Hi to all and some help on trip to Siberia

[OlgaH]

I'd like to see ya in 'em.

No problem  but only after Faux Pas's hint where to get them. I even ready to sacrifice 15 minutes to put them on and take off if their elegance is worth it 

[markc444]

and better to have a pair of good warm boots made of natural materials even if you are going to go in March and don't forget a waterproofing wax (polish or spray).

I guess that means a good pair of tennis shoes is out of the picture huh.  

I recently bought a plane ticket and ordered my visa on the same day. I will be around Siberia (Novosib) for 28 days, arriving on the first day of visa and leaving with a 2 day cushion. (I was once delayed a couple days because of flight cancellations but never more than that). Has anyone ever ordered a visa from an agent like say GotoRussia travel and not received a 30 day tourist visa for the days requested?

I am curious, did you get your ticket and your visa all through gotorussia or one at one gotorussia and the other  from another place.  I was thinking the easiest way would be to get it all done at the same time with the same agency.  Would it not be easier to have them handle it all and they would be sure to have all he correct dates I need.  I was just thinking of best way to make this as painless as possible and  I would think the less contacts the better.  Or how does it work with the airplane tickets.  Do they ever have discounted fairs or does that just not happen on these routes.  Would it be good to set it up with gotorussia to alert me when a fair is cheaper.  If anyone does not mind adding there thoughts, is there a reason not to use the visa company for the whole process just for convenience.  And again..I am sure you are tired of hearing me say it, but thanks again in advance for the help.

I'd like to see ya in 'em.

Mark: And..........all you wanted to know was how to get there.

Haha...yes thats true.  But this way has been much more fun and entertaining as well as very helpful.   You folks are a good bunch even when you do argue with each other.  Well at least to me you are, I have seen I better let ya'll speak for yourselves.  

[OlgaH]

I guess that means a good pair of tennis shoes is out of the picture huh.  

I guess a good pair of tennis shoes can work too but along with valenki   

[youtube=425,350]R1o0FKkc7n4[/youtube]

[UTRO]

Mark, I always bought my Tickets before I got my Visa... but say there's that off chance that you aren't granted the privilege of a Visa by the Russian government? Not that it would happen, but you never know. In 2008, before I bought a multi-entry Business Visa, I was denied a Visitor Visa by the Toronto Consulate. I had already bought the Tickets! I tell you man, it was a stressful couple of hours until I ended up going to an Agency and they back doored through the Embassy in Ottawa for me. Good thing, my Flight Tickets were nonrefundable. 
Just some food for thought!

[UTRO]

My inputs from experience!
Then the lightbulb...I bought a head to toe snowmobile outfit good to -50. Cost less than $300. Welllllllllllll! I pulled that sucker out to show my wife and she laughed and said I will not be seen on the street with you wearing that! Only the army and police wear this.

and the Streetcleaners!!

Boaterguy! 

This is why Russians and Canadians can pick out an American in a Crowd! A very cold Crowd!! 

[dogspot]

I am curious, did you get your ticket and your visa all through gotorussia or one at one gotorussia and the other  from another place.  I was thinking the easiest way would be to get it all done at the same time with the same agency.  Would it not be easier to have them handle it all and they would be sure to have all he correct dates I need.  I was just thinking of best way to make this as painless as possible and  I would think the less contacts the better.  Or how does it work with the airplane tickets.  Do they ever have discounted fairs or does that just not happen on these routes.  Would it be good to set it up with gotorussia to alert me when a fair is cheaper.  If anyone does not mind adding there thoughts, is there a reason not to use the visa company for the whole process just for convenience.

I bought my visa through GotoRussia (my 4th time using them for this service) but have never used them as a travel agent. I have found the best way to travel in Russia is using the same carrier for all flights, both inteernational and domestic. I do this because last year I had a flight cancelled in Tyumen and was stranded for 2 days in both Tyumen and Moscow. Fortunately, I bought my tickets from Aeroflot for all flights and they put me up in hotels and got me home hassel free. I am sure this would not be the case if I used different carriers purchased through a travel agent.

Sometimes I use vayama to search for flights but for my last 3 trips I have ended up buying my flights straight from Aeroflot because the flight times are much better (non stop from LA to Moscow) with only short layovers (2 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours). I could have saved a few hundred by using an agent but I would be flying 3 different carriers with overnight stops in 2 cities. It's worth paying a little extra to not sleep in an airport or be stuck buying a new flight home because you missed a flight due to a cancelation by another carrier (this is common in Russia).

(I also have accumulated a great deal of miles from Aeroflot. That non stop from LA to Moscow kicks ass too. In the off season flights are as low as $600 after taxes.)

[Faux Pas]

mark

There's pros and cons either way in purchasing your air travel. I do it myself. Personally, I set my dates then I study all the American carriers for a direct flight into Moscow and then the Russian carriers from there to my destination. Remaining flexible for a few days of the week either way (this can sometimes save hundreds of dollars). Then I choose the best flights for me.

These are not always the cheapest but I measure convenience in dollars as well. I prefer to change planes in the US as opposed to a couple of stops in Europe. After I establish which carrier or route I want, I buy it and then buy my invitation letter and apply for the visa. I buy the letter from one service (gotorussia) and then have Travisa obtain my visa. This saves about $30 bucks.

I have found that flying all the way to Siberia with an America air carrier is substantially more expensive and you wind up on a Russian carrier anyway. All of this can be done with some time and research on the internet.

here is a software that identifies every available flight to anywhere in the world http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispatch/

[I/O]

You folks are a good bunch even when you do argue with each other.  Well at least to me you are, I have seen I better let ya'll speak for yourselves.

Hey Mark, kind words indeed and the reason you’ve done well on the info side is you’ve come across with a bit of sense and a willingness to learn. That’s the key and I have little doubt you’ll be here in due course doing your share of tutoring.

Anyway, thought I’d share a bit of BS about warm clothing. Or not. I was going up to Russia (Siberia) a few years ago to visit honey in early winter. I sought her candid opinion on clothing. Gloves, hat etc were a must. Imagine how I danced around this subject but eventually I asked my then G/F (honey) about thermal or woolly under gear. She was most helpful and advised me to buy something suitable which I did. I’ll never forgive her for that.

I flew through Malaysia in the heat and through Beijing into Novosibirsk. The plan I executed was to have a bathroom scrub up (which I am quite expert at) on the flight from Beijing to Novosibirsk and don the woolly unders etc. Plan went like clockwork. We landed and I sighted the tower telling me it was a steady -5c. I donned the woolly hat, gloves and my faithful heavy jacket which goes everywhere with me regardless. Too clever for my own good. I strutted across the tarmac warm as toast thinking I had this Russian thing sorted.

Through passport control (bit of a story there but no big deal), around to baggage and into customs. Oh crap, 230 Russians had been shopping in Beijing for a week and …………….well you get the picture. A long wait. Hmm, I am getting warm, off with the gloves and hat, still warm and off with the jacket, 20 minutes later, still warm and off with the vest and so it went until I was stinking hot and wet through unable to take anymore off and suffering the floor heating in the airport. Eventually, when I met honey, she looked at me and said, “Why you so wet, you can’t outside now, you coming sick.” Oh yeah? Coulda f*****g fooled me? Who advised me? Do you realise love might be a distant hope right now?

Anyway, I survived, didn’t get sick and the rest is history but the lesson for me was NEVER to use woolly under gear. It sits in my cupboard draw to this day and has never been used again. Keep adding jackets because at least you can keep taking them off if necessary.

[UTRO]

Hey Mark, kind words indeed and the reason you’ve done well on the info side is you’ve come across with a bit of sense and a willingness to learn. That’s the key and I have little doubt you’ll be here in due course doing your share of tutoring.

Anyway, thought I’d share a bit of BS about warm clothing. Or not. I was going up to Russia (Siberia) a few years ago to visit honey in early winter. I sought her candid opinion on clothing. Gloves, hat etc were a must. Imagine how I danced around this subject but eventually I asked my then G/F (honey) about thermal or woolly under gear. She was most helpful and advised me to buy something suitable which I did. I’ll never forgive her for that.

I flew through Malaysia in the heat and through Beijing into Novosibirsk. The plan I executed was to have a bathroom scrub up (which I am quite expert at) on the flight from Beijing to Novosibirsk and don the woolly unders etc. Plan went like clockwork. We landed and I sighted the tower telling me it was a steady -5c. I donned the woolly hat, gloves and my faithful heavy jacket which goes everywhere with me regardless. Too clever for my own good. I strutted across the tarmac warm as toast thinking I had this Russian thing sorted.

Through passport control (bit of a story there but no big deal), around to baggage and into customs. Oh crap, 230 Russians had been shopping in Beijing for a week and …………….well you get the picture. A long wait. Hmm, I am getting warm, off with the gloves and hat, still warm and off with the jacket, 20 minutes later, still warm and off with the vest and so it went until I was stinking hot and wet through unable to take anymore off and suffering the floor heating in the airport. Eventually, when I met honey, she looked at me and said, “Why you so wet, you can’t outside now, you coming sick.” Oh yeah? Coulda f*****g fooled me? Who advised me? Do you realise love might be a distant hope right now?

Anyway, I survived, didn’t get sick and the rest is history but the lesson for me was NEVER to use woolly under gear. It sits in my cupboard draw to this day and has never been used again. Keep adding jackets because at least you can keep taking them off if necessary.

Roo or Jumbuck, I/O?

[UTRO]

here is a software that identifies every available flight to anywhere in the world http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispatch/

Cool Site Faux Pas! Merci!!

[Vaughn]

Cool Site Faux Pas! Merci!!

I agree! If no one has added it to the RWPedia (Wiki) section by tomorrow evening, I'll add it myself.

[Faux Pas]

Yeah it's a great site. ConnorVT turned me on to it a couple of years ago. It saves untold time filtering through airline sites and search engines.

[SANDRO43]

I agree! If no one has added it to the RWPedia (Wiki) section by tomorrow evening, I'll add it myself.

Done, I've put the link in Flight Timetables.

[markc444]

I guess a good pair of tennis shoes can work too but along with valenki  

[youtube=425,350]R1o0FKkc7n4[/youtube]

That was a funny answer, looks like boots for Christmas this year.  I guess I'll call it survival gear.  Thanks for the vid as well, she said only people in the country where those where she is at.  Maybe she just does not know about all this new fashion statments.  She had just worn hers to the water today.  

Hey Mark, kind words indeed and the reason you’ve done well on the info side is you’ve come across with a bit of sense and a willingness to learn. That’s the key and I have little doubt you’ll be here in due course doing your share of tutoring.

Anyway, thought I’d share a bit of BS about warm clothing. Or not. I was going up to Russia (Siberia) a few years ago to visit honey in early winter. I sought her candid opinion on clothing. Gloves, hat etc were a must. Imagine how I danced around this subject but eventually I asked my then G/F (honey) about thermal or woolly under gear. She was most helpful and advised me to buy something suitable which I did. I’ll never forgive her for that.

I flew through Malaysia in the heat and through Beijing into Novosibirsk. The plan I executed was to have a bathroom scrub up (which I am quite expert at) on the flight from Beijing to Novosibirsk and don the woolly unders etc. Plan went like clockwork. We landed and I sighted the tower telling me it was a steady -5c. I donned the woolly hat, gloves and my faithful heavy jacket which goes everywhere with me regardless. Too clever for my own good. I strutted across the tarmac warm as toast thinking I had this Russian thing sorted.

Through passport control (bit of a story there but no big deal), around to baggage and into customs. Oh crap, 230 Russians had been shopping in Beijing for a week and …………….well you get the picture. A long wait. Hmm, I am getting warm, off with the gloves and hat, still warm and off with the jacket, 20 minutes later, still warm and off with the vest and so it went until I was stinking hot and wet through unable to take anymore off and suffering the floor heating in the airport. Eventually, when I met honey, she looked at me and said, “Why you so wet, you can’t outside now, you coming sick.” Oh yeah? Coulda f*****g fooled me? Who advised me? Do you realise love might be a distant hope right now?

Anyway, I survived, didn’t get sick and the rest is history but the lesson for me was NEVER to use woolly under gear. It sits in my cupboard draw to this day and has never been used again. Keep adding jackets because at least you can keep taking them off if necessary.

Thanks, I'd certainly be to tutor myself if everything works out.  I certainly would be lost without this site, thats for sure.  And thats a good story, Ill take all this under advisement as she has said she will help me dress to.  I'm sure when she sees my pitiful collection of long sleeve shirts she will just give me a makeover instead.  

mark

There's pros and cons either way in purchasing your air travel. I do it myself. Personally, I set my dates then I study all the American carriers for a direct flight into Moscow and then the Russian carriers from there to my destination. Remaining flexible for a few days of the week either way (this can sometimes save hundreds of dollars). Then I choose the best flights for me.

These are not always the cheapest but I measure convenience in dollars as well. I prefer to change planes in the US as opposed to a couple of stops in Europe. After I establish which carrier or route I want, I buy it and then buy my invitation letter and apply for the visa. I buy the letter from one service (gotorussia) and then have Travisa obtain my visa. This saves about $30 bucks.

I have found that flying all the way to Siberia with an America air carrier is substantially more expensive and you wind up on a Russian carrier anyway. All of this can be done with some time and research on the internet.

here is a software that identifies every available flight to anywhere in the world http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispatch/

That sounds like good advice to study the flights, especially since I am going to be flying so far into Siberia.  My brain will be havig a synapse lapse by the time i get done doing all my homework

Mark, I always bought my Tickets before I got my Visa... but say there's that off chance that you aren't granted the privilege of a Visa by the Russian government? Not that it would happen, but you never know. In 2008, before I bought a multi-entry Business Visa, I was denied a Visitor Visa by the Toronto Consulate. I had already bought the Tickets! I tell you man, it was a stressful couple of hours until I ended up going to an Agency and they back doored through the Embassy in Ottawa for me. Good thing, my Flight Tickets were nonrefundable.  
Just some food for thought!

.

Yeah that is the only worriesome part of this is having some hassles with the visa but for the most part it sounds like it goes fine.  Thanks for the food.

mark

There's pros and cons either way in purchasing your air travel. I do it myself. Personally, I set my dates then I study all the American carriers for a direct flight into Moscow and then the Russian carriers from there to my destination. Remaining flexible for a few days of the week either way (this can sometimes save hundreds of dollars). Then I choose the best flights for me.

These are not always the cheapest but I measure convenience in dollars as well. I prefer to change planes in the US as opposed to a couple of stops in Europe. After I establish which carrier or route I want, I buy it and then buy my invitation letter and apply for the visa. I buy the letter from one service (gotorussia) and then have Travisa obtain my visa. This saves about $30 bucks.

I have found that flying all the way to Siberia with an America air carrier is substantially more expensive and you wind up on a Russian carrier anyway. All of this can be done with some time and research on the internet.

here is a software that identifies every available flight to anywhere in the world http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispatch/

And that my friend is an awesome site.  I am sure it will come in handy.  Thank you very much for that.  Man, you guys have really helped settle a few questions and concerns I had.  Thanks for making this part of the journey a little easier.  

[OlgaH]

That was a funny answer, looks like boots for Christmas this year.  I guess I'll call it survival gear.  Thanks for the vid as well, she said only people in the country where those where she is at.  Maybe she just does not know about all this new fashion statments.  She had just worn hers to the water today.  

Mark,

Please send her the link below "Valenki from Vyacheslav Zaitsev" (in Russian) 

http://euro-moda.ru/news/a-327.html

[Zmejka]

I have sneaking concerns about her authenticity, the age gap (let's not go there, just registering my comment), both your ability (resources) to follow through if it develops further

I agree with that, i hope Mark you won't be offended if i ask you some questions (of course you may not to answer, i just hope you honestly answer them to yourself).
1. You said once that you wanted to save for you trip but had medical problems, later you said your girl sent you to the doctor that you thought would be expensive. I didn't understand if you have medical insurance? Is your financial situation so that you jave just enough to live? I don't mean anything bad by that but considering all this international affair (if everything is good with her - visa, tickets costs, wedding, documents for adjustment of status for her, trips home for her etc. - would you be able to afford? Did you discuss the questions of how you both imagine your future here - or it didn't yet come to that point? Would she be able to work immediately as she can - would she want it, could she? - or she'd like to study further etc.
2. You said you talked about your age difference and she didn't seem to have problems with that. That mean she may be had relationships with big age difference in the past? If not then i wouldn't relate too much on her words because talking and joking about age difference on the internet is not the same comparing to living with that age difference in real life. If she didn't have that experience she doesn't know how it will be in few years. There's a bigger chance that in a few years the problems appear - i don't say that the problems don't appear in marriages with no age differences, but i think the chance is bigger when age difference is there. So i hope you both are from the category "better a few years of happiness than none at all". With that perception things look always beter. And of course i wish you luck and love not only for a few years but for a lot-lot longer.
3. The question about children is also can be sometimes a breaking point. Did you discuss if you both want children and when. If she doesn't want for now it doesn't mean she won't change her mind in a few years.

That's all i wanted to add, i wish you both all the best and i hope you'll find your happiness in this relationship.

[groovlstk]

2. You said you talked about your age difference and she didn't seem to have problems with that. That mean she may be had relationships with big age difference in the past? If not then i wouldn't relate too much on her words because talking and joking about age difference on the internet is not the same comparing to living with that age difference in real life. If she didn't have that experience she doesn't know how it will be in few years.

I agree w/this wholeheartedly, Zmejka.

Just because a woman says she has "no problem" with an age gap during courtship doesn't mean that a guy can wipe his hands and forget about it. Until she lives day-to-day with it (and year-to-year) she'll never truly know.

[Gator]

I agree w/this wholeheartedly, Zmejka.

Just because a woman says she has "no problem" with an age gap during courtship doesn't mean that a guy can wipe his hands and forget about it. Until she lives day-to-day with it (and year-to-year) she'll never truly know.

Good point Zmejka and Groovlstk.  During the correspondence phase with who turned out to be my future wife, I expressed my doubts about our age difference.  She replied that her ex-husband, the father of her children, was only 5 years younger than me.  Being married to an older man is certainly experience.

Of course that lead into why she divorced, her feelings about the difference, etc., but that is another story.

[markc444]

I agree with that, i hope Mark you won't be offended if i ask you some questions (of course you may not to answer, i just hope you honestly answer them to yourself).
1. You said once that you wanted to save for you trip but had medical problems, later you said your girl sent you to the doctor that you thought would be expensive. I didn't understand if you have medical insurance? Is your financial situation so that you jave just enough to live? I don't mean anything bad by that but considering all this international affair (if everything is good with her - visa, tickets costs, wedding, documents for adjustment of status for her, trips home for her etc. - would you be able to afford? Did you discuss the questions of how you both imagine your future here - or it didn't yet come to that point? Would she be able to work immediately as she can - would she want it, could she? - or she'd like to study further etc.
2. You said you talked about your age difference and she didn't seem to have problems with that. That mean she may be had relationships with big age difference in the past? If not then i wouldn't relate too much on her words because talking and joking about age difference on the internet is not the same comparing to living with that age difference in real life. If she didn't have that experience she doesn't know how it will be in few years. There's a bigger chance that in a few years the problems appear - i don't say that the problems don't appear in marriages with no age differences, but i think the chance is bigger when age difference is there. So i hope you both are from the category "better a few years of happiness than none at all". With that perception things look always beter. And of course i wish you luck and love not only for a few years but for a lot-lot longer.
3. The question about children is also can be sometimes a breaking point. Did you discuss if you both want children and when. If she doesn't want for now it doesn't mean she won't change her mind in a few years.

That's all i wanted to add, i wish you both all the best and i hope you'll find your happiness in this relationship.

Hi Zmejka, thanks for your two cents worth and no I do not mind responding.  I appreciate constructive  input from anybody who would know more than I would as this is a learning process for me right now.  

1.  To that one, certainly I do not have a large income but I am fortunate in the fact that I will have paid off my mortgage in 2 years and also have a very low mortgage payment currently.  So that gives me more disposable income than most with an average income to save quicker.  The doctors bills were a concern because at that time I was not working and just bringing in sick pay which was low.  I do understand the costs and although it will not be easy, it is something I can do if things were to work out.  As far as work and study,  I know she would be willing to work if needed once she was able too.  We have not discussed studying at this point, I think she has had enough of school for right now since finishing University recently.

2.  The age thing, yeah that does make me think a lot.  Certainly even now it is my biggest concern even if we do joke as I said.  I understand the seriousness of that as you and Gator and groovlstk point out.  And if anything makes me think twice about going to visit that would be the one.  I am not ignoring that at all.  I see on the boards here for some that age difference  works out and I see for others it has not worked out so well.  I have just decided for me that it will be best to just go and find out.  But time and time again we have talked serously of age and she really seems to like me for me. And yes only getting together face to face will confirm that for both of us.  The future after that, who knows.  All you can do is look for trust in another and go with what you believe is right. She seems very genuine and right now I do not think walking away is the right thing to do.  Maybe it will be a few years of happiness.  It may be nothing more than a meeting in March when reality sets in.  Or it could be more.  Its just something at this point after a lot of reflection I would like to find out.  

3.  That was the easy one.  Been discussed and both do not mind the thought of kids.

Thanks for adding your concerns  by the way, none of this is an easy choice and not taken lightly at all.  So it is nice to know what others have learned.