening (local time). It's gonna be great to be back home again.

Congrats you two. Maybe just maybe our paths will cross; I bet they do.

We got Chili, Olya and Igor back here and they are doing fine.

Again congrats, from Phil, Alla and Leonid

[easyukraine 1]

congrats enjoy

[Tnic 5]

Thanks GUYS!!

I made it in one piece (I think). This was a 4 legged trip this time and as luck would have it, the ONLY leg that left and arrived on time was the drive from Bangor to Portland Jetport.

Once at PWM I discovered my 11.35 to JFK had been canceled for high winds (at JFK), but the next flight at 2.15 was able to get me there in just enough time to grab my checked bag, hoof it to Term 4 (quicker than the All terminal train) and check in at the Aerosvit counter. I almost kissed the lady there when she told me that Aerosvit allows TWO checked bags and I would only have to lug my laptop bag (also stuffed with clothes and "stuff"). Grabbed a great burger at the Irish Pub next to the gate and boarded on time and we were pushed back into engine start position. I was feeling great that I would have over three hours at Borispil until they announced that we would be sitting in place for an hour. Arrived in Kyiv still with enough time to clear PP Control and the Xray machines and hoof it over to Term A to check in at the domestic counter. Made it to the gate with time to spare waiting for the boarding call at 1.45, 2.00, 2.15 (scheduled launch time) 2.30, 2.45 (BINGO!), bussed out to the plane (seemed we went clear across Kyiv) and finally went wheels up a little after 3 pm. We landed in Simferopol about 4.15 and the bags came around the carousel in record time. BTW, the domestic arrivals? All outside! Pray you don't arrive here in the rain. Soon I was dragging everything to the gate and running the cabbie gauntlet and met my Baby who was shoving cabbies aside to get to me. Huggy, huggy, kissy, kissy, a 30 minute taxi home and I was grabbing fresh clothes and climbing into the shower. We popped out to the market where I got a big hug and kiss from my lopatka (ham) girl, bought some lopatka, bread and popped across the street for supper at our favorite cafe. We were in bed and nodding off in each other's arms by 8 pm.

I came to the conclusion that it doesn't matter which airline or country. They all seem to view schedules as if they were an Italian stop light. It's just a suggestion.

GOD! It's good to be home!

OK, As Brad said, I'm retired so I decided to live here;

1) because I can,

2) because she's here with a good job,

3) it's way cheaper to live here,

4) it's Krim

5) the scenery is magnificent year round and

6) because I can.

Now for those of you who don't know this, when getting in line at Passport Control you can get in ANY line, even the UA Citizen lines. THEY won't say a word about it and stamp your PP and off you go. I was tempted to use the Diplomat line but didn't. For some reason (its Ukraine you know) there was NO Non-visa booth open, only 2 visa lines but, all the Citizen lines were working. There was one guy there who had 20 minutes to connect, I would have gone straight to the Diplomat booth if it were me. The girl who was directing traffic told him to ask the others in line and try to move to the front of the Visa line. She could have told him to relax as NO planes actually leave on time anyway.

Right now Mila is at work and I'll be heading out to the market (and supermarket) for a few things and hopefully have a nice supper waiting for her when she gets home.

[Martyshk 137]

Given the harsh winter over there (Siberia is shut down right now...nobody's working or going outside it's so cold) I don't imagine I could ever live there. Maybe it's nicer in Ukraine but at my age and with health issues, I'm staying put.

But good luck!

It's pretty warm in Crimea. Warmer than in Philly, that's for damn sure

[Tnic 5]

It's pretty warm in Crimea. Warmer than in Philly, that's for damn sure

BINGO! The jackets/coats are still at about popa length and the high heeled boots are, well high heels.

As I recall, the average mean winter temp is right around 32-35 F, which gives plenty of "warmer" days mixed with a few colder ones. But, certainly not the frozen tundra here. Though convincing Mila that I don't have look like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man to go to the Rinok (right beside the apartment building) is an on-going battle.

[Martyshk 137]

BINGO! The jackets/coats are still at about popa length and the high heeled boots are, well high heels.

As I recall, the average mean winter temp is right around 32-35 F, which gives plenty of "warmer" days mixed with a few colder ones. But, certainly not the frozen tundra here. Though convincing Mila that I don't have look like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man to go to the Rinok (right beside the apartment building) is an on-going battle.

Hey man, if you take some pictures in the city, drop me a link to them

Have been almost 11 years since I left Simferopol. I know it's changed a lot, but still, curious to see.

I used to live in what's called "the old city". All the way up the street where the Lenin monument is (Sergeeva-Tsenskogo 70)