Russian Women Discussion

RWD Discussion Groups => Trip Reports => Topic started by: msmob on May 05, 2019, 06:20:49 AM

Title: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 05, 2019, 06:20:49 AM
I was supposed to leave Georgia today, return to the Uk and fly out at the end of nest week to kick of starting our wedding plans in Cyprus


I had told SC " No point to come to Tbilisi, as we'll be working"..

As it is the May day holidays flights are crazy - nearly 10 times the normal price


SC found 1 place on a sleeper train from Sochi to Vladikavkaz and told me she was coming last night..!

(http://i.imgur.com/5ng00A8.png)

She has just crossed into Georgia on a mini bus

It rained heavily here which means LOTS of snow in the mountains..((

This is what awaits her - taken 40 mins ago..  source http://vk.com/vrlars (http://source http://vk.com/vrlars) - a VK site that deals with conditions updates

(http://i.imgur.com/1PwHtzR.jpg)


I wonder when she'll get here -if ever








Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Boethius on May 05, 2019, 01:57:40 PM
Wishing SC a safe journey.


This post was composed without the aid of google.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 07, 2019, 04:13:00 AM
Thank you, Boethius

I started to panic after waiting four hours past my estimated ETA.

I had sent sms to her RU mobile, to buy a Georgian sim at the border .

I had NO  idea where to wait for her bus/ Mini van/ taxi.

A lovely lass, Irina who I work with at the Soch F1 sorted the transport for us as I met her off yhe train from Baku, Azerbaijain...She was going back the opposite way...So we had breakfast together, at a Restaurant that Maxx showed me...The one where his starter motor gave up((

Then I took her to the bus station and she showed me (roughly) where Sveta would arrive in c. 5 hours..well 9 hours as it turned out ((

I wish to thank Maxx for his concern.

I will post some videos of her journey, later.






 
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Boethius on May 07, 2019, 08:00:01 AM
Happy she made it!  Nice to know the more things change, the more they stay the same, in terms of travel efficiency. :)


This post was composed without the aid of google.

Title: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 07, 2019, 09:17:05 PM
When SC finally arrived, she had been 'off air' for nearly 4 more hours than I thought..

She was exhausted and our apartment was not available until the next day so I had booked a hotel. The journey there gave SC to see the suburbs of Tbilisi and the impression was not favourable...))

Luckily, the hotel was great and we took a taxi to the centre for her to eat ( I had eaten while bored waiting). I used the Bolt (gasify) app and a 25 minute journey cost 3 USD in a Prius imported from the US.


On seeing the centre, SC changed her mind and we had an impromptu wine tasting session at mid night...We went to the restaurant Maxx had introuduced me to..it works 24/7..and the Russian speaking chef made her bespoke rabbit food.

We got home at 0230...and crashed..

I took this photo of SC as she stirred..I could not believe she was really there))

(http://i.imgur.com/NhrkI9g.jpg)

We went to the boys apartment .dumped off the bags and went to the Central market to buy the grass SC eats copious amounts of.

When we returned,  the 2nd apartment was ready and SC prepared a salad and we went to bed v.early.

Yesterday, I woke up first, went to the bakery and bought the boys breakfast and moved my gear next door. Iwanted (needed ) a haircut and while it was being done, Svetlana noticed a beauty Salon at the rear...

My haircut had cost 6 Lari.. approx $2 ..that included extraneous removal of ear hair and eye brow trimming

We asked how much it would be for a manicure and pedicure plus a shellac treatment...$20...

I was served coffee and cakes while SC was pampered.


(http://i.imgur.com/GcaXSpp.jpg)


(http://i.imgur.com/LJw7rR9.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/MvWXBVC.jpg)


The salon staff were so friendly and we share music to listen to ....If you bring your lady to Tbilisi I guarantee she will appreciate the care.)













Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Maxx2 on May 07, 2019, 10:39:59 PM
Too bad you have to leave so soon. Really interesting things to see there...


Interesting about the culture shock of seeing the less affluent suburbs. I've been here so long I don't notice such things like that anymore. Well, almost don't notice the poverty. When you come from a Western country it jumps out at you. I used to call it "the comparison game." Now I look for the touches of beauty and not the ugly. 
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 07, 2019, 11:02:48 PM
Hi Maxx,

It was SC who didn't like  some aspects of the suburbs and she has lived in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan...

Go figure ))

Do not worry, she wants to see Batumii


Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Maxx2 on May 07, 2019, 11:49:01 PM
Hi Maxx,

It was SC who didn't like  some aspects of the suburbs and she has lived in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan...

Go figure ))

Do not worry, she wants to see Batumii


I figured it was SC and not you. I did seem puzzling to me as I know Sochi must have some run down areas. Georgia I think is dryer and in the winter everything in the country and outskirts of the city is brown. Not so pretty just brown. You remember by the Jarvi Monastery? But that should have changed by now. Batumi is much more greener. It is the most beautiful city I've ever lived in. It's been a while since I lived in or visited California (1980) to do a comparison with San Diego or Honolulu. There is a fair amount of abandoned Soviet era buildings. People don't mind having their yards cluttered with junk or cars that will never run again.


Some small villages are interesting to me. Some of them are thousands of years old. Often you can look up on the nearby hill and see an abandoned fortress or caves dug out of the face of a cliff. I wonder what drama happened there? I wonder what the mayors are like? What would people think of an American expat and an Irishman with his Russian wife? Would we get invited to supper toasted with Georgian wine, cha cha? At Joggo's 60th birthday party I brought a bottle of Jack Daniels. It was much appreciated.


One thing I noticed about the small villages east of Tbilisi. If it is not a main route the road is good until it reaches the beginning of the town. Through the town the road is hell full of pot holes and heaved up asphalt. Obviously the town's tax base has to pay for the road going through their town. The road entering and leaving the town is nice as the Georgian national government pays for those.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Maxx2 on May 07, 2019, 11:54:48 PM
I was going to ask. How much did the hotel room cost? I've gotten them for about $35 which I think is rather high. In America a motel like a Super 8 goes for about $70 and night. In the big city like Chicago, $125. So $35 IMO is not such a good deal.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 08, 2019, 12:53:52 AM
Hotel Imperial via booking.com

£17..approx 21 USD ...

Incredible value for a king size bed and a single bed with en suite.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Maxx2 on May 08, 2019, 02:30:36 AM
I'll make sure to remember the hotel. I'll post it on my thread so it won't get lost. I've stayed at two small so so places and they cost me per night $35 each.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: John Gaunt on May 08, 2019, 11:55:35 AM
I am thinking of a trip to Tbilisi in the summer. Looking at hotels, which 5* hotel would you recommend! Maxx? The Marriott in Mtatsminda looks quite nice.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Boethius on May 08, 2019, 01:41:42 PM
Looking at hotels, which 5* hotel would you recommend! Maxx? The Marriott in Mtatsminda looks quite nice.
You don't have a true Ukrainian mindset. :D


This post was composed without the aid of google.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: John Gaunt on May 08, 2019, 01:48:45 PM
You don't have a true Ukrainian mindset. :D


This post was composed without the aid of google.
True. I leave that to the wife.😊
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Boethius on May 08, 2019, 01:50:52 PM
Then don't tell her you want to pay over $200 a night for a hotel when far less expensive, and perfectly acceptable, options are available. 


This post was composed without the aid of google.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: John Gaunt on May 08, 2019, 02:03:20 PM
Then don't tell her you want to pay over $200 a night for a hotel when far less expensive, and perfectly acceptable, options are available. 


This post was composed without the aid of google.

Oh, believe me, I won't.
On the other hand, I like to take her to nice places and pamper her once in a while. She deserves it and I'm not one to penny pinch.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: krimster2 on May 08, 2019, 02:57:54 PM
http://tinyurl.com/y2lm7nm8

$60 a night tops for airbnb (nothing but good things to say about them)
for the difference you'd save in a week, you could spend 3 additional days in Istanbul airfare and hotel
and take her shopping in one of the "mega malls" and buy her a small piece of jewelry or clothes or carpet, etc...
and still have deluxe digs in Georgia...
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Jamesukjames on May 13, 2019, 06:33:49 AM
What I love about Slavic women they will travel through anything can you imagine the moaning and strop from a British woman
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 13, 2019, 08:26:45 AM
I left for the UK on Friday and SC - left  with one of my partners, his Bro and Son in his Mini-Van  ( f  you remember he had arrived from Sochi )

They left at  0400 local and got back to Sochi in the early evening  - 995 Km to our place   - door to door - not so much drama with snow and they cleared Georgian formalities in 3 minutes and Russian in 20 minutes !

Now, SC wants to see Batumi - where Maxx2 lives ))

Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Boethius on May 13, 2019, 01:16:02 PM
What I love about Slavic women they will travel through anything can you imagine the moaning and strop from a British woman


Your comment provest yet again, how little you know about Russia and Ukraine.  FSUW are used to being treated like livestock in "in country" travel.  That's why they (and FSUM) don't complain.


Be grateful your country didn't sink to FSU levels of travel service. 


FTR, Russia has improved some of these services, particularly on trains, but many forms of transportation remain at levels Westerners generally would not tolerate.


This post was composed without the aid of google.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Jamesukjames on May 13, 2019, 02:27:21 PM
Total bull Boethius .  They have a completely different mindset and travel wise are far more adventurous.  In fact in most ways.  I in fact by now have far more experience of English and Slavic women than you.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: SteveInBoston on May 13, 2019, 05:14:05 PM
I met a fine few adventurous English women, one who I picked up hitch-hiking in Fort Williams.  I was wearing a see-you-jimmy hat and she still got in.   She had a huge fight with her boyfriend and decided to leave him.  Her boyfriend chased us for about an hour, when she asked for me to pull over because her luggage was still in his car.

I gave them some space, they spoke and made up, and she decide to continue her vacation with him.  Not sure how that went, but I continued on to Edinburgh and had a blast there, before continuing on to Bunol, Spain, for La Tomatina (via the chunnel and several trains).

I met another on the train from Rome to Brindisi.  She and her friends got on the same ferry to Greece.  We shared some great moments.

So far, I think Canadian women are the most adventurous, followed by the Dutch.   Or perhaps vice-versa.


...

Also, I doubt James has more experience with Slavic women than a person who actually lived in Eastern Europe for several years...
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Jamesukjames on May 13, 2019, 09:31:10 PM
As to roads the UK roads are now in decay and approaching ukranain standards.  Things I never expected to see.  A40 London to Oxford massive cracks and subsidence  so bad that there is grass growing and your vehicle is bucked around.   Trees overhanging the roads to the point it's the cars body work that trims the vegetation.   Road signs covered by vegetation or stolen for scrap metal or fallen over due to rust.  Buckinghamshire berkshire Oxfordshire.  Many people living in over crowded housing 4 to a room while there's a glut of over £400000 houses being built.  Slough the next door town to Windsor castle 1000s of  people living in sheds in people's gardens .
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: JayH on May 13, 2019, 10:08:36 PM
As to roads the UK roads are now in decay and approaching ukranain standards.

You have made some really stupid comments on the forum -- now this one !
You have spent 2 1/2 minutes in Ukraine  and  seen a tiny % of roads( and actually driven on even less !!) = meaning you really are clueless.
Comparing Ukrainian roads to the UK roads is about = to your comments on women - in generally nearly as clueless as TC !
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 14, 2019, 02:05:24 AM
Anyway..

THIS thread is about a TR between Russia and Georgia...

Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Maxx2 on May 14, 2019, 02:33:38 AM
Now, SC wants to see Batumi - where Maxx2 lives ))


We've had SC weather lately. Lots of sunshine.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 14, 2019, 03:04:09 AM
Good day, Maxx!

I had to cut SC loose this am, as she is sunbathing on the beach and called to ask if work was 'boring' ;)   She is swimming in the Black Sea

(http://i.imgur.com/zZE4kRL.jpg)

I'm about to post some great memories of Tbilisi - but this one's for you .!

( Maxx can explain )

Seen at 00:30 on our last night together ..

(http://i.imgur.com/HD3PBe9.jpg)

Title: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 14, 2019, 03:19:46 AM
Some Tbilisi moments :

"Mr Happy"'s taxi

Full of bright lights and balloons - plus a quest book ;))

(http://i.imgur.com/FgrQgyo.jpg)

SC cracks up when an elderly guy -  off-shot - asks if we are American tourists and do we know what this car is)) ( Moscowvich)

(http://i.imgur.com/M3XEfvVb.jpg)

SC 'protesting' :

(http://i.imgur.com/deO4UAq.jpg)

Walking along Rustavelli Street

(http://i.imgur.com/sRbq4U3.jpg)

River scene
(http://i.imgur.com/s71tJvdb.jpg)

Posing:
(http://i.imgur.com/ZUAs2q2.jpg)


Secret gardens of Tbilisi

(http://i.imgur.com/WEm92bM.jpg)


Fantastic blend of old and new

(http://i.imgur.com/6hVtoEA.jpg)

Having walked 8km ( 5miles) in her ( I call them clown)  shoes - SC needs a tree for support ! 

(http://i.imgur.com/NOpcoFC.jpg)
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Maxx2 on May 14, 2019, 03:58:13 AM
Good day, Maxx!

I had to cut SC loose this am, as she is sunbathing on the beach and called to ask if work was 'boring' ;)

I'm about to post some great memories of Tbilisi - but this one's for you .!

( Maxx can explain )

Seen at 00:30 on our last night together ..

(http://i.imgur.com/HD3PBe9.jpg)


The Challenger! The car of my youth! My first car was a 70 Challenger. I made poor Moby watch Vanishing Point with me! He wasn't first person I did this too. Probably 2 dozen people since 1971.


There is a black Challenger in the car lot down the street. Motivation for me to get a successful business going.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 14, 2019, 04:02:06 AM
Hi Maxx

it wasn't a chore.. I first saw it at a 'high school' Cine club just south of Manchester - in 76
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Maxx2 on May 14, 2019, 04:02:26 AM



Georgian men are very forward in asking women for their phone numbers... One offered to buy the lady that was visiting me a new pair of shoes.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Maxx2 on May 14, 2019, 04:04:03 AM
Hi Maxx

it wasn't a chore.. I first saw it at a 'high school' Cine club just south of Manchester - in 76


In the States it played in the drive-in theaters for years and years. Finally you could get it in betamax or VHS in the 80s.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 14, 2019, 04:06:06 AM


Georgian men are very forward in asking women for their phone numbers... I had one volunteer to buy the lady that was visiting me a new pair of shoes.


SC is used to such behaviour as there are plenty of guys from the Caucuses  in Sochi .. May be one of them will buy her a stylish pair of shoes ? ;)

NB - I did not buy these ..they are from Thailand and USELESS walking downhill on cobbled streets ;) 
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Maxx2 on May 14, 2019, 07:54:00 AM

SC is used to such behaviour as there are plenty of guys from the Caucuses  in Sochi .. May be one of them will buy her a stylish pair of shoes ? ;)

NB - I did not buy these ..they are from Thailand and USELESS walking downhill on cobbled streets ;)


There is or was a government program that encouraged Western English speakers to come to Georgia and teach Georgian children English. The tutors would be put up with a Georgian family. It was called TLG 'Teach and Learn with Georgia'.


http://www.tlg.gov.ge (http://www.tlg.gov.ge)


 I found a website for these tutors who were mostly women. At the TLG initiation the women were told to wear wedding rings otherwise there would be constant pressure from Georgian men. One woman wrote the men would get hurt feelings if they were told "No".


Here is an article told from a TLG teacher's perspective of TLG


http://www.postpravdamagazine.com/georgia-english-teachers/ (http://www.postpravdamagazine.com/georgia-english-teachers/) It probably came out about the time of the film '5 Days of War'
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: ML on May 14, 2019, 08:00:40 AM

One woman wrote the men would get hurt feelings if they were told "No".

That never worked for me.  i.e. When I told women a 'no' would cause me to be hurt.

Their reply was:  Why the fock should I care ?
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: ML on May 14, 2019, 08:12:41 AM

There is or was a government program that encouraged Western English speakers to come to Georgia and teach Georgian children English. The tutors would be put up with a Georgian family. It was called TLG 'Teach and Learn with Georgia'.

http://www.tlg.gov.ge (http://www.tlg.gov.ge)

 I found a website for these tutors who were mostly women.

Sounds like a good idea.  Probably Ukraine and other FSU countries should try the same.

Was surprised that mostly women were involved.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Maxx2 on May 14, 2019, 08:15:04 AM
This is an amusing excerpt from the article I posted above:


Quote
Naturally, with this being Eastern Europe, cheap and homemade booze was ubiquitous. Whether it was in the staff room at the school, at home, or out at the bars, then chances were that most teachers were drunk. More pressing was that some people just couldn’t handle themselves with the streams of homemade Georgian wine constantly flowing. One participant in my group named something absurd like Hallum Dickens the 3rd decided that he’d just take a shit in the middle of a busy street in the quaint town of Poti. Perhaps the similarities to the word ‘potty’ was too hard to resist? Another teacher ended up getting so inebriated that he fell out of a hostel bunk-bed. When TLG informed him that they would not be covering his medical insurance, he decided to threaten the program with legal action. As a consequence, everyone in the program was informed that TLG would no longer cover their insurance if they were drunk, which of course was the majority of claims. Eventually, TLG teachers started to build a pretty strong and worthy reputation of being pissheads among Georgians.
Title: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 14, 2019, 08:15:50 AM

There is or was a government program that encouraged Western English speakers to come to Georgia and teach Georgian children English. The tutors would be put up with a Georgian family. It was called TLG 'Teach and Learn with Georgia'.


At the TLG initiation the women were told to wear wedding rings otherwise there would be constant pressure from Georgian men. One woman wrote the men would get hurt feelings if they were told "No".


Here is an article told from the Russian perspective of TLG


http://www.postpravdamagazine.com/georgia-english-teachers/ It probably came out about the time of the film '5 Days of War'

SC WAS intimidated on day one - if she walked ahead or behind - or waited in another place - while I sought the Yandex / Uber / Bolt driver who stopped on the wrong side of a busy street ))

I don't normally get angry - just smile - when I see a guy try to hit on her and enjoy - speaking to  her in English and  observing my erstwhile 'opposition' discussing who I am to her in Russian - just as the taxi comes .

By day two - we were making a game of letting her go ahead and she enjoyed the cars hooting and  taxi drivers stopping to offer free rides and driving off when she asked if I can come - happened twice in one day..


Beel, has been to Georgia and will testify that - contrarily  - some men are protective of their sisters / daughters ..

On SCs last day she was on her won in the centre and 'survived' the experience .. She got 'ripped off ' - paying 4 times the cost of a sim card and the smallest credit - by a 'kind' taxi driver who took her to her brother's shop ..

She had my Georgian MasterCard - so I got the amount they cheated her refunded ;)   I have to say this was the only experience we had of 'cheating' ...  $8 !

Overall, the Georgians were friendly and - like any city - there are tourist traps and a few  losers on the make

Title: The things we do for love
Post by: Boethius on May 14, 2019, 08:24:48 AM
Having walked 8km ( 5miles) in her ( I call them clown)  shoes - SC needs a tree for support ! 


They are called espadrilles.


This post was composed without the aid of google.
Title: Re: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 14, 2019, 08:32:11 AM
These are 'extreme' ones !

Now, I know a more classy term - it may help me come to terms with them -  thank you, Boethius
Title: Re: The things we do for love
Post by: Jamesukjames on May 14, 2019, 12:56:39 PM
Nice weather.  So do you recommend Georgia as a retirement destination.   I mearly ask as I'm starting to think of my retirement future.  At present I'm toying with carteghena region of Spain or Tenerife .  Just can't face being cooped up for UK 6 month winters.  Just wondered what your thoughts were as you've been about a bit.  French med seems expensive and mainland France can be cold in winter.
Title: Re: The things we do for love
Post by: Chelseaboy on May 14, 2019, 03:57:25 PM
James,

            Take a look at the island of Madeira as a retirement destination.
Title: Re: The things we do for love
Post by: Davo on May 14, 2019, 04:17:24 PM


(http://i.imgur.com/HD3PBe9.jpg)

On my recent holiday I saw several late model mustangs.

I’m a Chrysler / Mopar fan also. I’ve owned several Australian models..... A 318 charger, 245 Pacer and a 265 VJ Ute in my youth. My second race car was an open wheeler running a E49 spec 265 clone engine. I regret selling the street cars now as locally produced  Chrysler prices have for through the roof in Australia.
Title: Re: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 14, 2019, 09:37:12 PM
Nice weather.  So do you recommend Georgia as a retirement destination.   I mearly ask as I'm starting to think of my retirement future.  At present I'm toying with carteghena region of Spain or Tenerife .  Just can't face being cooped up for UK 6 month winters.  Just wondered what your thoughts were as you've been about a bit.  French med seems expensive and mainland France can be cold in winter.

Hi James

You'd best ask Maxx2


I've only been in March, April and May :)



SC hasn't seen Batumi, yet

Title: Re: The things we do for love
Post by: Maxx2 on May 15, 2019, 12:01:06 AM
Hi James

You'd best ask Maxx2


I've only been in March, April and May :)



SC hasn't seen Batumi, yet


Batumi or Tbilisi Georgia has its limitations for those who do mind inconveniences.


This morning I woke up and the electricity was off. That happens from time to time. So I get the empty coffee pot and go out to the outdoor well to get some water. 


(http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/32909696277_e33e23c6ee.jpg)


With a match I light the stove


(http://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47853776631_2d8c11ef9d.jpg)


A little while later Joggo and Nana my landlord and lady and their dog Bruno come by with an empty pot to fill. They tell me the power will come back on at "Dave-it chis-soff"  9 AM. It came on at "Dave-it sore-ik pat chis-soff". If you find things like this charming and amusing you'll love living as a retiree in The Republic of Georgia. I like modernity of Batumi, but I also like the touches of the olden days. I could see myself living up in the mountains looking out over the Black Sea in the distance with a milk cow in the backyard with the chickens. 
Title: Re: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 15, 2019, 12:38:53 AM
Brilliant, Maxx...

I think at some time you should show us your upstair's 'neighbours' daughters ;)

You'll be inundated with visitors ;)
Title: Re: The things we do for love
Post by: Maxx2 on May 15, 2019, 12:59:48 AM
Brilliant, Maxx...

I think at some time you should show us your upstair's 'neighbours' daughters ;)

You'll be inundated with visitors ;)




Ages 22 and 24  Respectful and traditional Georgian sisters.


Title: Re: The things we do for love
Post by: msmob on May 15, 2019, 01:05:53 AM
Only met the younger daughter - who speaks EXCELLENT English

She is better looking in reality
Title: Re: The things we do for love
Post by: Maxx2 on May 15, 2019, 02:34:38 AM
Only met the younger daughter - who speaks EXCELLENT English

She is better looking in reality


Yes, true. But it is not right for me to post their photo so I took it down.