From the Beginning; A Trip to Siberia in Winter

[Vincenzo]

How about just being yourself? It'll save on all the disappoinment when she finds out you fart, scratch your butt in public and hold your balls while you watch football )))
If she can luv you, er the real and not what you're trying show her, you you've got a keeper

Why would a man move his ass from the couch and seek a change then? He can easily find an old overweight gal on craigslist to watch football together.

 

[kmin]

It is important to be real.  If you try to fake it you will only set her up for disappointment later on. 

Lucky for me she already likes me for who I am, even with my flaws.

I think we are a good fit for each other and a good match.  It is not one sided in any area.  We are both healthy and in shape, smart and nice, have good jobs and income.  Also we have similar thoughts about the future and what we want to do in life.

As per the fancy clothes.  She is not into the fancy clothes and neither am I.  We are both laid back and casual kind of people who enjoy the simple things in life as opposed to the high end luxury activities.  I will bring some nice dress up casual clothes for meeting with the family, but the suit would be too much for anything we have planned.

The both of us would rather hang out together and cook food at the flat or go for simple activities.  We don't like bars or clubs, so going out will be to go ski, skate, walks, or to theater.

[XMan]

Lived in far northern MN for some time.  Comparisons to Siberia would not be unfounded.

I know things not working out seems highly unlikely at the moment. 
29 days --- I'd have some sort of backup plan, frankly.  Even if that meant I was catching a flight to Santa Domingo for 2 weeks if things went sour.
 
Also, not sure a 1 day cushion for getting out of Russia before visa expiration is enough. 
Anything can happen.
In fact, I have seen that "anything" first hand.

Regardless, have a good trip.

[kmin]

Lived in far northern MN for some time.  Comparisons to Siberia would not be unfounded.

I know things not working out seems highly unlikely at the moment. 
29 days --- I'd have some sort of backup plan, frankly.  Even if that meant I was catching a flight to Santa Domingo for 2 weeks if things went sour.
 
Also, not sure a 1 day cushion for getting out of Russia before visa expiration is enough. 
Anything can happen.
In fact, I have seen that "anything" first hand.

Regardless, have a good trip.

I don't have a backup plan.  If things don't work out with my girlfriend, than I was planning on staying in Krasnoyarsk.  It is a city of about one million people so I am sure that I will find plenty to do and plenty of women to talk to.  If not and I start to get bored, I think I will just take an earlier flight back home.

As to the departing the country with one day to spare, I will be in the departing airport almost 40 hours before my visa expires, so it should work out.  If not, from what I hear, I will have to pay a fine for overstaying the visa and than I will be able to leave the country.

[jeff9556]

Take a warm coat

This is what I wear when I head up to the north of Sweden where it regularly dips below -30, it could get that cold where you are going, but in the cities probably not below -15. The coyote fur on the hood really makes huge difference when it snowing (keeps it out of your eyes).

http://www.canada-goose.com/products-2/mens/mens-expedition-parka/

Good gloves (fur lined mittens) and shoes are very important in very cold weather, ones that grip on ice and don't leave you skating all over the show (leather soled shoes are the worst), soft soles are better.

If you've not experienced this sort of climate before don't be too worried, -10 to -12 is not that bad, it will be dry also. Below that it can get a bit chilly if you don't have the right clothing for the job, and -25 is dangerous in the wrong gear.

Have a great time, good luck with everything, I'm a little jealous, wish I could travel at this time also, alas I am stuck until March before I can really consider it.

[kmin]

Take a warm coat

This is what I wear when I head up to the north of Sweden where it regularly dips below -30, it could get that cold where you are going, but in the cities probably not below -15. The coyote fur on the hood really makes huge difference when it snowing (keeps it out of your eyes).

http://www.canada-goose.com/products-2/mens/mens-expedition-parka/

Timely post, I was looking for a good recommendation on a parka for my trip. 

I have grown up in Minnesota and have been working in temperatures to -30c in construction here.  Also I have been out playing around when it has been as cold as -40c, so I have a good set of clothes for the cold weather.  Today the temp in Krasnoyarsk is -22c. 

I do have a great pair of boots from Canada that are good to -30c and waterproof to knee high.

I will post updates and pictures on this forum while traveling. 

[Chicagoguy]

I have been there in -40 F and snowmobiling in -35 F. Unless you are going to be outside for an extended time do not worry. Skip the long underwear and heavy boots. Good coat, hat and gloves. Maybe buy one of those Russian fur hats I have one and they are very warm and a nice souvenir.

[Faux Pas]

I have been there in -40 F and snowmobiling in -35 F. Unless you are going to be outside for an extended time do not worry. Skip the long underwear and heavy boots. Good coat, hat and gloves. Maybe buy one of those Russian fur hats I have one and they are very warm and a nice souvenir.

Good point. I think a natural reaction is overkill which is what I did. My first trip in the winter to Siberia I bought a goose down coat, boots rated to -60, hi-tech thermal undies, thick socks and the whole nine yards, big mistake. My usual coat and boots would have sufficed quite nicely.


First of all it wasn't that cold in the mid to latter Feb and early March. Nights were 10-15 below and days 10-15 above and I sweated profusely walking around in all that stuff. My only choice for boots and coat were to use what I had brought or buy new ones which I wouldn't use at home either so, I toughed it out.


I was never cold which bothered me as I thought I might be getting sick which, I never did. I am accustomed to very mild winters growing up and living most of my life in the Southern US. I have experienced harsh winters before but for some reason had in my head that Siberia would be so much worse, it wasn't. In fact I found it much better as they are more use to it so it wasn't as hindering as I expected it to be.

[kmin]

Oh yes you want to make sure not have to much stuff.  Typically I find I only need the really cold weather stuff for when I am out on long treks through the forest.

We plan to do this for a day when it is really cold.  Mainly for the purpose of taking pictures of extreme cold weather nature, which most people do not see.  There is something truly magical about the surroundings when it gets extremely cold.  However it is only fun when you can keep warm.

BTW I will post some of those pictures here on this post.

[JR]

Why would a man move his ass from the couch and seek a change then? He can easily find an old overweight gal on craigslist to watch football together.

My point exactly.

[kmin]

Ok, now it is only 9 days till I leave on my trip.

I have everything I need.... except for the Russian Visa.  It is in process and will be here in the next few days according to the company I am using.  They have been doing Russian Visa for over 16 years so it should be here.  That and it has been in process since the 5th of December.

Besides that I am ready to go.  I have plenty of warm gear even if the weather turns cold (-40). 

We have still been talking on Skype for a couple of hours a day or more.  I think she is great and I enjoy finding out more about her and she enjoys finding out more about me. 

Our plans are to meet, go to flat for breakfast & clean up.  Go to register with local police.  Than we will go over and visit with mom.  After that we will go back to flat to relax and have some good food.   The next day will be new years eve so we will be visiting family and friends, plus see many of the local celebrations. 

Later on it is our plan to see the theater, go out for a weekend of skiing, head out for a trek through the woods when it is super cold to take pictures, and get out to see some of the museums.  I think it will be really nice to get to know about her city, and her life more.

I can't wait to meet her and see her in person.  I think this will be a fun and great trip.

[kmin]

Update;

I applied for my Russian Visa on the 5th of December.  I received it on the 19th of December.  Last big step done.

Now all I need to do is get a little spending money in Russian Rubles and I am all set to go.

My girlfriend found a very nice flat for us to stay in.  It is a friend of her mom's and we only need to pay $250 for the 30 days we will be using it.  This is great as I was planning on spending $500-800.  Now I will have extra money to go and do other things like, rent a cabin up in the mountains for a weekend or maybe go to another show.

It is only 7 days until I board the plane to leave the US on my way to Russia.  I have made a list of the things I would like to bring and weighed the luggage to make sure I am 50lbs or under (anything over 50lbs will be another $300). 

Both of us are very excited to see each other. 

The flat we are staying in will have internet and I will update this post with pictures of my trip.  Hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas.   

[TwoBitBandit]

As to the departing the country with one day to spare, I will be in the departing airport almost 40 hours before my visa expires, so it should work out.  If not, from what I hear, I will have to pay a fine for overstaying the visa and than I will be able to leave the country.

 Don't be so sure.  Your Russian visa is not only an entrance visa: it's also an exit visa.  If you overstay your visa, you actually aren't allowed to leave Russia.  You have to stay in the country and you have to apply for an exit visa with the help of the organization that invited you.  This will take probably five to ten days and set you back a few hundred dollars.
 


Here's a site that describes the process (this isn't the only site that says this: lots of other sites say the same thing about overstaying your visa)


http://www.moscow-life.com/moscow/russian-visa

What to do if you overstay your Russian visa

 Even though we warned you over and over again, somehow you just had to stay a few extra days to see if you could finally get a date with that cute devushka you met at Night Flight. Now, you've got an expired visa, are heartbroken and sick of bliny, and just want to get out of the country. But not so fast! Against all logic, if you've overstayed your Russian visa, you're actually NOT allowed to leave the country. That's right, even though you're no longer there legally, and any other country would just kick you right out, in Russia you actually have to stay in the country longer to get an exit visa so that you can leave.

 So if you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, first of all, call the agency that arranged your invitation, as they are technically responsible for you and should do whatever they can to help. If you've only overstayed by one day, there's a chance that you can get an emergency exit visa at the airport if you already have a plane ticket purchased. If you've overstayed longer, you have to apply for an exit transfer visa at the local OVIR office (the Russian equivalent of an immigration office). The process can take up to five days, and during that time you cannot leave Russia, so if you have an onward flight from another country this could seriously mess up your plans.

 We hate to say 'we told you so', but if you overstayed your visa, it will cost you. The price of an exit visa has been known to vary from 300 to 3000 roubles or more, depending largely on the whim of the immigration officer handling your case. In addition to having to stand in queues for hours to even hand in your documents, there's the amount of time you'll lose being stuck in Russia (which we normally wouldn't complain about, but it's not a pleasant experience when you have plans to be somewhere else at the time). The easiest (and cheapest) way to get an exit visa hassle-free is if you have a bona fide excuse for overstaying your visa, which 99% of the time means a medical emergency. So, if you can, arrange a visit to a doctor, explain that you were too sick to leave your hostel bed and get on your train out, and hope that they'll write you a nice note that you can then take to the immigration office. Otherwise, prepare for a stern lecture on why overstaying your visa is a serious offence. In Russian.

 There is one alternative to applying for an exit visa, but it's expensive at best, dangerous at worst, and we honestly don't recommend it: bribery. In some parts of Russia, the American dollar still reigns supreme, and if you have a handful of crisp Benjamins in your pocket, you might just be able to get out of the country. However, the dollar doesn't shout as loudly as it used to, and you might just discover that it's actually just a tiny whisper compared to the border guard's threatening roar. And, technically you could be imprisoned and banned from Russia for five years, so it's not really a risk that's worth taking in most circumstances.

 So, the lesson is, while it's not that easy to get a Russian visa, it's a breeze compared to getting out of Russia with an expired visa. The golden rule is to apply for a visa covering the longest amount of time you think you could stay in Russia, whether you intend to stay that long or not. And don't overstay your visa!!

Russia being Russia, there's no telling what might happen.  What I described is what is supposed to happen, but things aren't very predictable in Russia.  Instead of the above, you may be taken to a separate room, yelled at a lot, and then be allowed to go.  Or maybe someone will try to hint that you could settle this with a small "fine" in cash as you have described.  Who knows?  Just don't go there.

[Chicagoguy]

I left Moscow once on the day my visa expired. I got a long "look" from the immigration woman but she said nothing.
I was uncomfortable and it was really cutting it close.

[kmin]

Yes ^^^  I am actually closer to the end date I will have about 16 extra hours before the visa expires by the time I board the plane out of Moscow.

I will just have to keep my figures crossed that there are no problems that will cause me a delay.

[JR]

Fun First, Worry Later, hope all turns out well for you!

[kmin]

Ok Everyone, this will be my last post before I fly out.

So far I have everything in order.  I have packed most of the luggage and did scale checks to make sure I was not overweight.

Check my list twice and make sure I am bringing everything I need or want to have.

Over the next few weeks I will post pictures and updates.

My RW was able to talk to most of my family during Christmas via video skype.  She really enjoyed talking to members of my family.  My family also liked talking to her and getting to know her a little.

Next post will be from Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Russia.         

Can't wait to see her. 

[Wayne]

Krasair has a large plane and good service from Moscow to Krasnoyarsk. The airport there is very small, outdated and away from the city. On New Year's evening, you should see ice sculptures with colored lights, fireworks and a big celebration. Some people dress in customs and go all out!
 
The people are friendly, but you won't find very many who speak English. The city is compact and wrapped around the large river. There are a few night clubs. There is a small zoo. In warmer weather, rock climbing is popular.
 
A taxi ride costs only a few dollars. Credit cards are not used much there. Bring more cash than you think you will spend.
 
Sorry, but from what you write, the cost will be more than you think.

[kmin]

Update 29 Dec 2011

Location St. Petersburg.

Time local 1926   7:26pm

Between Paris and Krasnoyarsk I have a 5 hour 40 minute layover at St. Petersburg.  Good thing too, because the line to get the ticket and check the baggage for my last flight was really long.  It took about 2 hours just to wait for ticket, had to go through security twice, once to get into the "other terminal" and again to go to the gates.   I have about an hour and a half before I board the plane and I am at the gate waiting.

It is about 6 hours and 41 minutes from now until I step off the airplane in Krasnoyarsk and see her.  Getting through customs and immigration was not a problem and went way faster than I thought it would go.  I had to wait about 2 minutes to get through immigration another 10 minutes to pick up my bags and went through the customs "green line" without any delay or questions.

After that I had to catch a bus from one terminal here to the other, that took about an hour to wait for the bus and the drive.

So far I have been up for about 20 hours on two different flights, one from Minneapolis to Paris and the other Paris to St. Petersburg.

Next update will be with my girl.

Talk to you soon, and I will have some pictures too.

[GoodOlBoy]

Sorry, I returned late to your thread Kmin.
Look forward to the pic's.
Good luck and Godspeed!
 
GOB

[kmin]

Update 30 Dec, 2011  Local time 1735 (5:35pm)

Met my girlfriend at the airport and she brought me to the flat she lined up.  Nice place and close to everything in the central area of Krasnoyarsk.

My flight arrived early in the morning (0600) and I was tired from the flight.  We went to the flat and I took shower than we spend some time together before heading out to registration with immigration (police).  My girlfriends mother came along to help out and the process was a major pain. 

First they wanted the form filled out which is a two page form.  Than they wanted to have a copy of every page in the passport even the ones with nothing on them.  After that they said no, you need 3 original forms filled out not just one and copies would not work.  Long story short it took about 2 hours to get it done.

After that we went back to the flat where I made some scrambled eggs and she made some Russian Tea.  Once we ate breakfast we spent some more time together and got a little sleep.  Have to get rested up, big celebrations start tomorrow with New Years. 

We are getting along wonderfully and I am having a great time so far.

Here is a picture more to follow tomorrow.

[ML]

Thanks for update and pics.

But how can you have the time and energy to do this?

I am back from Florida and don't yet have time and energy to post any pics . . . and I didn't even change time zones !!!

[kmin]

ML,

I have been pretty good at getting along with "cat naps" while traveling.  I can also sleep through lots of noise if need be, so I was able to get a few good hours of sleep during my 26 hour flight/layover trip.

[kmin]

Here is a video of us driving over to her work place.  It is the industrial/shopping area of the city.

[kmin]

Here is a video of the night time