Belarus (Minsk)

[XMan]

Been to Russia and Ukraine, know very little (near zero) about Minsk or Belarus.

Anyone traveled there?

What was your experience like? 

Thanks.

[Taz]

I can't say that it is my favorite place in the world. The government is very oppressive. I felt like I was being "watched" while there. No, I am not paranoid either. It seems like all the bad things about every FSU country all collectively rolled up into one country...

OTOH - some very attractive women there. I can't say I'll ever go back there. Of course all the negative things may make it the ideal place to find a desperate wife.

[XMan]

OK.   
I think "scariest situation imaginable" would have sufficed. 
:-) 

I don't think a DESPERATE wife is what I'm after. 
That would be a world of bad in more ways than I can adequately depict in mere words alone. 

Thanks for the honest feedback, regardless.

[Daveman]

OK.   
I think "scariest situation imaginable" would have sufficed. 
:-) 

I don't think a DESPERATE wife is what I'm after. 
That would be a world of bad in more ways than I can adequately depict in mere words alone. 

Thanks for the honest feedback, regardless.

Heh, I can think of a few which could be more scary... Belorussian does not necessarily equate to AutoDesperate.  Or a woman in a bad situation who would prefer a change does not equate to "bad selfish woman looking *only* for a quick ticket out".  It just emphasizes the need to obey the Law of Don't Be A Dumbass and not rush to marry a woman you don't really know... time and communication will answer any pertinent questions for both of you.

So, if you've found one or two ladies there who pique your interest/curiosity, don't be too afraid. You'd most likely survive the real life encounter, just keep in mind what Taz wrote and use your common sense.

[XMan]

Understood. 

I'm a believer in the commandments and the "Law of don't be a Dumbass," as well as it's counterparts, Smartass and Jackass.

:-)   

(Never can get the emoticons to work.) 

Trying to keep options open.  Just don't want to do anything stupid.
Thanks.

[Taz]

IMHO - Belarus isn't worth the risk for the potential reward. You can find good women everywhere in the FSU. If you are a US Citizen, it is tough to beat Ukraine as a place to go. The lack of a visa requirement makes it more convenient and less costly.

OTOH there is a contrarian streak in me that says go far away from where many people might go. I like to do that as well. So based on that logic, Belarus could be very good. But at what point do you stop using that type of logic. Heck, there is Transnistria. A good blend of off the beaten path but not too extreme is Siberia.

My first really deep RW romance was in Siberia. As a group, my favorite people are the Siberians. I've made some wonderful friends there that even after decades of knowing them, we still remain close.

Daveman is correct in that a woman from there isn't automatically desperate BUT any place that is very hard hit by the financial crisis will have that effect ripple through their society. I never wanted to find a woman's motive to migrate was economic...

[elliott]

I'm looking forward to a trip to Belarus.  Similar to Taz, I want to visit the country that most people do not go.  I'll fly into Minsk, then hit up Hrodna, Slonim, Brest, and maybe some others before heading south into Ukraine and making my way through that country and up into Russia.  I'm in the early planning stages now, but I think it will take a couple months to complete the trip.  I'm already excited about it; I think Belarus is definitely worth the time and money.

[tfcrew]

Ukraine - No visa required
Russia - Visas start at $55
Belarus - Visas start at $220

[pitbull]

Ukraine - No visa required
Russia - Visas start at $55
Belarus - Visas start at $220

Not true. Belarus - visas start at $131. However, if the cost of visa makes a huge financial difference, the guy probably can't afford the whole endeavor anyway.

[Mars]

Not true. Belarus - visas start at $131. However, if the cost of visa makes a huge financial difference, the guy probably can't afford the whole endeavor anyway.

There is some truth in this, however there are other ways to look at it if one is at all practical and not the type that throws money around recklessly.  Think marginal costs.

For instance; go to Country One with zero visa cost vs go to Country Two with visa and related costs of $200 or so.  Not a biggie you say.

OK, now multiply this difference in visa and related costs by (X + Y) where X is the number of trips the man likely makes before the gal arrives in USA and Y is the number of trips back to the wife's homeland over the life of the USA partner.  And the visa hassle each time is an added consideration.

[AlesjA]

I know a new information resource about Belarus - www.belarus.by.
This is official country site with general information and specials recommendations for travels.

[Irida]

  funny!!

[viking]

I just came back from Belarus. Second time there. I had zero problems and did just about anything I wanted. I had no fear about anyone "watching" me or anything else like that. The women there are quite beautiful and friendly and many speak english. I did not spend a lot of time in Minsk as my fiancee lives in Gomel.However there are some very nice parks and places of interest, especially in the warmer months. Going in the winter is not recommended.

The visa for a US citizen is $131. One entry and one exit. I used a service that cost me another $50 or so as I did not have the time or energy to go to a Belarus embassey. Train service in and around Belarus is excellent and inexpensive. But remember that the border patrol does not speak english nor do the attendants on the trains. Something you must take under consideration.

If you go to Belarus first, then down to the Ukraine and then plan to go back "up" to Russia, ( Moscow/St. Petersburg) you may have to travel back through Belarus again. I am not sure about this, but if you do, make sure you then have a multiple pass visa.

If you have any specific questions, let me know.

[XMan]

Viking,

Can you recommend a website / service for apartment rental? 
Interpreter?
PM me if you prefer.
Thanks.

[RussianWind]

I was in Minsk yesterday 
It reminds me Russia few years ago, though roads are much better and prices are much cheaper.
Decent hotels can be quite expensive due to their limited number (I have such feeling)

[elliott]

Going in the winter is not recommended.

Please compare the winter to somewhere in the states.  Are we talking something like a Rocky Mountains winter or wind-swept North Dakota winter?  I lived in the mountains of Colorado where snowfall exceeds 300 inches and occasionally 400 inches.  I've also lived in ND where the wind blows 50 mph with thirty below zero actual temps.  It's not pleasant.  I'm wondering how Belarus compares.

If you go to Belarus first, then down to the Ukraine and then plan to go back "up" to Russia, ( Moscow/St. Petersburg) you may have to travel back through Belarus again.

I can go straight into Russia via Lugansk, Kharkov, Sumy or a couple other places without re-entering Belarus.

[viking]

Xman

I do not think I can be of much help here. She made all the travel arrangements and got a flat from a friend of a friend. I was pretty much out of the loop. All I did was pay for everything. 

[viking]

Elliot

Go to Yahoo weather or some other sites that can give you average past temps during any particular month. I have not been there in winter so I cannot personally say what you will expect but I have heard from others that Russia can be a horror story. You seem to know cold ( compared to some dude from say Florida) so you may not be too surprised, but check the stats before leaving. It can go to sub zero with wind chill factors making it colder. But being inland and not so far north as say St. Petersburg, perhaps not as bad as over there. Still damn cold.

[jimz10]

Wasn't Belarus the area hit hardest by the nuclear fallout from the reactor problem north of Kiev?  Aren't some areas of Belarus considered dangerous to visit even now because of that?  I've also read that the scammer ratio is higher in Minsk than most areas.
http://www.nirs.org/reactorwatch/accidents/cherfact.htm

[kievstar]

Belarus was hit hard and so was Kiev among other areas.  Kiev is probably worse today as they never cleaned it all up. 

Not so sure the scammer ratio is high in Belarus.