News from the motherland

[Ivan in VA 2]

Yikes, my spelling is terrible and where's the edit function?

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

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

huh?

It looks like english, reads like english but it makes no sense, spelling not withstanding. Slim you speak some gibberish can you translate?

[clueless_in_usa 8]

huh?

It looks like english, reads like english but it makes no sense, spelling not withstanding. Slim you speak some gibberish can you translate?

I was wondering the same thing ... where did this story come from? What is so funny? What does the story relate to? Terminal 3? Which terminal 3? This story needs some investigation

[eekee 182]

I tried using my ESL teacher skills to make it readable:

"That is too funny as I was also "detained" there for arriving one hour early. Everyone was on the take (???). I had a young militsia (policeman) that escorted me upstairs to pay my fine at a window. I handed the girl the money and she informed me that I hadn't paid the necessary fee in order to pay the fine. Of course I began to explain in a very loud voice that "...A lot of Americans like you Russians, but when you do something like this...!" The police officer apologized and she offered to lower the fee to 40 roubles. Inside I was laughing my a** off.

I stayed up till midnight on the uppermost level drinking coffee with a Vietnamese national who had also been detained. The at the stroke of midnight my carriage turned into a pumpkin 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 connecting flight and was given a price quote of 11500 roubles. I walked away, scratching my head, but after I had walked 50 feet I turned around and went back to the window to make the purchase. The woman behind the window had left, so I went to a different window. The woman working in this window gave me a price quote of 5500 roubles, which I quickly accepted.

Those cab drivers were vultures. There was an accident between Terminal 3 [i'm assuming at SVO?] and the main terminal. They wanted $100 to take me to the main terminal. I was so adamant (???) about not paying that much, but I really didn't want to buy a third ticket to Khabarovsk. Still, being American and being stubborn go hand-in-hand. I took a bus instead. When the bus finally turned the corner I gave them (who?) a real good look and made it to the terminal just as they were calling the flight.

That experience in Moscow has to have been the grandest adventure I've had in years."

Still don't understand why exactly he was detained, though.

[mox 298]

I believe the point is "Russian officials are corrupt." Haha.

[johnj 0]

I believe the point is "Russian officials are corrupt." Haha.

NO, actually this was posted in the wrong thread on the Russian forum; it belongs in the "What is your favorite drink", judging by the writing, I would say a liter of Two Fingers, sans lime and salt

[Ivan in VA 2]

1) Sheremetevo terminal 3 is very much a reality. The inside is still lacking, but the structure is fairly complete. Soon it will be better to fly to Sheremetevo than to the congested Domodedovo

I was refering to my incoming of terminal two. I was trying to proof and the post was booted into the thread.

[Brad and Vika 129]

The first time I went to Belarus I bought a new Samsonite suitcase (in black of course). There were no less than ten other chemodani exactly like mine on the last leg of the flight, and as a sick joke most of the luggage tags were torn off. A large group of us passengers stood at the baggage claim scratching our heads and not talking, as we didn't all speak the same language. My traveling companions laughed their a$$es off. Eventually I got the right bag.

The next time I flew into Minsk, I wished my only trouble was finding my bag ion the conveyor. It was sent to Istanbul by mistake, and took three days to get back. No explanation at all. All the claims paperwork was done by hand, with multiple carbons. Thought I woke up in the 1960s

[johnj 0]

The first time I went to Belarus I bought a new Samsonite suitcase (in black of course). There were no less than ten other chemodani exactly like mine on the last leg of the flight, and as a sick joke most of the luggage tags were torn off. A large group of us passengers stood at the baggage claim scratching our heads and not talking, as we didn't all speak the same language. My traveling companions laughed their a$$es off. Eventually I got the right bag.

The next time I flew into Minsk, I wished my only trouble was finding my bag ion the conveyor. It was sent to Istanbul by mistake, and took three days to get back. No explanation at all. All the claims paperwork was done by hand, with multiple carbons. Thought I woke up in the 1960s

The last time I arrived in Minsk, my bag rotated around the conveyor belt for hours and hours alone without my presence. I was stuck at the visa booth as they searched in vain for the proof of my visa; I had a visa in my passport that was correct, but somehow, they did not have me on some list they kept at the desk. Eventually, they got tired of me and sent me on my way; my bag was so happy to see me

Edited July 27, 2009 by john and natalya

[amberdima 6]

wtfreak. when i go to minsk, i'm going to bring carry-on only

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

The first time I went to Belarus I bought a new Samsonite suitcase (in black of course). There were no less than ten other chemodani exactly like mine on the last leg of the flight, and as a sick joke most of the luggage tags were torn off. A large group of us passengers stood at the baggage claim scratching our heads and not talking, as we didn't all speak the same language. My traveling companions laughed their a$$es off. Eventually I got the right bag.

The next time I flew into Minsk, I wished my only trouble was finding my bag ion the conveyor. It was sent to Istanbul by mistake, and took three days to get back. No explanation at all. All the claims paperwork was done by hand, with multiple carbons. Thought I woke up in the 1960s

The last time I arrived in Minsk, my bag rotated around the conveyor belt for hours and hours alone without my presence. I was stuck at the visa booth as they searched in vain for the proof of my visa; I had a visa in my passport that was correct, but somehow, they did not have me on some list they kept at the desk. Eventually, they got tired of me and sent me on my way; my bag was so happy to see me

The last time I didnt go to Minsk, I forgot to pack my bag, which was good since I didnt go. But when I didnt arrive I was detained while they finshed the inside of terminal 3 which I didnt realize was a reality and nicer to fly to than the congested Domodedovo. The hard part was finding my bag on the conveyor but it was days before I realized I wasnt there and my bag was never packed but I carried on, lucky for me it wasnt too heavy. I had to walk most of the way from the visa booth to the airport where I was detained again for arriving at a destination I wasnt supposed to. Later when I purchased my ticket and got off the airplane the flight attendant asked me if I would like to get married because she wanted a visa card. I told her I have mastercard and amex but no visa. We laughed as she handed over her Target card and we went to purchase items to go into the bag that I forgot to pack. When we arrived at the mall that wasnt, we looked for the Target store which wasnt to be built for 10 years. By the time we got back we were late and detained again until I was served a kosher meal that I didnt order on a flight I didnt take to and airport Ive never been to which lost a bag I never packed. We then had a cup of coffee and laughed our a$$es off.

[Brad and Vika 129]

wtfreak. when i go to minsk, i'm going to bring carry-on only

Just pack a day or two of clothes in the carry on and don't sweat it. Vitalik (the only person in Lufthanza/LOT baggage claim for the three years I had lost luggage) brings the bags to you if you are still in Minsk.

[Brad and Vika 129]

The first time I went to Belarus I bought a new Samsonite suitcase (in black of course). There were no less than ten other chemodani exactly like mine on the last leg of the flight, and as a sick joke most of the luggage tags were torn off. A large group of us passengers stood at the baggage claim scratching our heads and not talking, as we didn't all speak the same language. My traveling companions laughed their a$$es off. Eventually I got the right bag.

The next time I flew into Minsk, I wished my only trouble was finding my bag ion the conveyor. It was sent to Istanbul by mistake, and took three days to get back. No explanation at all. All the claims paperwork was done by hand, with multiple carbons. Thought I woke up in the 1960s

The last time I arrived in Minsk, my bag rotated around the conveyor belt for hours and hours alone without my presence. I was stuck at the visa booth as they searched in vain for the proof of my visa; I had a visa in my passport that was correct, but somehow, they did not have me on some list they kept at the desk. Eventually, they got tired of me and sent me on my way; my bag was so happy to see me

The last time I didnt go to Minsk, I forgot to pack my bag, which was good since I didnt go. But when I didnt arrive I was detained while they finshed the inside of terminal 3 which I didnt realize was a reality and nicer to fly to than the congested Domodedovo. The hard part was finding my bag on the conveyor but it was days before I realized I wasnt there and my bag was never packed but I carried on, lucky for me it wasnt too heavy. I had to walk most of the way from the visa booth to the airport where I was detained again for arriving at a destination I wasnt supposed to. Later when I purchased my ticket and got off the airplane the flight attendant asked me if I would like to get married because she wanted a visa card. I told her I have mastercard and amex but no visa. We laughed as she handed over her Target card and we went to purchase items to go into the bag that I forgot to pack. When we arrived at the mall that wasnt, we looked for the Target store which wasnt to be built for 10 years. By the time we got back we were late and detained again until I was served a kosher meal that I didnt order on a flight I didnt take to and airport Ive never been to which lost a bag I never packed. We then had a cup of coffee and laughed our a$$es off.

I hear those imaginary flights are brutal, but the imaginary detentions are really brutal. The only solution is to visit the imaginary apteka to fill the prescription you don't really need. Enjoy the trip!

[slim 1,514]

Slim you speak some gibberish can you translate?

This dude was charged some extra money for arriving early (Probably late at night on the day BEFORE his visa started) and was forced to pay a fine that amounted to just a few bucks but then had to sit upstairs in a holding area with the other foreigners who were too cheap to pay the "real fine" that could've gotten them out of the airport without waiting.

Moral of the story (and again with the cabbies, etc.) is Benjamin Franklin is the most popular man in the whole world. But, if you leave him at home with the rest of our founding fathers, you'll be waiting for a while, drinking cheap coffee with foreigners, and possibly missing connecting flights that may end up costing you more money than paying the "fine" anyway.

Come on folks - WHEN IN ROME!!!!!

I was wondering the same thing ... where did this story come from? What is so funny? What does the story relate to? Terminal 3? Which terminal 3? This story needs some investigation

The story came from the OP. It was, in a roundabout way, about stories from Russia and what's going on at SVO. Terminal 3 is coming!

wtfreak. when i go to minsk, i'm going to bring carry-on only

"That's my girl. So do you wanna borrow some clothes then, Focker?"

Just pack a day or two of clothes in the carry on and don't sweat it.

I always wear cargo shorts/pants, sturdy shoes, and have at least two sets of underclothes, T-shirts and hygiene items. With those items alone, it's possible to get by for your entire trip because you can wear your clean stuff while you wash/dry your dirty stuff. In colder months, I'll throw on a hoody and that'll at least be enough to get me by until I can either purchase heavier clothes or wait until my bags arrive.

If you look through my MySpace photos, the bag you see me carrying in Paris is the only bag I had on my trip for about a week to the Middle East. I figured with several layovers and several different airlines in several countries I was just asking for trouble if I checked bags.

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

I always wear cargo shorts/pants, sturdy shoes, and have at least two sets of underclothes, T-shirts and hygiene items. With those items alone, it's possible to get by for your entire trip because you can wear your clean stuff while you wash/dry your dirty stuff. In colder months, I'll throw on a hoody and that'll at least be enough to get me by until I can either purchase heavier clothes or wait until my bags arrive.

If you look through my MySpace photos, the bag you see me carrying in Paris is the only bag I had on my trip for about a week to the Middle East. I figured with several layovers and several different airlines in several countries I was just asking for trouble if I checked bags.

You can lighten the load like I do no underwear, plus it keeps everything nice and cool.