Been gone from here for a few months.......posting a week or so..
Toward end of trip got news about FIL near death...and since, has passed on. Great man, had respect for him as I did for my dad.
I did want to finish up this TR.
After my rocky flight from Kiev, I landed in my familiar confinds, odessa centre. Got last minute apt from my agency there( many times I have day notice to give). Does feel nice here in odessa again. Everyone has their favorite place. Visited friends restaurant, see some friends that stopped by, disappointed that restaurant will close soon...progress I guess.
If you remember, N1 was a possibility here...but she is packing to go to Norway( from another thread I had here). We spoke a couple times while I am here, so maybe we will get together and I can take her to airport.
Since I really didn't have girls lined up here. I get on chat first night and made arrangements to meet for next couple days. I made three within 15 minutes( I knew of girls but little communication prior). I just told them I am in town.....if they wanted to meet. Just wonder IF they will show up. I had to tell them of my favorite restaurants and hangouts so they will take me serious I am here and about meeting......some had half hour rides into centre. I also had my ex to meet up with and see her little girl!!!
First girl I meet up with at Steakhouse after her work. We take stroll around town speaking about various topics...her english is very good , almost fluent. We stop at a restaurant to have dinner, she likes food there.
We speak about our families....our travels......she tells me about her trip to visit friends in Florida last year and stopping in Colorado. She gets pretty specific( for the nasayers) on what she did in each place. She shows me her 5 year visa when I tell her how difficult it is to get a visa for US( really shut me up). She just has to renew her international passport. I am intrigued, how many girls do you find in this position?
I tell her about my city....which she is very interested in ( along with NY). I do mention to her, if she visits US again, I would love to show her around my city. We enjoy our time together and make plans to get together again, we exchange our numbers and I go off to meet up with friends for drinks.
My days were filled with making breakfast( as I always do), I call it a little bit like eating at home. All the ingrediants are there......even if some look/taste funny!!!! Along with walks in parks and watching the folks stroll . I did meet my apt neighbor, a french guy there to meet the ladies also. It is funny, he is into HRB, which I know has deep roots here. I meet one night with french guy, a greek guy, a terp and her husband
for drinks. I am getting fixed up by french guy, he knows the terp which works at an agency in Odessa, more on that later. French guy is there only for another day, I have 5 more days. We hit several places until all close up.....now I know more drink establishments!!!!
Next day I text my ex.....she tells me she saw me walking with blonde girl(girl from dinner)...I tell her why she did not come up to say Hi? We are to meet next afternoon near her place at playhouse gym for daughter. That night I meet with second date at new italian restarant...she brings a friend to help our conversations. I find out her english skills are not good during evening. She is pretty though....she keeps smiling at me the whole evening!!! Probably with $$ signs!!!! I suggest we go bowling, since it is a fav of mine. Something about watching a girl strut down the lanewith a bowling ball in her hand while trying to sway...........she got high marks. If things goes any further...the terp stays home. I did get girls number IF we will get together again.
Next afternoon met with ex and her daughter. I knew her when she was 1...now she is 4. She is so cute, even though now she just winkles her face at me and says 'uhhhhhhhh'. What happened to the little girl that just stared at me wondering who this guy was??? I tell the ex...that daughter is quite the handful!!!! You see, the daughter is about as stubborn as the mom. I smiled inside when I used to see the daughter not mind the mom...running from her directions. I bit my tongue to not say anything!!!! We planned to go to nightclub before I left odessa for next city.
That evening I met first girl, another nice evening of conversation. We spoke more of our experiences growing up in different cultures, our families, what we are looking for. She seems down to earth, nice girl. We had dinner then went to another place for a nightcap. She has car and drives to parents house away from the city. She is leaving early in morning to their dasha with family...her sister is announcing an engagement.
Last day is with ex...back to gym for daughter and we have dinner there(in a complex). The ex tells me about some men she has met recently, even one that may show hope. I tell her I hope for the best. And I speak of my exploits with women...still not finding what I am looking for. So we chit chat until it is time to go. We drop off her daughter, as she cried her head off, as we left to go dancing. One thing we enjoyed together was clubs and dancing!!! No foreigners here...only locals. Nice club and good music as we sit to have champagne. She tells me of some goals she met, I am impressed...a car and saving for flat.....and what she has goals in future. As we dance...a slow song....jeez brings back some memories...no talking, just looking, quiet....as in thinking.....is it possible to go back and rekindle??? Surely a night of memories!!!
Next day but ticket at bus depot in Primosky near train station to chisinau. This is only place to pass through polanca and avoid transniester area( I paid the price one time). It is relaxing 5 hour drive for $17, a bargain!! This is the route where bathareas in a small town are holes in the ground and the terrain is sloped at best with a small wall to separate holes....thank god i am not a women!!!!
Oh....the border areas were no problem...only in going into moldova did we get off to show our carry ons. At North bus station got taxi and met up with my friend at Cosmos Hotel. At street there is small bar with beers at <$1!!!! One of our drinking places, I have to tell you......drinking is the norm!!! My apt is in a brand new building, very nice probably 130m, too bad I don't have girls lined up!!!
I came here for celebrations, they have City Day here, where you find thousands of people lined up and down Stefan cel Mere!! So I partied with three english, one kiwi and a couple not sure!!!!!!! All living there married to moldovians!!! Only problem was it was freekin cold now to be outside walking around!!! Shashilk(sp)was the the main dish at all vendors.....and beer!!!! A LOT of both!!!! Those english guys can drink!!!!!
Most of my time was spent away from centre meeting friends at drinking places....many of which the local girls came by. Not much english spoken there....but guys and girls were friendly. If I wanted to....I am sure I could have picked up, buying drinks having fun but I was more low key....... friendly. My friend kept pointing out the ones 'looking' for guys!!!
This was by far longest trip of mine 3 weeks. I had lots of work at home waiting for me, plus illness, so i was ready to head home. As stab at me........I was stuck in San Fran for 6 extra hours at airport.....continuing my delays from start of trip. In a couple days i will give update of outcomes of girls......
