Here is my little report from my recent trip to Yalta. Two words: complete dump. Totally overrated, not worth the visit. I've visited 37 countries, many in third world. Ukraine is not simply third world, it's bleak, it's not interesting. Crimea is supposed to be the crown jewel of the former S.U., the place that was owned by czars and communist leaders! Dump, not worth the visit. There is no beach to talk about on the whole penninsula, it's windy, there is no infrastructure, everyhting is old and with no character (typical soviet city). There is a huge McDonald's in the center of the city right at the pier and a huge sculpture of Lenin behind it overlooking straight at McDonald's, which makes you think of the irony ... of course it's better than the main square in Kharkov where the scupture of Lenin is pointing to the public toilets. Next to McDonald's there is a luna park for kids. There are many beautiful women though, I will give them that and meeeen they are shopping around ... there are also many clubs (see meat market underscored). Aside from the women who are looking for "man with car and wallet with money", there are many unemployed young Ukrainians sitting around and looking at the many single women who are going up and down the main street decorated like Christmas trees. I was visiting with my girlfriend, but this does not mean I was not getting the looks and I am talking about aggressive eye contact. I asked my girl why there are so many single young women when there are also so many single young men sitting around. She goes, yes, but look at them they don't have jobs and they sit around. She says: "this type of woman wants man with job who can take care of her", "man with car is very popular", "maried rich people can have many women in Ukraine and this is considered normal", I asked why? She says: "because he will give them gifts and money to buy make up, nice clothes".
Back to Yalta. The city is not worth anything and there are many crooks and travel agencies that exist to suck foreign blood (American blood being the most popular). However, there are few honest people also. I stayed in an apartment right on the beach 2 minutes walk from downtown. Secluded and only thing you hear is the sound of the waves. Very nice, new, 2-br apartment (1 year) with all western type conveniences and BBC. I paid $80 per day because of the crooks that I mentioned before. The lady who owns the apartment (speaks English very well) told me she would rent it to me $50 if I had contacted her directly. She works as a manager at Yalta Hotel. If you are planning a visit to Yalta, I would definitely recommend contacting her directly to make reservations. Her name is Olga, phone 380-654-321175. In the summer, you may be charged more than $50, but the crooks charge $150! The apartment was the only nice thing in that place. Also, if you need transfers in Kiev Borispyl int'l airport, don't pay the crooks on the Internet $40 and $50 to get you to donwtown. If you have booked an apartment already, the cheapest, most convenient way to go to the city is to hire one of the English speaking guides stationed at the airport. The one I am using is Anatoly from Intourist-Kiev. He has a small office right outside the customs area (on the right as you're exiting from customs). He charges $20 to downtown. He also charged me $30 to come and pick me up from Zhuliany airport (the domestic airport, which is near downtown) drive us to the train station for Yulia's train, then take me all the way to Boryspil. He speaks excellent English and Spanish. He does a lot of business with corporate customers also. Number: mobile 380-67-9654672.
Bottom line, it's all very easy and it can be done nicely and very inexpensive if you're smart. If you listen to the crooks and Ukraine is full of them, then you will grossly overpay and you will look stupid to the woman because she knows how much things are worth in her country and people who overpay are not perceived as smart rich in Ukraine, they are perceived as plain stupid and unfortunately as is the case in other third world countries the word "American" has identical meaning to "stupid man who pays any price".
First in many countries (even Japan, Philippines, Korea) There are 3 prices.
A) The price for the locals
B) The price for Tourist
C) The price for Americans
I have found that in many countries. Ukraine I don't know about. However in Russia I have found that to only be true in cabs and street venders and with the Police for fines (some made up telling you your papers are wrong when they are not). But I have seen that in most cases the people there will try to help you and try to keep you out of trouble. But if your girl is with you they wont dare to over price you. Unless its with the police then they will do what they want for fines regardless of who is with you. Your girl will normaly look out for you and keep you out of trouble. But in Russia "American" has identical meaning to "stupid man who pays any price" is not the case. Most people will look out for you if you respect them and you dont look like an odd ball. (Like wearing a cowboy hat in public or dressing to stand out like a foreigner. Or acting like you are better than them. In those cases you will be a target. Act like a jerk you will be treated like one. A persons impression of a place would be a matter of personal taste. Traveling to a foreign country means respecting their culture and their way of life. They know their standard of living is lower than ours. We have to realize that we are in a different environment and adjust to it. Well thats just my prospective.
Good Luck to all!!!
Well even if you are with a local if they realize you're a foreigner or even worse American, they will try to grab your ass and stick it to you anyway. And, they don't respect women. The crooks that I mentioned are the ones on Internet who charge 2-3 times markups on top of local rates. My car was stopped four times from Kiev to Kharkov a few months ago and cops asked for money like you mentioned also. And, I agree this happens elsewhere and worse, it's happened to me in Indonesia and Brazil where I was robbed at gunpoint and I was pickpocketed in Beijing. Russia is not the most dangerous place by any means. It is simply down and dirty third world, corrupted country. It's just that it's weird to see these people who are caucasians, they are not Africans or Asians and they are in such bad shape. I am not sure how much you know about how low Russia has reached. You've got to visit some European countries to realize it. European cities are flooded with Russian hookers and Russian men are either involved in high crime or sit around all day with a cell phone and arrange girls' visits to clients. This is who rules in Russia today: crooks, pimps and hookers. That's why none wants Russians, that's why it's so difficult for a woman to get a visa for the West. Are there good people also? yes, there are, but have no control.
As far as culture, I've been there three times and have not been impressed even though I tried. Ok, women are different in a good way, this is true and I like it although one has to be very careful because there are many women who are pretentious. But, other than that, everything's old, ruined, plain outdated. It's not old with character like in Europe, it's just plain old. There are stupid rules that don't make sense everywhere. You ask why and people reply because it's the rule. China is still communist, but has advanced more than Russia because they 're not lazy like the Russians and have a can-do attitude. In Russia the attitude is "well, it will take time for us to adjust", "we're not ready, yet", everybody's pretending to be sick to avoid work and the like. People have no confidence, they are weak. That's why fifty years from now Russia will be the poorest nation and people like myself and others will still go to Russia to get the specific kind of woman that we desire because this is all Russia is capable to produce.
Wow! I am so so glad I see things way different that you. I was just there last month and I enjoyed myself along with my wife Olga. Of all the friends we have in russia I have not met men who sit a t phones all day to send hookers out. And All woman in Russia are not hookers. Wow do you have a bad way of seeing things. I am so glad that I have a better outlook and view or their country and prospects that you. I have never heard "well, it will take time for us to adjust", "we're not ready, yet" What I hear is many many questions on how we do things. As far as the poorest nation. Lookout for them when they figure out how to get all that oil out of the Frozen Siberia ground.
Codered, it doesn't matter how you see things or I see things. I just stated the facts and people who went to Ukraine and did not stay in 5-star hotels in Kiev all the time would understand. Just check out any big European city, you'll find that the hooker and pimp population is dominated by Russians. And yes I know it for a fact that Russians are the laziest people and import and sell to European countries young Russian women for prostitutes (remember prostitution is legal in Europe).
And one more thing, to pump oil in Siberia, the Russians need infrastructure, which they don't have and don't have money to buy. With the equipment the Russians have, they will never be able to pump oil at a cost that will allow them to make money on the sale. They need American oil companies to invest, that's why the "Put" guy was sucking up on Bush up until he blew it all off with his "tough" stance on Iraq. Even if the Russians ever manage to pump any large quantities of oil in Siberia, this doesn't mean the people will thrive. Remember the Middle East has more oil than the rest of the world together, and yet, ironically some of the poorest nations. The majority of the wealth in Russia is controlled by mafia and politicians involved in high crime (see recent assassinations). Any oil money would not end up in people's hands, it would have the same destiny the IMF money had in the eighties (IMF got smart now and has not given them any large sums since the '99 crisis that revealed where all that money ended up).
You don't buy infrastructure, you create it. I think that a democracy pumping oil will thrive over a corrupt Arab/Muslim dictatorship/authoritarian regime in the Middle East. (See assassinations in Americas past history) you will see we went through essentially the same thing. But they have it a bit tougher than us. They have a post Soviet government to deal with also. The Russian people are amazing on how they can cut through the red tape of the past Soviet laws while dealing with the current laws. The government is still slowly stripping away the past Soviet rules. They are just now trying to deal with putting in place a volunteer military force. President Vladimir Putin has sought to reverse the military's meltdown by ordering a gradual transfer from the draft to a volunteer force by 2010. The plan has faced stubborn resistance from post Soviet military top brass. Good things are in the works. The country has allot of changes ahead. I would have to say that their future could go either way. But the people are adapting to democracy now. I don’t think they will give it up so easily.
In August 1991: The Soviet Communist Party disbanded. In 12 years they have come along way. They must develop their economies, reorganize their political systems, and, in many cases, settle bitter territorial disputes. A number of wars have developed on the peripheries of the former Soviet Union. Additionally, the entire region is suffering a period of severe economic hardship. However, despite the many hardships facing the region, bold steps are being taken toward democratization, reorganization, and rebuilding. So up to now I think they did a great job.
Before 1991, you would have never been able to visit this girl or much less communicate with her. Well that’s my thought on what you had to say. Has nothing to do with Dating, but it addresses your comments.
Good Luck to all!!
wtrav02, sorry to hear you can find nothing redeeming in the Ukraine. According to you, Russian women are prostitutes all over Europe and this is indicative of a third world country. The buildings are bleak and all is hopeless according to you. Do you wonder why, with attitudes like this, some of these people would target US tourists to exploit them??? Firstly, "bleak buildings that look like a dump with third world facilities" sort of reminds me of a ride I took a couple of years ago on the Chicago elevated railway that went at 20 miles per hour (like a third world steam engine) through rickety unnamed stations on the South side of that city. The scenery could only be described as a cross between a war zone and a ghost town. The Ukrainians have no money...what is the USA's excuse? I am not picking on Chicago...the scenery in Los Angeles in many areas is far from scenic. I am sure you could name many other cities in the US which have slums, ghettoes and extreme needs for town planning. According to you "Russian Prostitutes are all over Europe"....well, in our part of the world go to Japan.....see who are the prostiutes there, particularly in Roppongi in Tokyo!!! Not Russians but British, Americans and Australian girls on their "holidays", some of which have been murdered. Your best analysis is about organised crime and the mafia.......I think I saw "the Godfather" in all its glory...three parts.....what country did that story take place in??? Their country might be short of money at the moment but without them, the rest of Europe, that you admire so much, would probably all be under a Nazi flag today. What has this to do with dating Russian women? Well a little respect for her country and her history and her culture might be a pretty important prerequisite for a successful relationship don't you think??
Stephen, you're right that respect to one's culture is representative of civilized people. I am not being disrespectful. I don't like everything in USA or Europe either and I say it on occasion. I guess I am open with regard to what I believe and how I see things. You're right about the "el" in Chicago and the ghettoes in LA. I've been in many places around the world and I've seen much worse just like you have. I guess it's the contrast of a third world country inside the European borders that is so shocking. I didn't mean to blanket all Russians with derogatory comments. I am sorry if it came across like that. There are many crooks and there is lots of corruption. And, it's known that Russians don't have the best work ethic, which is not the result of seventy years of communism (China is so different), it's cultural. Unfortunately, corruption is part of the culture. RU women know and tell you many things about these countries when you get to know them better. Direspect for the crooks and the corrupt doesn't mean disrespect for the woman. The good women disrespect that part of their culture also.
Wtrav02, I agree that corruption is a big problem in many developing economies. What strikes me is the blatant manner in which it occurs. e.g.Police asking for bribes in the streets in the form of "fines". However, I often wonder at whether we are in a position to criticise. Corruption in the west is still there but we seem so much more sophisticated and subtle. e.g.the Florida State administration of the last Presidential election had many issues which are scandalous,property developers regularly flout laws in Australia and many local council officials here have been found to accept bribes etc. Then we come to the corporate world....both in the US and here in Australia, CEOs and Chief Financial officers have been found wanting, walking the borderline between deceit and blatant criminal behaviour. (eg Emron) Many shareholders here have lost life fortunes in the last few years with no redress. Are we in a position to judge the corrupt policeman in the Ukraine or Russia who has not been paid for 6 months and wants to feed his family? I leave this question open. I agree though that to survive in this environment these women are very special people and must also be very strong.
Wtrav02, I have been born in the Crimea and I can only say that you have been in the wrong places and met wrong people. If you have been taken advantage of - that's only your fault. LOTS American people behave like "big children", mostly they are ignorant, narrow-minded and living in their own shell of "idiolized world". That's why lots of people in third world countries try to do the best to take advantage of them, let consider it a natural instinct, the thing people do in business world even in civilized countries.
Regarding the statement that Crimea is complete dump... Well, as far as I understand you have an appreciation only for clubs... Ok, then what about tsar palaces, mountains, vinaries? Or were you very busy to see all that analyzing Ukrainian women? You want good beaches, then go to the best beach with the cleanest water and the most beautiful fauna - cope Atlesh - the western point of the Crimea. If you insist on going to the beach in Yalta, then be aware that you do not have to pay to enter the beach. Lots of people do not know that, but it is another way of earning money - several people sit near the main entrance and collect money, BUT only from those confused who give it to them as according to the law all beaches are free of charge! So all you have to do is to ignore them. Yes, I have to admit that life in the Crimea is built of this kind of tricky business an American mind is not used to. That's why I want to say that it is not fair to claim that some place is dump only because of a person have been tricked, next time you will go to a "third world" country take good time learning piculiarities of it....
And a couple of words about me. I got married to an American man a couple of months ago and live in the USA now and I could also prove that this place is dump, I have seen lots of people here that live not better than in Ukraine and I, as a foreigner run into a lot of problems, but I will not do that as I AM already in this country, so, it is my choice, and I free my mind and concentrate on the best things.
P.S. No offence meant regarding Americans. I was trying to present the general peception of the American nation in the third world countries :-/.
Re: They need American oil companies to invest, that's why the "Put" guy was sucking up on Bush up until he blew it all off with his "tough" stance on Iraq.
- Hey you, Naive! Have you ever asked yourself why Bush and his army is in Iraq??? Just be honest to yourself and forget about this patriotic BS.
I have made three trips to Russia thus far and had a great time each trip. My first trip to Russia was solo, speaking no Russian at all, visiting Stavropol. It was almost as if I was a movie star...with Russians constantly wanting to know how I was enjoying their country. I could walk the streets and in the parks at night in complete safety.
Russians on the whole, are very proud of their country, history and culture. Moscow, aside from Red Square and the Kremlin is just another loud and dirt city. Go to the smaller cities, they are the real Russia.
One has to take the history and culture into consideration. There really can be no comparison as the West and Russia are vastly different. I liken the U.S. and Russia as being on different planets, not different countries. How well would we do here in the U.S. under the same conditions? How many times have we been invaded? How many times have we had to witness violent changes of power? We have had the luxury of a government that works, maybe not well all of the time, but it does work. Russians have rarely if ever known such a thing in their history. Russians rely on family and interpersonal connections.
Laziness, I just have not seen it. My Russian friends and acquaintances are good, hardworking, long-suffering people. Each Summer, I have young men from Ulyanovsk come to work in my restaurant as part of a cultural exchange program. If I could make clones of them I would. My Russians are much better workers than the average American kids I normally see.
Also, I am a volunteer with the Nadezhda Fund or Children's Hope Chest as it is known here in the states. We work with orphans. It has been an honor to work with the Russian caretakers, teachers, disciplers, and ministry staff under difficult and trying conditions. I challenge any of you to find better people anywhere.
If your opinions of the country and people are so bad, what are you doing seeking a Russian wife? She is part of that terrible mix and so will be your kids.