Text 1585, 67 rader
Skriven 2009-12-10 13:14:51 av Ward Dossche (2:292/854)
Ärende: Traveling to the US
===========================
Some have been commenting here on travel to the US and how invasive it is into
one's personal life.
 
Well, recently I went to Russia and I've got a totally different perspective
now.
 
In order to get into Russia:
 
* I had to book into a hotel and have that hotel invite me by fax to visit
  Russia.
* I had to present an invitation by the Russian Trampoline Federation
  attesting that I really was coming for a sports event
* Had to apply for a visa and pay E35,00 ($52.00) for it [when we still
  needed visa in our passport for the US, these were free]
* There was a special double pasport-control at Münich airport prior to
  boarding the plane
* In St.Petersburg our body-temperature was measured upon deplaning
* Forms to be filled-in although they already had everything
* Treated as a criminal by border guards. Nowhere a "Welcome" sign.
* Needed to present myself every 3 days at a police-office to show I still
  was where I told them I would be. Luckily the hotel takes care of that.
* Upon departure we were security-checked ... yes, go through a scanner ... 4
  (four) times over a distance of 75 meters.
* Prior to deplaning in Münich we had to show our passport, in the jetway
  again. Then there was a border-control to enter Germany. Then there again
  was a border control to enter the departure lounge.
 
Ridiculous as one can find certain TSA-procedures ... try going to Russia.
 
The hotel where we were staying had about 800 rooms and a single
ADSL-connection to service all these rooms. Can you imagine how connections
went?
 
Then at other times it was also perfectly organised. Good meals, excellent
transportation. The beer in the bar was yummy (though half-liter glasses only),
good vodka ... good looking whores in the lobby ... :-)
 
One general observation ... nearly no-one speaks English ... even the
young-ones don't. It makes you better understand the communication issues we
face with our Russian friends from R50.
 
It doesn't mean I don't Like Russia ... one single town, one single event and
one single experience are not enough to define a country spanning 11 time
zones.
 
There was very little time to visit the Hermitage ... a must. I wanted to see
the "Aurora" ... no time.
 
Then communication went bad ... I found out way too late sysops in
St.Petersburg were planning something for me and details had been sent to my
Fido-address, but I was on a mobile point-system ... all my netmails there came
from 2:292/854.1.
 
When I finally understood what was happening and what was required from me, it
was Friday the 13th ... and something happened.
 
To find out "what" please read next week's Fidonews ...
 
But ... I did buy a Fabergé egg for my wife. The listed price was 6.000 RUR.
Then "I give you special price: 4.000 RUR". When you hear that, you know you're
paying too much. So I proposed 1.000 RUR and settled on 2.000 finaly. Probably
I still paid too much, but what the heck. :-)
 
 \%/@rd

--- D'Bridge 3.36
 * Origin: Many Glacier -- "The Lord of the Pings" (2:292/854)