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extraordinary experiences with Russia
would never dare to repeat it. If you see the plains TU
154 of Aeroflot, from Soviet times, then you will never
want to fly with them. Of course when you start your
journey somewhere in West Europe, then you will get one of
the best planes of Aeroflot, because the older once are
not allowed to come till there. But then you have to make
a transit in Moscow and from there you may fly with an
ancient machine from the glorious times of Soviet empire!
I have heard many times from professional travelers, that
you better never save your money on planes. But the
problem isn’t in money, rather in service, which is
absolutely horrible. When you will ask something from the
board personal (i.e. where is the toilet; may I have a
water etc.), then you may be shut off or get no answer at
all.
But the most difficult part begins at that point when you
arrive already to Moscow and need a transit transfer.
Actually you have to go from Sheremetevo 2 to Sheremetevo
1 and it takes about 15 minutes, if you are lucky of
course. If not, you may find no way to get to another
terminal. It sounds impossible but it is true, you may
found nobody who will show you where is the transit’s
gate or buss. After that you will be forced from security
personal to exit with other passengers to the city and go
to the Sheremetevo 1 with your own way. It sounds not to
bad, but once you have done it you will be totally
exhausted. First of all you have to pass trough pass
control, than wait for your luggage, then fill the tax
declaration, pass the tax. After 1 hour you come out to
the city and find no buss station. Taxi drivers force you
to take them. For driving you only 15 minutes they ask to
pay simply 100 US dollars! After all when you come to
Sheremetevo 1 you see that the check-in of your next
flight is already closed…
Another advice to those who will try to travel in Russia
with intercity busses: Be careful at all stations. There
are no any open toilets or trash boxes almost everywhere.
If you try to go in the “nature” and do whatever you
need to do, then you will be welcomed by a careful
policeman, who will explain you that you have made a big
mistake and blasphemed their community and that’s why
you have to pay a strafe 500 or 1000 rubles.
If you are in train, then remember: there is no any clear
timetable. That means – you never know how long the
train is going to stay in any station. So don’t go far
away from your wagon. The train starts without any
announcement! In the train do not drink alcohol openly or
laugh after 10 o’clock PM, because in each train there
are some policemen who are waiting for your misbehave in
order to punish you. That means you will have to pay
again…
When you successfully have reached to your destination,
beware that Moscow and St. Petersburg are some other
staff, then the rest of Russia. The rest of Russia lives
according to ‘medieval’ rules. The people in Siberia
said for some centuries before: “God is too high, king
is too far!” That means for today, that Mr. Putin
unfortunately cannot control his huge country.
The biggest problem for tourists is to get a police
registration. This rule comes again from glorious Soviet
times that every foreigner has to be registered by police
in each city when he stays there more then tree days. If
you are in a tourist group and stay in hotels, then
usually your guides or hotel managers will get your pass
and do the registration for you. But if you are traveling
alone or doing a private visit, then you have to do it by
your own. It costs not too much money but a lot of time
and nervous stress. Most of the people aren’t successful
and have to leave that city without any registration after
waiting many hours in front of the police station but
becoming nothing. If you don’t get your registration
then police will punish you when they ask your documents
on the street, in train station or in airport. Please try
to handle with them just at that place. Give them 10 or 20
US dollars but don’t go with them to their office. It is
better to pay some corruption on the street, then to go
with them to the police office and ‘lose’ there much
more money and other staff…
On the way back, when you get to airport you will be
checked from police if you have done your registration or
not. If not, the strafe is 1000 ruble. The tax officer
will check out how much foreign money you are taking with
you back. If you have more then 1500 US dollars, then you
have to show your tax declaration, which you have filled
by entering to Russia. If you are traveling with Aeroflot
or any other Russian airlines, then be sure that your
luggage inclusive your handbag must be not mach as 20 kg.
Yes, you have to pay even for a handbag, which is 1 or 2
kg.
The border officer may force you to wait half an hour. Be
patient. He may take your pass and go somewhere else to
get some information about you. Don’t worry. He will be
back soon. He may look very angry at you asking some
complicated questions. Try to stay calm and give short
answers.
When you pass the last security control – where your
handbag and pockets are being controlled – be not
surprised if security personal will start a polemic with
you. They may ask you many stupid questions (i.e. why your
pass photo is so small/large, why are you laughing in it,
why you have a beard now, why your hairs are colored
etc.). Don’t be frustrated, they want to get just some
money from you…
After seeing these all I am always surprised when Mr.
Putin and some other Russian politicians declare that they
have a very stabile and democratic country. I am always
skeptical when Russian bishops and priests declare that
Russian Orthodox Church has the biggest number of
Christians in the world. When I hear such kind of
sentences, I think that it has to be the best country in
the world. But each time when I travel there, I am being
convinced in opposite. And this is a shame!
Now you may understand why Aeroflot’s flights to Russia
are so cheap?
A Russian author said once: “You can never understand
Russia with your mind!” I think unfortunately this is
absolutely true…
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