Finally back home with a successful mission!! I am exhausted. Aerosvit screwed up the leaving of Kiev and had to put me up in New York. Overall ik though. Walked in the door about 1 hour ago.
I will give a fuller report on Kherson a little later. It is the best place for finding a wife.
I need to write a serious report about Kherson. I will I perhaps will fit it in today.
Meanwhile it looks like I have become another potential sucess story. The fat lady hasn't stopped singing yet but we will find out in November when I return.
Meanwhile I am still getting hate mail from fat, jobless, 50 year olds from Texas. Ahhhhh such is life :))
You see Izi, that now is a genuine nice suggestion from Oleg.
I'm absolutely sure he's a sport enough to allow you also to post one of yourself, just stitched-up and leaving that doc after your vodka saga from the Marina episode :)))
Nice going, keep going - and please be strong and ignore those whales will ya? ;-)
Oleg, finally the omen came upon you!;-) Seriously such thing as "photo reports" and "success stories" are vital for fiance.com . We've got many interesting photos at our office and many people are not again publishing them.
Nope no pictures. I am not going to post any pics on the web. Somewhere in the background I hear a fat lady singing and until she stops I am not going to count my chickens.
I will tell about the trip though. It started out rough and ended in sweetness and light.
Meanwhile before I do that I need some help. I have just finished booking a horrendous second trip in November. I have overnights in London both going and coming and had to book on a Wednesday to come back on a Sunday 2 weeks later. A huge chunk of that time is traveling. At least I won't arrive completely shagged out.
Anyway here is the problem. I am going to travel from Kiev to Kherson by train. Trust me it is the best and cheapest solution. Anyway how the hell do I do this?????
I know the bandits sorry I mean taxi drivers are in great numbers at the internnational airport (Borispol) but how do you get one to give you a decent price to the railway station?
Maybe there is public transportation to the Railway station?
Help!!
Hi Izi. I'm sure there is public transportation to the train station too. But I've never used it so can't give you advice on that. But what I can tell you is the price for a taxi to the train station. It should be $20-$25. No more than $25! This equals 100-125 Grivna. I was just there a few weeks ago and that is the going rate. I've done it several times. The cost is due to the fact that the train station is pretty much right in the city center of Kiev. About 20-30 min drive with out traffic. Buying your own ticket for Kherson may be an adventure for you. I always had my interpreter with me to buy the tickets. Another problem is you can't buy or reserve a ticket in advance. You need to present you passport to buy a ticket. So, if your train is sold out or your flight arrival doesn't line up with your train departure that day and this happens sometimes. Then be prepared to overnight in Kiev. It would seem to me it would almost be easier to have your girl come to Kiev to meet you. Have a couple of romantic nights in Kiev together before you go to Kherson. No sex yet? You mentioned this in your other post. Don't be too much of a gentleman. Make the move and let her turn you down if she wants. This lets her know you want her. Make her wait and she will think you may not be attracted to her in this way. You wont insult her buy trying. She will take it more as a compliment. Remember they think differently than our girls back home.
The prices on Taxi above by "Deano" are right. Getting that deal at Airport end wont be easy. You will have a fight on your hands.
BUT
that the easy part. Buying train tickets is a REAL pain. 2 3 hour queuing sometimes and not able to talk Russian wont help. We got all out train tickets over phone and they were delivered to our apartment for a little extra $$ - but you cant do this.
Traveling on train by yourself - you will have to share a cabin 2 berth (1st Class) or 4 berth next class down.
Why don’t you fly straight down there from the next door terminal. MUCH easier and not a lot more $$ time you add in all the taxi etc
Maxi I am watching my money and there are other factors involved. First of all it isn't quicker. At the other end there is a 3 hour car ride. Also if I pay 2 x $40 for a taxi and another $40 roundtrip for the train I will save about $300. Yes those are correct numbers. I was already told that the train is $35 for a private, 1st class compartment. The aerosvit flight aone is $200. Then another $180 for tha car ride the other end. Then there is the question of inconveniece. I am not going to get up at 3am to drive like a lunatic through the night dodging fog, sheep and god knows what else. No, it is much better to have a civilised goodbye at the railway station where Elena can get to very easily and kiss her goodbye. The train comes into Kherson right where I want to be and is there at 9am on the Saturday. Bingo!
The only problem is at Kiev but I think JMO has solved that.
Deano
As for the sex part. I hear what you are saying and agree with you. I tried buddy but she didn't pick up on the cue I left her. Being as there is no English she couldnt see how we would communicate. When I go back she will be living with me for 2 weeks. I made it quite plain to the agency that this was a big negative for me. I have no doubt in my mind that the message got passed along. There was some other things too but that is why I am going back - to straighten those out. I don't foresee any problems. I didn't want to force things in an agressive way she was a little shy and I am just not made that way. Things go at there natural pace but I have always found that women call that particular shot in the past no matter where they are from. Overall it is their decision not mine. I am happy when it happens but I will not force anything. I am still a bit of an old fashioned English gentleman. :))
Its great to read your reports Izi. But as often happen in that board I was right about language...you dont take translator to bed too(usually) :)I hope you told her to go english classes!
And are you sure the kids father let take the kid out of country?
1st class today. The child isn't a problem and Jetson 's lady also hasd no English to begin with and believe me it wasn't a problem. Elena will learn and believe it or not I am learning some rudimentary Russian.
Good luck Iz. It was good that you didn't get too agressive.As long as you made the effort. Other than having her meet you in Kiev. The train is the way to go as long as you can work out the logistics of getting a ticket. It won't be all that comfortable and nice but its not bad. I'm sure there are no direct flights from Kiev to Kherson. Even from the domestic terminal next door at Boryspil that Maxi mentions or at the Zhulani airport. By the way. Someone is ripping you off. $200 flight to Odessa? I bought my ticket the day of and it only cost $75 one way. One week advance and its only $50. Three hour taxi ride $180. Wow! Maybe the price has gone up with the cost of petro. But I know Kiev to Kharkov is $140 and that is a five hour ride. Again good luck.
Izi
Sorry "Old Boy" My mistake - I thought AeroSvit had a direct Kiev-Kerhsen flight.
Be warned - getting train tickets can be a bloody marathon. Lena always got in advance because she said you cant just front up on day and buy.
Anyway - let us know how you get on.
Deano,
I checked the Aerosvit website this morning. $198 round trip. The fare at Odessa to Kherson is roundtrip and is indeed bloody expensive. The train puts me exactly where I need to be and without the 3am stuff which I can do without.
JMO has given me a service that will get the tickets in advance and also drive me back and forth. I would like to fly but the scgedule is a nightmare. You have to be at Odessa airport for 8.30am. That means you need to be there at 7.30am. It is a 3 hour car ride. So you get up at 3am, take off at 4am,that allws time for Mr Cockup to come calling. I don't want to take the train it is the most sensible way to do this.
WOO HOO i just back in from Kherson. Everything went great. I now have met a few quality ladies who i know are real and are attractive to me too. Now i can start a real letter writing rush. It will be the moment of truth to see who will correspond regularly!!