Back from Ukraine/Czech

[Brad and Vika 129]

Hi all - we just got back from Ukraine and the Czech Republic, and it looks like the economic slowdown is really having an effect, particularly in Ukraine.

We flew LOT through Warsaw. The plane was half empty on the way over, and the flight crew was even less helpful than usual. Typical circus on the way back though. A Russian babushka (Moscow accent Vika said) spent the trip back kicking and pushing my seat to express her displeasure that I put it back. When the plane landed she pushed past Vika and I with carry on and nearly knocked us over. At passport control the same babushka cut across four lines, to the front of each, trying to get to the front of the line moving fastest. Then at baggage claim, she shoved a stroller with a baby in it and knocked over a family's bags to get closer to the luggage coming off the plane. Typical stuff right?

Restaurants in Odessa were half empty, and there were just two or three vendors at the Potemkin Steps. In Kherson also, business appeared way off. The businesses where my in-laws work have cut back shifts. Vika's grandpa made it a point to tell me that all the workers in Czech and Poland want a return to communist government, because the American system has failed Vika almost choked laughing.

And I have to say that Czech isn't my favorite place in the world either. Maybe bad weather, bad hotel, and total sameness of Prague to most other capitals in Eastern Europe contributed though

[Used to be broken 147]

Hi all - we just got back from Ukraine and the Czech Republic, and it looks like the economic slowdown is really having an effect, particularly in Ukraine.

We flew LOT through Warsaw. The plane was half empty on the way over, and the flight crew was even less helpful than usual. Typical circus on the way back though. A Russian babushka (Moscow accent Vika said) spent the trip back kicking and pushing my seat to express her displeasure that I put it back. When the plane landed she pushed past Vika and I with carry on and nearly knocked us over. At passport control the same babushka cut across four lines, to the front of each, trying to get to the front of the line moving fastest. Then at baggage claim, she shoved a stroller with a baby in it and knocked over a family's bags to get closer to the luggage coming off the plane. Typical stuff right?

Restaurants in Odessa were half empty, and there were just two or three vendors at the Potemkin Steps. In Kherson also, business appeared way off. The businesses where my in-laws work have cut back shifts. Vika's grandpa made it a point to tell me that all the workers in Czech and Poland want a return to communist government, because the American system has failed Vika almost choked laughing.

And I have to say that Czech isn't my favorite place in the world either. Maybe bad weather, bad hotel, and total sameness of Prague to most other capitals in Eastern Europe contributed though

[Brad and Vika 129]

???

[Used to be broken 147]

I think its the time of year, when I flew Lot to Krakow a few months ago the plane was packed except for first class.

Funny when I was headed over for my first time to FSU I asked my husband to pick up a "babushka" for me, so I would have it to take with me to church. Which of course he thought was a very strange request because why would he pick up a "grandma" for me? When I was a kid, we referred to "babushka" as the head scarf seen worn by most "babushka's"

How about those airports?

Prauge Franz Kafka

Edited October 30, 2010 by brokenfamily

[Brad and Vika 129]

I think its the time of year, when I flew Lot to Krakow a few months ago the plane was packed except for first class.

Funny when I was headed over for my first time to FSU I asked my husband to pick up a "babushka" for me, so I would have it to take with me to church. Which of course he thought was a very strange request because why would he pick up a "grandma" for me? When I was a kid, we referred to "babushka" as the head scarf seen worn by most "babushka's"

How about those airports?

Prauge Franz Kafka

The rudeness and what people think they can get away with just blows my mind. Fortunately I travel with Vika, who doesn't hesitate a minute to argue with anybody if she thinks we are being treated badly.

[Used to be broken 147]

The rudeness and what people think they can get away with just blows my mind. Fortunately I travel with Vika, who doesn't hesitate a minute to argue with anybody if she thinks we are being treated badly.

After I was there for a couple weeks, I realized its not even rudeness its just survival mode, they don't really "que" like we do. Very similar to other parts of Europe like Germany. They just see an opening and go for it But I had a lot of trouble when I first got there not getting knocked over at the farmers market.

[Brad and Vika 129]

After I was there for a couple weeks, I realized its not even rudeness its just survival mode, they don't really "que" like we do. Very similar to other parts of Europe like Germany. They just see an opening and go for it But I had a lot of trouble when I first got there not getting knocked over at the farmers market.

I have visited different parts of Eastern Europe for years, and I agree that there is a different concept of etiquette and personal space. You can't tell me though that the babushka I mentioned earlier didn't grasp that it was rude to cut across lines and push people down. Particularly when other Russian speakers were telling her so (loudly) and she was ignoring them. I also see alot of what I call "fearless baba syndrome". I first really noticed this in Romania when the Evergreen Foundation driver I was with was slamming on the breaks for one cane-bearing old lady after another. They just assume that every one else will watch for them, he said, and that their age entitles them to go where they want, when they want. That includes in front of you

[Tnic 5]

Hey welcome back Brad & Vika! I forgot you were visiting the FSU.

I know what you mean about the personal space. I got used to it while I was in Crimea. Didn't really have any problems with line jumpers though. In fact when I got back to CT I got some looks because I was "crowding" the folks ahead of me in lines, on yeah, right, arm's length, I remember now. LOL. Everyone still just crams around the booth, kassa, etc. but everyone sort of keeps track of who's next and it becomes more like organized chaos instead of a free for all. Maybe Crimea is simply a Kinder, Gentler place to be.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi all - we just got back from Ukraine and the Czech Republic, and it looks like the economic slowdown is really having an effect, particularly in Ukraine.

We flew LOT through Warsaw. The plane was half empty on the way over, and the flight crew was even less helpful than usual. Typical circus on the way back though. A Russian babushka (Moscow accent Vika said) spent the trip back kicking and pushing my seat to express her displeasure that I put it back. When the plane landed she pushed past Vika and I with carry on and nearly knocked us over. At passport control the same babushka cut across four lines, to the front of each, trying to get to the front of the line moving fastest. Then at baggage claim, she shoved a stroller with a baby in it and knocked over a family's bags to get closer to the luggage coming off the plane. Typical stuff right?

Restaurants in Odessa were half empty, and there were just two or three vendors at the Potemkin Steps. In Kherson also, business appeared way off. The businesses where my in-laws work have cut back shifts. Vika's grandpa made it a point to tell me that all the workers in Czech and Poland want a return to communist government, because the American system has failed Vika almost choked laughing.

And I have to say that Czech isn't my favorite place in the world either. Maybe bad weather, bad hotel, and total sameness of Prague to most other capitals in Eastern Europe contributed though

I married a Ukrainian because of Russian Babushkas!

I did always love Prague though, one of my favorite places for the weekend and IMHO the best place to meet Ukrainian women.

[sea-monkey 13]

This is what you do to line cutters and rude people

[SMR 368]

This is what you do to line cutters and rude people

I really don't know the exact context of this but it looks to me like there are two entrances there and the exit is somewhere else. That is, the lady who got tripped is going the right way and the other guy is going the wrong way. After all, she swipes a pass and then goes through the turn-style. Turn-styles don't go the wrong way. If that wasn't the right way to be going, it wouldn't have let her through, regardless of what she swiped.

[AKguy 1]

I've said it before, the lines are more akin to a pyramid shape than our straight lines. People seem to funnel into the lead.

[Brad and Vika 129]

I did always love Prague though, one of my favorite places for the weekend and IMHO the best place to meet Ukrainian women.

Can't say Prague will ever be a favorite of mine, but as you say, lots of Ukrainians there. I did enjoy that nearly every one, everywhere, spoke at least some English. Nice to be able to ask questions on the street without using my halting Russian.

We also had an excursion with a 45 year old male guide who spoke both English and Russian. He was a Czech ultra-nationalist, and spent a fair amount of time telling funny stories about KGB goofs during the occupation. He maintained that the culture of his country is being spoiled by all the silly commy ####### in the gift shops that he claims are mafia run. He says that clearly, most Westerners cannot distinguish between Russian and Czech, and the tourist industry is just making it tougher for the uninitiated. Interesting talking with him.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Can't say Prague will ever be a favorite of mine, but as you say, lots of Ukrainians there. I did enjoy that nearly every one, everywhere, spoke at least some English. Nice to be able to ask questions on the street without using my halting Russian.

We also had an excursion with a 45 year old male guide who spoke both English and Russian. He was a Czech ultra-nationalist, and spent a fair amount of time telling funny stories about KGB goofs during the occupation. He maintained that the culture of his country is being spoiled by all the silly commy ####### in the gift shops that he claims are mafia run. He says that clearly, most Westerners cannot distinguish between Russian and Czech, and the tourist industry is just making it tougher for the uninitiated. Interesting talking with him.

I had SO many misconceptions about the wonderful Czech people. I am glad I had the opportunity to go there and learn what I did. I found that they have the drive and desire for precision of the Germans and the prices of Ukraine (at least before they joined the EU) And, yes, almost everyone speaks English. Great place, great people. Did you see the National Museum? The night I met Alla we were walking all over the city and we went up on that balcony at the entry, we sat up there talking for quite a while and I just knew she would be my wife. She says if I told her that THEN, she would have run away from the crazy American maniac!

I scored one of my premier gun buys of all time in Prague. A beautiful 16 gauge double gun (16 guage is uber popular on "the continent") absolutely first class, "best Grade" quality in every way...for $1000!!!!!! I took a bit of work to get it imported for me through a licensed dealer friend who knew an importer, but when I got back, there it was in it's fitted case in all its glory. It is far and away the best gun buy I ever came across.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Did you see the National Museum? The night I met Alla we were walking all over the city and we went up on that balcony at the entry, we sat up there talking for quite a while and I just knew she would be my wife. She says if I told her that THEN, she would have run away from the crazy American maniac!

We stayed about four blocks from Wencislaus square. If the museum is the one at the top of the square, then no. Vika ran me ragged walking around old town, lesser town, and the palace. She didn't care what the weather was like, she was on a mission to get as many pictures as possible. No museum was going to interfere with that mission.