Im Baaaack!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cranehand]

well folks I made it.  33 days and a half a world away I found the most interesting, caring,tender and sincere woman I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

  I must say I would not trade it for anything.
 
Being a virgin world traveler before this I was nervous but not scared.  I jumped a plane to Kiev to meet Alesya and put to the test all that was virtual and bring to reality a relationship that had all the markings of true emotional connections.
 She is everything and more than I expected.

The flight to Kiev by way of Rome was great. No lost luggage, no delay and most uneventful. Continental airlines gets a thumbs up from me. Ukrainian International Airlines also two thumbs up and a atta boy!!!!

landed in Kiev breezed through customs, Green line of course. Walked through the glass doors and.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!  There she was standing 10 feet from me. Looking no less the Smokin Hoykova that I had been in contact with for 5 month prior to today.
A big long hug that seemed to last for 10 minuets
and a kiss that was , well I'm not gonna go there. But it was like we had known one another forever.

 It is about 100 yards to the street form the doors and there they were THE RUSSIAN CABBIES. With a few Ne yet spaseebas they disappeared into the distance behind us. And were off to the train station via city bus to ride the rails for the next 13 hours. She had bought all four tickets and her trip from Kherson for 70 $ this woman has MADDD!!! skills.


 We had a few hours to  kill before the train left so we sat down and shared beef jerkey, trail mix some dried fruit and crackers that , because of people here on this forum I packed into my checked bags. This was a very good idea and was a great conversation starter. She was a little surprised that I had done this and of course I being the true MAN, Did not tell her it really was not my idea. HE HE HE HE!!!!!

Stay tuned for the rest of the story.

[tfcrew]

Stay tuned for the rest of the story.

intriguing

[Daveman]

welcome home! glad everything seems to have gone very well for you.  Looking forward to the rest of the story.

[UTRO]

Excellent! Bring on the rest of the tale Big Guy

[ECOCKS]

Nice to have some positive news reported on the forum for a change.

[myrddin]

Welcome back, cranehand!  Sounds like one heck of a trip!! 

[Vaughn]

Here's hoping you don't keep us waiting 33 more days for the continuation...

Sounded like a nice first face-to-face...

[Mars]

landed in Kiev breezed through customs, Green line of course.

 It is about 100 yards to the street form the doors and there they were THE RUSSIAN CABBIES.

 We had a few hours to  kill before the train left so we sat down and shared beef jerkey, trail mix some dried fruit and crackers that . . . .

Wow, to think you landed in Kyiv (not Kiev) and there were no Ukrainian Cabbies there.  Has Russia actually invaded with cabbies as the first wave???  :-))

The trail mix is a great idea . . . but, there is a McDonalds just across from the Kyiv train station.

Best to you.

[Shadow]

I do not got to Kyiv to get McDonalds... for that I go the the USA . :evil:

[Mars]

I do not got to Kyiv to get McDonalds... for that I go the the USA . :evil:

I doubt anyone goes to Kyiv strictly to eat at McDonalds.  :-))

However,  given the choice of a hot chicken sandwich and hot coffee, or eating trail mix and beef jerky, most will choose the former.  The latter is great when you are trapped somewhere with no choices.

And, despite the disdain people like to express for McDonalds,  their outlets in the FSU are always packed wall to wall.  Even, many of the very sophisticated women we are visiting there are not adverse to going to Macs when something quick is needed. They just hope none of their friends see them.  :-))

Further, after a long time with no Western breakfast menu at Macs in FSU, it is finally catching on there; and many of the women there love those breakfasts once they try it.

[cranehand]

Well here we go,
 I'm 7000 miles from home in the former United Soviet Socialist Republic looking at this beautiful woman we are sitting across from one another at this picnic like table in a grand room with chandeliers and ornate ceilings. We have had our fill of Jack Links jerky and dried fruit.  She smiles and says,  Kitten <---her nickname for me are you thirsty?
Well of course I was parched I had just flown half way round the world.  I reply "yes darling".  She reaches into this, for lack of a better term (giant purse)  more on this later,  and pulls from it a bottle of champagne and two plastic cups. LOL!!!!!!!! my eyes light up like a Christmas tree.  I pop the cork and with an echoing sound,  like a gunshot I let it fly straight toward the ceiling.  If you have never been to the train station there,  You might think this was a bad idea but the ceiling in this cafe has got to be 45 feet high or more and painted with murals of different areas of this diverse country.  She giggles and says,  " I congratulate us"  I pour her cup first,  of course and we toast to our first meeting and heath, wealth and happiness together.  I had done my homework and I figure she toted this bottle of champagne 13 hours across Ukraine. So I reach into my bag and remove one of several gifts that I had brought for her and family and friends.  It is nothing expensive or extravagant but thoughtful and clever.  I brought a few things from my home state and town.  It was a great surprise for her and she truly enjoyed it.  The smile from ear to ear was a dead give away.

More to come!!!!

Sorry folks I'm trying to write this between cleaning house and washing clothes.

The time has come to go to the platform to get on the train.  I really don't know what to expect from the train ride. I have never been on one for more than an hour or so.  We step onto the platform and there it is.  Wooden windows,  flaking blue paint and looking like something from the movie Casablanca. But if the first 4 hours is any indication of how this trip will be.  I am in for the trip of my life.  We board the train and settle into our bunks just her and I.  I could not imagine 2 other people in here with us, quite small and at 6'5" and 250 lbs I didn't get much rest but the experience was great I wouldn't want to be with any other person than Alesya.  She has done this trip from Kherson and back more times than she can count.  We have both been up for about 36 hours at this point so we turn out the light and I get what rest I can.

I awake around 5:30 am and we still have a few hours to go before Kherson.  I stumble to the hallway to the toilet.  There is hot water from the tap for which I am very thankful freshen my face and go back to the bunk.  Alesya is now awake and smiling still.  She says "Good morning kitten"  and my heart melts yet again :p.  I reach into my bag and remove some TP Charmine the good stuff.  She asks What is that? I reply toilet paper.  She laughs and asks you brought TP from America?  Of course I reply I read somewhere that the paper here was not for the faint of heart.  She laughs again and says.  No wonder you need so many bags.  LOL!!!!!!!
Beauty and a sense of humor At 5:30 in the morning.  This woman is like no other.
She proceeds to tell me how special their TP is,  we clean windows, walls, floors and many other things with it.  LOL I reply I only need to clean my backside.  We get a good laugh together.  Life is good!!!!

After the good laugh she asks me if I am hungry.  I could eat I reply and again she reaches into her (giant purse) and removes from it some grilled bread rubbed with garlic,  some smoked fish, Mandarin oranges and local cheese she picked up before she left Kherson.  Well I can say for sure that I have been deeply immersed into full blown FSU mode now.  The food, sites and sounds and the rocking of the train for the last 11 hours.  But my mood is good and I have no complaints.  If she can do I can do it I decide.  The bread was great,  the smoked fish was good the mandarins were awesome and the shot of vitamin C was good.  The cheese was the icing on the cake.  It was made by her friends family and it was very tasty.  We enjoyed the rest of the champagne.  I gotta tell ya,  I never thought this would be a culinary adventure I figured I would stick to the basics thought,  If it looked like something I would cook I could avoid a bad case of the bubble guts. But drinking champagne for breakfast eating fish, toast and cheese with oranges.  I am having the time of my life so far. We finish up with a side by side at the sink brushing our teeth and washing our hands.

With an hour to go we gather up the linenins from the bunks and get ready to arrive in Kherson. 
  I take a quick look outside the window and visibility is about 1/2 a mile and it looks COLD!!!!!!!  We darn the cold weather gear as the train screeches to a halt at the Kherson train station.  I announce that I am ready to go,  she looks at me and says "No kitten you are not".  What is wrong I ask?  She proceeds to redo my scarf, hat, coat and gloves until she is satisfied that I wont freeze to death.  WOW!!!!!!! again is this really happening,  someone truly concerned about MY well being.  I go in for the second kiss and get no sign of rejection I'm home free.  Thank you darling I say and we step off the train.

Kherson Ukraine,

First impression,  Its FN COLD!!!!!!!!! -5 deg 30kt wind the snow is blowing sideways.  I have not seen this kind of weather since I moved from Colorado 4 years ago.  But with the help of my girl and the warm welcome I have received from her to this point all is well.  The flat is about 1/2 mile walk from the station and we are off.  I tell her I want to stop at the store and grab some food for dinner.  She smiles and says no need for that We will be having Borscht for dinner. MMMMMMMM!!!!!! sounds yummy I say and we proceed to the flat.  This woman has thought of everything.  Sounding to good to be true?  You are going to have to wait for the rest of the story.

I promise more to come!!!!!!

[Markus]

cranehand,

Welcome back. It sounds like your trip was smooth sailing. You should get used to her adjusting your coat, scarf, etc. because my wife did the same thing on day 1
and she continues today. What you wear with Alesya in public will probably be on her list of observations too. It's a good thing. I'm glad to see the sense of humor
she has. My wife is the same way.

I see you got to experience some Russian bread, which is so much better than American bread.

When is your next visit?

Mark

[myrddin]

  The cheese was the icing on the cake.

heh heh, cheese-icing.  

I do like the food but that doesn't sound like my thing.

[UTRO]

Cranehead is Alesya's котёнок (kotic), cute!

A caring Russian Woman she will never ever let her man out of the house in winter without a hat, scarf and mitts

[Faux Pas]

crane,

Great TR and good detail. FWIW I've taken jerky on every trip and it never failed to mesmerize everyone in an area you could hit with a shotgun. Of course it was always referred to as "meat".

[cranehand]

well here is a bit more,

We drag the bags down the street and over the frozen ground.  To the 9 story bldg where the flat is on,  yep you got it 9th floor.  But the lift works it was about the size of a cereal box but hey beets the 9 flights of stairs .   It had no posted load  limit We ride it to the top we finally made it to home for the next 33 days.  We step inside and peel off the shoes, again doing some homework I found out that we were to wear slippers indoors.  But before I could get to my bag she reaches and grabs a pair of brand new slippers from the drawer of the coat rack/cabinet.   WOW!!!! again Am I in heaven is this my angel?  These are for you she says.  Darling I wear size 15 I say,  It took me a week to find a pair to fit me. I bought them for you kitten please try she replies.  What do you know they fit.  O.K. is it to early to say I am falling in love The flat was nice and cozy and had updated wallpaper and the kitchen Had new appliances.   Home sweet home . 

  I should tell at this point I broke a commandment before I went and sent money to her to secure accommodations,  Procure food and drink and anything else we were going to need.  It was a chance I took with her and I got no regret.  I felt she was worthy of trust and I am thankful for her honesty.  She even had a detailed list of what she had spent the cash on and the remainder was still in 100$ bills at the flat.

All  I want at this point is a hot shower and sleep.  I ask if she wants to rest a while before dinner.  She says no baby I need start cooking.  Do you need help I ask.  She flat out refused and says.  Kitten what do you know about cooking Borscht?  I know it has beets in it I reply .  Her eyes widen and she says peel potatoes.  I can do that I reply.  So off we go for my first Borscht cooking lesson.

[BrianW]

Cranehand,


Great story so far. I'm glad you had a good time. It's so unusual to read positive things on this board.

How did you meet this lady? She sounds great, like so many of these women are.

[cranehand]

On with the story,
A little history first for those who are asking. Alesya and I meet through Kherson Girls.  This agency is run by Kevin Hayes who lives in Florida.  The agency has video chat and other services with reasonable prices and real people in there database.  We hit it off in a big way and within a month she had taken it upon herself to set up internet and we left the agency permanently.  We have never looked back and have enjoyed getting to know each other through Skype, phone calls and email.  The only thing left to do was get on a plane and go to see her in the flesh.  I did this with high hopes and an open mind that it would be a continuation of all that we knew through electronic communication.  She speaks English well and continues to study now.  Every day she has amazed me with her commitment to meet half way on every thing we have done.  This in my opinion is very important to building a solid relationship.  IT TAKES TWO to tango.

So the Borscht was great I liked it very much and the vodka was good also.  She told me this was a traditional meal and considering the company I was in I wouldn't have changed a thing and I think I could get used to this tradition . This woman is a great cook.  this was evident from the 10 pounds I gained while I was there.  After our fill we retired to the horizontal position for the next two days and caught up on some much needed rest.


After we got rested up we hit the town.  The flat was only about 200 yards off the main drag in Kherson and we were not far from her mothers flat.  The public transportation was another thing that surprised me.  buses everywhere and people were packed in like sardines we could learn a few things here in the states about this.  We have it here but no one uses it.  We are very spoiled when it comes to putting this kind of transportation to use.  I really didn't mind ,  she said it is normal and far be it from me to upset the balance by insisting on taking a taxi every where.  Which by the way was only suggested maybe 2 or 3 times while I was there.  She always said no kitten it is to expensive.  Buses only run until 9 pm so when we went to shoot billiards and stayed out beyond 9 we did take a taxi but I think the weather was really crummy that night.

BTW some advice to anyone who has never played Russian Billiards.  Its freaking hard.  I may have beaten her once in about 50 games So much for male ego.  I just smiled and said lets play again darling.  We had a lot of fun doing this at EGO it is a club/cafe/disco in town.  It was a nice place and somewhat laid back. Good beer and drinks.

I found the local gym and bought a few days to workout a little.  She continued to work while I was there.  She is somewhat self employed and this was great.  She worked when she wanted to and even had clients come to the flat where we stayed.  This was actually really cool I couldn't understand what they were talking about but it was nice to see her interact with other people when I was there.  She is a talented artist and a very hard worker.  She enjoys what she does (nails) and her clients like her work.

[UTRO]

So far, so good Cranehead! Are you going to post any photos of you and your girl?

[innakrug]

Cranehead is Alesya's котёнок (kotic), cute!

A caring Russian Woman she will never ever let her man out of the house in winter without a hat, scarf and mitts

  Very true
I even put my husbands s :)ocks and teeshort on top of warm radiator:) if the weather is cold and he has to go work in a morning Very exiting story, brings back a lot of nice memories.

[Jumper]

Cranehead, that is great!
 and thanks for sharing!
it brings back a lot of very familiar memories
(from my  trip, about 8 or 9 years ago!)