New to this site - where do I go to look for assistance in Moscow (airport, etc)

[CarlR]

Hi All,
   Well, I'm not exactly a newbie - but it has been about 10 years since I went to Russia (heading into Moscow)…  I found this site because I was looking for an old friend (Alexei Konychev) who used to get me from SVO to my hotel - then to train station, etc…  No recent info about him on this site - and his home phone # and email addresses don't work anymore.

  At that time (back in 2002 thru 2004) I was using Agency Virginia in Yoshkar-Ola - but Maxim has passed on - and now the contacts I have are gone...

  So, I'm looking for a reliable 'good' person to handle getting around in Moscow…  also, if I can't find my old interpreter  (a friend named Elena - trying her old email addresses, etc… tonight)…  it would be handy to line up a good one in case I need them.

  Any assistance would be appreciated…    I wish you…

All the Best!, (Svoah Harosheva)
Carl….

[Daveman]

Hi All,
   Well, I'm not exactly a newbie - but it has been about 10 years since I went to Russia (heading into Moscow)…  I found this site because I was looking for an old friend (Alexei Konychev) who used to get me from SVO to my hotel - then to train station, etc…  No recent info about him on this site - and his home phone # and email addresses don't work anymore.

  At that time (back in 2002 thru 2004) I was using Agency Virginia in Yoshkar-Ola - but Maxim has passed on - and now the contacts I have are gone...

  So, I'm looking for a reliable 'good' person to handle getting around in Moscow…  also, if I can't find my old interpreter  (a friend named Elena - trying her old email addresses, etc… tonight)…  it would be handy to line up a good one in case I need them.

  Any assistance would be appreciated…    I wish you…

All the Best!, (Svoah Harosheva)
Carl….

I do know a very capable guide/terp for the Moscow area who is one of the best English speakers I've ever encountered in Russia/Ukraine.  Another member here, turboguy, referred her to me.  I used her service back in 2007 during a very lengthy layover.  She showed me around the city, and transferred me between the SVO's. She's an all around wonderful lady and fun to boot.  As far as I know, she's still doing this.


Drop me a PM and I'll dig up/verify her contact info and put you in touch with her.

[CarlR]

Thanks Muchly Daveman… :-)

[mendeleyev]

Carl, I think that you are going to be surprised about the many changes in Moscow over the past 18 months. In preparation for the Sochi Olympics and all those visitors, the city is bursting with bi-lingual signs, Metro maps, and even some street corner guide kiosks offering free directions assistance to tourists. As you've been to Moscow before, I'm not sure that you'll need a translator just to get around.

Wishing you the best for your trip.

You may wish to give this Moscow guide a quick read as well: http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=15818.0

[Turboguy]

I do know a very capable guide/terp for the Moscow area who is one of the best English speakers I've ever encountered in Russia/Ukraine.  Another member here, turboguy, referred her to me.

I assume you are talking about Alla and I would totally recommend her as one of the outstanding people I met in my journey.  I am sure she would be happy to help you and everyone who has ever met her thinks the world of her. 

[CarlR]

Thanks Mendeleyev & Turboguy…

  Mendeleyev - my trip isn't until the first of May… - The lady has a full-time job (as I do) and we're working out when both of us will be able to spend a few days in Moscow.  Looks like the first of May is it.  Before, because of the Agency - all my trips were 3+ weeks…  That way, if there wasn't any 'chemistry' between myself and the lady - well, I could then meet other ladies who were local to Yoshkar-Ola…  This time - no Agency…  FYI: as I explained to Daveman in my PM - I had corresponded with this lady several years ago (8 or 9) and was planning on going to meet her - then, the Infernal Revenue Service (IRS) and I got into a disagreement - and so, I was unable to go.  I don't think it fair - to correspond with a lady if I can't go and meet her - so, we stopped our correspondence.  When I got the IRS happy - and was able to travel again - Maxim had died and the Agency was gone.

  So, the extra stuff in Moscow will be better - but I'll be long after the Winter Olympics… - and getting around in Moscow - well, I'll never forget walking from my hotel to a Kentucky Fried Chicken - to introduce the lady I was seeing (and her two kids) to some American food. ;-)  I didn't really have a problem - but they were getting tired and were so surprised… when I walked up to the KFC…  Yeah, I can handle many things… but as I tell my kids… - about snow, ice, etc…  Just because you can 'handle a situation'… doesn't always mean you 'want to'… - i.e. cold weather, snow, ice, etc… ;-)  I prefer to be in the company of someone who already knows how to get around and is familiar… not so much with where to go… but who knows - "where NOT to go!" ;-)   LOL...

  The lady had actually married a Russian - and so, about 3 months ago - on Facebook - I received a friend request from someone in Russia - and when I investigated (asking how I knew them) it was this lady.  She's divorced - and as she puts it "I have always wondered about you."  So, I figure - "Why not go and meet her?"  Admittedly - going for only a few days is an 'iffy' situation - but by meeting in Moscow - even if it doesn't work out - there's a lot of sight-seeing to do and I do like Russia…  so much history.

About first meetings - I am of the opinion that there are 4 possible results… 2 good… 2 bad…

1.  He likes she - she likes he - and they wish to meet again… (good)
2.  Neither likes the other enough to want to meet again… (good)
3.  He likes she - she doesn't wish to meet again… (bad)
4.  She likes he - he doesn't wish to meet again… (bad)

  So, a 25% chance of an optimum result… - the main thing is to not get one's hopes too high… and go with the flow.  Then again - my favorite saying is: "Believe in the Magic of your Dreams!"…  So, if I do not go to meet her - I will wonder forever… what might have been. ;-)

  Alexei was so handy and helpful… I remember walking out of the customs/immigration area at SVO - and seeing Alexei there…  At that point I could relax… - Alexei knew the best places for 'exchange rates' - could handle where the best place was to get a cell… etc… etc… and when I saw Moscow traffic - I KNEW I had chosen wisely - to not drive… ;-)  Alexei knew the best place to go and get a coffee pot and coffee grinder - so I could have it at my hotel or where I was going…  It is just so much better - and I usually find - that I make 'friends' with people in an area…  I seem to remember the time I took Alexei and his wife to a Pizza Hut there in Moscow…  That was a 'hoot'…

  So, whatever happens with the lady (hopefully she's *the one*) - I will enjoy going back to Russia… and enjoying the spring…  Next year, hopefully I'll be going back to Yoshkar-Ola and the Yolka tree in the square… early in the morning… after going to parties all night…  Geesh!…  LOL…  I remember a New Year's Eve in Kungur (about 100 clicks SSE of Perm) - 40 below… band on an outdoor stage - dancing and having a ball…  Some excellent memories and experiences… - and some wonderful people… :-)

  I'll look forward to the info on Alla - so I can start the arrangements… :-)

Carl...

[ML]

the city is bursting with bi-lingual signs,

OK, so maybe they are relaxing somewhat the discrimination toward homo's and bi's  . . . but I doubt they are putting up signs directing where to meet up with such persons.

Or, if they are, it is only fair that they show where to meet up with hetero's also.

[mendeleyev]

ML, at least in Russia the kids aren't driving muscle cars with the seat lowered, steering wheel up, and the radio pulsating all the while bragging about how they're "rolling with their homos..."   

[CarlR]

Hi All,

   Now, as a 'newbie' here - I have a polite request…  Requested with all due respect and humility…

  Let's not start this as an argument about the 'conditions' in Moscow (or Russia)…  I ask to stay 'on topic' and not 'hijack' the thread - with people having snappy comebacks at each other.  Sorry to be so direct - but many threads here start off fine - and then… the bickering begins… (or, so it seems to me ;-) )…

  Now, I could be as 'full of **it' as a Christmas turkey - however, it gets boring - wading through the back and forth in some threads… ;-)

All the Best!,
Carl...

[ML]

Come on now Carl.  If you just concentrated on what Mendy and I wrote in several threads . . . you would get a wonderful education and your IQ would go up at least 10 points.

This increase would be permanent, and would pass on to your offspring also.

What a deal . . . and all at no cost.