Trip Report - London - Prague - Odessa (and points beyond)

[BoozeBaron]

Good reading Booze!!
Why don't you get out of the hotel and stay in centre? Most of action is downtown now. Still wondering what is happening at Ibiza. I good meeting spot for girls is Steakhouse( bull with wings, in front) everyone knows this place!!!!
As ML mentioned, get in touch with RWD members that live there......if nothing else fill-in company. As far as places...I like Buffalo 99 on Rishelievskaya..down the street Capatain Morgan's and either Kumants or Khutorok for ukraine food. Nightlife: An older crowd at Vechernaya and to cozy up for a nightcap...upstairs at Fankoni on a soft couch...
Have a good time...

Thanks for the tips LAman - Am waiting 24 hours to see how this plays out.. and if it bombs, then I'm either downtown (as it is indeed dead here now) though FRI/SAT were rocking - and the bloke next door isn't doing so bad either but there's so much more I wish to see... Must also confess, I've spent about 4 hours here on RWD writing you guys for advice - and answering (which I'm grateful for - so time well spent) but also back on 'my sites' trying to round up Plan F thru Z if everything really should tank... but you're right - I think I already know the answer I'll get... and is time to own up to my OP post and move forward with things! The gal in Kremenchug is a sweetheart and as someone earlier stated, wants to see me (well, so did this one) ... but I can tell there's more thrill in her voice - so we'll see? I have like 16 days I think ... so that's why I'm not rushing into anything Cheers for the help... 11:22PM here - bed soon as I didn't sleep much last night... thump thump thump Night guys ...

[BoozeBaron]

I am suffering from jet lag big time and apparently as my reading comprehension missed that you said she won't be  :online" again til monday.

Do you not have her phone number?

lol

After some carefull thought, If it were me (and it's not) I would consider a handstand exemption and get there asap.
But then again, I like flexability and stuff like that..   

Hey Jason - I actually just read your 'post' from your intro... and as if the "heaven and hell' story from Mikey didn't scare the crud out of me, your story surely did... Wow... I've heard and read allot of similar ones... but nothing quite like that ride... Crazy - but also reminds me, that 'all is not as it seems'.... and have to remember that, no matter how deep her baby blues are...

I have her mobile number and work number - and we talk/SMS - The reason I said that is because it's I who does not have a UA SIM yet! Nothing close was open today (SUN) and I was texting her from my CZ and UK numbers... but those all ran out (seems to happen at 2.99 min!) so I had planned on doing that - but will just wait now till Monday... so yeah, I do have that - I just can't ring her... yet.

As just said above to LAman - I do think I already know the ending to this story... it ain't gonna be pretty... We've had a misunderstanding before once when I was caught in a natural disaster that pretty much wiped me out for like 8 weeks - and had no way to contact her... SHE SAYS she went home to her parents, because she got physically ill over worrying about me... Now, do I believe that? I dunno man... I'm so bewildered right now... I don't know who to believe anymore... And before reading your story, I was full of "yeah but" "yeah but" "yeah buts"... to anyone who challenged me that this chick was not being sincere.... But after reading your tale (and I don't know if you've ever read Maxx's tale on here from like 5 years ago) OMG - it's off the hook scary what kinda shit can go down... This Yana chick dude... I don't even know what to say - I mean, everyone else has pretty much diced that story to death - but that served as a stark and harsh reminder of what is - and what can never be... New meaning to Russian Roulette... But I am trying to remain calm - One thing for certain I DO KNOW, is that there are NO shortage of women here! That we all know... it's just a matter of turning stones, to find the sincere diamond...

Gotta sleep -

Peace -

BB

PS: Oh so to answer about your comment... I'll ride the storm out... I have 3 solid backups in waiting and life won't end if this one tanks on me... And there's always Odessa to explore... Just not into 1 night flings.. I need substance at my age ) Cheers

[newjason]

Wow you read that fast.
I guess it took longer to write than it does to read it  lol.

I too was a member of the Yeabut family, but after some experiences , Its sharpened my senses and made me a little more observant.

I didn't even think that it was you with no phone number   LOL  D;oh

It seems you have your shit together, so I hope it works out for you man.

8 weeks?  I have to side with her on that one,  that's 2 months and while natural disasters are a bitch, She may be right that you could have tried a little harder.  I mean unless you were on Gilligans Island of course.

I'm glad you got something useful from the thread, that is why i took the time to write it. I was very much on the fence about doing it because .. well you can kinda  see why, but If it can help someone else, it was totally worth it.

You said something about waiting 5 more days... Man, don't waste your time like that.
Remember this:
 you can always make more money, but you can't make more time.

May I suggest, getting a ride to herson, and set up a meeting for cofee or dinner or lunch.  Meet with her for an hour, then come back to Odessa. If things are looking good, then being her down as planned. if not, then you can do something else with the four days you just  saved waiting...
If she is genuine and normal, I can't see her not making an hour free from her schedule to meet with you. If this won't fly..
well, try it first and go from there.
Of course call and suggest it before going there ...


Maybe you said it already, but i have Jet Lag BAD right now..
How old are these women?

[LAman]

Booze...just read your last post. Should have asked us about the sim card before. There are places open on weekends. In Afena Mall, which is open everyday, there is a phone store that you could have got a sim card on weekend and  been 'busy' on the phone!!!! Always ask!!! Also find out what carrier girl has.
There is also a good food store at bottom level. And many 'sites' inside the many stores...and there are lots of levels!!!

[Anotherkiwi]

... Sat and contacted my 3-4 ladies (was 5, but one is on ATP tour, and cannot meet)...

Of course you can't meet if she's on the ATP tour - that's for men!     So she's either got equipment you weren't aware of, or is following her boyfriend.
 
If, however, she's on the WTA tour, that's a whole different ball-game...

[BoozeBaron]

Yeah sorry - meant WTA - Not a tennis follower... but trains friggin' every day for like 7 hours then another 3 at night... part of the reason I wasn't bothered when she said she was too busy... as that is (really) her life....

RE: SIM cards - I have stacks of them here - and the trouble with this, is it's that new nano sim for the 5 ... The guy in Prague tried to cut one down... and it kinda works... If you bump the phone, it cuts out - so hoping to find a T-Mobile or O2 or Vodafone equivalent, as they have them .... She is on MTS (sp?) I think that's it... I researched it months ago as I was hoping to get us both on iMessage to save costs.

RE: Fast reader... I scan read the first 5 pages just what you'd written - I did not read everyone else's comments back ... so I got the gist of what happened - and even the Seattle update was mind-blowing.

Cheers -

BB

[BoozeBaron]

Captains Log - Day 03

First, I wish to thank everyone again for all their help, advice, and offers to assist... Always good to know, and feel, that I'm not out here on my own ... So cheers for that.

As a mini-update of sorts, I did just get an 'answer' back from #1 ... and will share a snippet of her response:

[snip]

But I spoke with my parents and they afraid that I go to meeting with you alone and they want me my cousin will go with me.

If you want, I can come in Saturday early in the morning with him and we will leave in the evening, you will not need to pay for hotels and we will eat only once - it's not expensive.
so what do you think honey??

And I am sure interpreters from Odessa will not translate for free, they will have more price than home even!

[snip]

I already know my thoughts on this - it's clear now (to me) what the angle is... just trying to sort out a diplomatic way of telling her what I wish to say... But I am curious to hear what you all think...

I do have to run here soon, so cannot hang out all day online... but for those up, would be interested in getting some feedback.

To be continued, I'm sure

BB

[Patagonie]

It's hard for me to analyze because I do things so much differently than you have done.  My visits are planned in the same detail that goes into a corporate merger deal and even a hostile takeover deal.

These hap-hazzard half-baked events are out of my zone.
Yeh, I realize you said the Prague business threw things out of whack for you . . .  but this is not going to be a high risk/high reward trip.  It is just going to be high risk.

Yes, her not wanting you to come to her town is a yellow flag.  Probably she doesn't want you to meet her boyfriend or husband.  Or, to be more gentle, she doesn't want her friends and family to know she is doing some foreign shopping until she can be more sure of what the merchandise is like.

The male interpreter could well be her husband or boyfriend.  And yes, they could be sharing the second room, and eating at your expense, and charging you the interpretation fees . . . and perhaps even planning to 'roll' you.  Could be any of a thousand things.  But most important thing is . . . you have lost control; or actually never had control of the situation to begin with.
ML IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT HERE : you have lose the control +10000

I don't really see how you are going to recover from this.
And, I would never meet with a gal who needed an interpreter anyway.

OP : Tell her that you will not feel comfortable because with if the terp is from her  family it will be not possible for you to discuss about intimate things of feelings, you are going to find a  local one.

Anyway, if I really did find myself in your shoes . . .
I would contact those western guys in town that I mentioned to you earlier and get the name of an interpreter from them.  Then tell the gal that you had already lined up the interpreter.  If she doesn't go for it; tell her to stay  home.

Then do  the  best you can to line up some other gals to meet, in addition to the others you have made contact with.

See the posting in Starting Out section:  FSUW 101 for a list of dating websites.  These websites are NOT pay per contact or pay per letter, but rather pay for a month to get unlimited contact with all the gals listed.  Send out mass mailings to all the gals in Odesa that interest you.

Hope the best for you . . . and don't do it again the way you did it this time!!
Use your business planning skills.

[Patagonie]

Hello Hammer... Common sense - right?

ML gave the same advice, and if this does go tits up tonight/tomorrow - then I'm there... pint in hand... I've kinda already addressed my backups and reaching out to E/M's and others - so really no shortage of 'dates' - but I'm not here just to have fun... I'm here to meet someone special... and just because 25% of the ship is burning, does not mean the other 75% cannot be saved (no matter what their order) I'm a half full kinda guy (except when it comes to AeroSvits!!!!) LMAO

And just to set the record 100% straight I got in here at 2AM on Friday morning - and slept till like 3PM... Sat and contacted my 3-4 ladies (was 5, but one is on ATP tour, and cannot meet) so that culled it down to 4... then wrote all my E/M's mails late last night and today... so really, I've only been here like a day and a half ... Rome wasn't built in a day but sincerely appreciate the advice and encouragement... I'd also like to reiterate from my OP, that I do look and seek things a bit differently than most - Will not get into that right now... but hopefully we'll have a happy ending to all this (maybe not this trip) but then you'll understand my logic a bit better... (as the guy next door brings home his 4th different girl in 3 days - God I hate paper-thin walls) ... 

How do you she is special ? You have never met her ?   

You are just screwing up your travel.

[BoozeBaron]

Hello Patagonie -

I've not lost control of anything... Have some of our plans, with 1 of the ladies I chose to meet with gone off the rails? Absolutely! - but it's not the end of the world mate! Plenty of other options!

RE: "Special" - Not sure I fully understand your comment?? - but will assume you're saying to me, "How do you know she's special, if you've not even met her yet" - Is this correct?

If that is what you meant, then I suppose you are 100% right about that... We have indeed never met... and maybe our 'terms' and words mean slightly different things here... But (to me) if you Skype someone for 6+ months and talk, SMS, and email .. then to me, she is 'special' (and no, not short yellow bus special:))

Either way, I have other plans if this one should go pear-shaped... and I owe allot of that to the ppl here who have offered good advice - as well as me doing my homework on others (backups) before departing - It's the change in dates that threw a spanner into the works - And in a strange way now - this may be a blessing in disguise, as it's showing her true colours and her intent with the 'change' in dates I forced... Interesting ...

And no, nothing is will ever screw up my travels mate... I'll have a great time, no matter where I am... Just doing triage here on a 'problem' before it got too far out of control - and think that's done now...

So as my fav song says; "Done, done, onto the next one!"

Cheers,

BB

[BoozeBaron]

Day 2.5

Ventured into Odessa proper... And must say I like! Am sitting at the local expat hangout/pub... Gets kinda snubbed on TripAdvisor but hey... Nothing like a Guinness even if it is Ł7.... Mick O'Neill's ... Plus the scenery is easy on the eyes too.... Can only imagine what it's like here in the summer :-p

[Hammer2722]

If you like a good steak, then I can't recommend Steakhouse enough to you!!! The chef is an Aussie fellow and they have some of the best steaks I've had anywhere at some decent prices. Watch out for the wines as they can be pretty expensive!!! Another good retsaurant for the value is Kompot. Both of these are on Deribosovskaya. If you like Japanese, then the Kobe Restaurant just across the street from the opera house has some excellent food and sushi. Price is a little high but well worth it!

[BoozeBaron]

In my best Homer Simpson voice.... "Mmmmm Steak!"

Just had some excellent prawns... And a mediocre burger... But after 2 months of eating "stuff" was nice to have a real meal... No surprise, they still use transfats here, and the chips were to die for! I'd forgotten how good that poison tastes!

Will defo check it your steakhouse suggestion tomorrow night... Back to my street view :-p Shame it's getting dark

[Slumba]

In the best Homer Simpson voice.... "Mmmmm Steak!"

Just had some excellent prawns... And a mediocre burger... But after 2 months of eating "stuff" was nice to have a real meal... No surprise, they still use transfats here, and the chips were to die for! I'd forgotten how good that poison tastes!

Will defo check it your steakhouse suggestion tomorrow night... Back to my street view :-p Shame it's getting dark

If they use beef tallow, as McDonald's used to, they should taste excellent, that is for sure...

[BoozeBaron]

If they use beef tallow, as McDonald's used to, they should taste excellent, that is for sure...

No clue mate what it was (beef) ... Surprisingly, I've managed to avoid McDonalds all this time! Kinda proud of that lol (watch "Supersize Me" and you'll never eat there again!)...

Anyway gotta get to my cheesecake now... Yum! (Can you tell I haven't eaten a decent western meal in some time?)

[It worked for me]

send me this chicks number and i will get the wife to phone her and find out what is really going on....

either its her boyfriend or money is involved somewhere,

its always amused me, with so much practise lying you would have thought these girls could do it well by now????

obv not

j
,

[LAman]

Captains Log - Day 03

 

As a mini-update of sorts, I did just get an 'answer' back from #1 ... and will share a snippet of her response:

[snip]

But I spoke with my parents and they afraid that I go to meeting with you alone and they want me my cousin will go with me.

If you want, I can come in Saturday early in the morning with him and we will leave in the evening, you will not need to pay for hotels and we will eat only once - it's not expensive.
so what do you think honey??

And I am sure interpreters from Odessa will not translate for free, they will have more price than home even!

[snip]
 

Hey Booze..I got a suggestion....Why not tell the girl to go ahead and bring the cousin....but you are bringing your own paid terp and the cousin can just come for moral support only....if THAT his reason for him being there!!!!!

[BoozeBaron]

send me this chicks number and i will get the wife to phone her and find out what is really going on....

either its her boyfriend or money is involved somewhere,

its always amused me, with so much practise lying you would have thought these girls could do it well by now????

obv not

j
,

Just sent you a PM .... Explains "the latest" - Lemme know -

Cheers for the help -

BB

[BoozeBaron]

Hey Booze..I got a suggestion....Why not tell the girl to go ahead and bring the cousin....but you are bringing your own paid terp and the cousin can just come for moral support only....if THAT his reason for him being there!!!!!

Hi LA -

That is exactly what we came up with (too) late last night... Met a bunch down at the local, and after hours of dinner, few drinks, and debate, all decided that "I'm here" worst case, might as well see her and check things out... One guy hooked me up with his private terp of 2 years and she just rang and confirmed... So that's the plan right now... Have another 'angle' simmering (see post above) and we may give that a go too...

Thanks to @LAMAN & @HAMMER for the steakhouse option - Seems that is where we'll do the meet ... Everyone here agrees that is pretty decent...

More to come!

Cheers,

BB

[BoozeBaron]

Captains Log DAY 3.5

This will be short for once....

Took the suggestions of a few, and as you already know (if you read above) - I ventured out to Mick's Irish Pub and met several British, American, and even a Honduran expat(s).. Had an absolute blast... Was so good to hear 'English" after 2 months in eastern Europe... Haven't laughed so much in months, so was definitely great advice - and am so happy I went now - Also got to check out some of the flats in the City Centre - and clearly I'm in the 'wrong' area (for this time of year) and now clearly understand why 5 stars here was so cheap... But, I am glad to be here - and after last night, am enjoying Odessa a WHOLE lot more Also see now what the appeal is... Beauty everywhere (per usual) but one can kinda 'relax' a tiny bit, and just enjoy the ride...

The downside was - about 11PM I got deathly ill - Started sweating like a stuck pig (it was 12*C outside) and most were shivering ... then had to dash for the loo... Been there (and the one in my hotel/flat) all night now... Either dodgy food - or - someone got hold of my drink... I'm thinking the former - but woke in a pool of sweat 2x ... very odd... very concerning... but am starting to feel better now... (was still well worth it! LOL) ...

And before you say/think I overindulged, I only nursed 2 pints of Guinness over 9 hours... so it wasn't that...

Some updates... I now have a UA number - and sent 3 SMS/Texts to Girl #1 ... She's now so worried that I'm feeling poorly, she wants to call a Dr. on my behalf - and tend to me... (either very caring - or an excellent liar to show such concern) ...

We have all agreed to have 'my turp' there - so hired a 3rd party one given me by a guy engaged here 2 years... (been using her for 2 years) and trusts her implicitly - Just texted her - and she called back in 5 mins and is willing to act as a '3rd party' at the meeting to sniff things out for me... so I like that idea/plan.

I did ask if my turp could call Girl 1 to discuss the meeting... have not received a response to that request.. so the stink comes back the longer I don't here an answer...

I am not deathly sick (I don't think!) - but am feeling really poorly - so am heading back to rest...

So am signing off for now...

Thanks again for all the tips and help and advice... We'll get thru this...

Cheers,

BB

[Hammer2722]

More than likely, you had some bad food. it happens even in some of the nicest restaurants. I'm sure you already know not to drink the tap water right???? 

[BoozeBaron]

More than likely, you had some bad food. it happens even in some of the nicest restaurants. I'm sure you already know not to drink the tap water right???? 

Yeah, am sure it was the dodgy prawns or the burger... as it hit so fast just after... Just need to the day to purge my system And yeah, I've been steering clear of the H2O outside of brushing my teeth... Already stocked up with bottled water and only order that at restaurants Thanks...!

[LAman]

Yeah, am sure it was the dodgy prawns or the burger... as it hit so fast just after... Just need to the day to purge my system And yeah, I've been steering clear of the H2O outside of brushing my teeth... Already stocked up with bottled water and only order that at restaurants Thanks...!

I don't any fish over there...you have no idea what it has gone through.......
Hey booze......what am I, chopped liver? Give some credit for me too....about mentioning steakhouse a couple days ago!!!!!    lol

[BoozeBaron]

I don't any fish over there...you have no idea what it has gone through.......
Hey booze......what am I, chopped liver? Give some credit for me too....about mentioning steakhouse a couple days ago!!!!!    lol

Sorry I forgot to mention you in the credits mate So many have been offering up such great advice - kinda lost track...   sorry... If all ends well there, I'll credit you for that and the steakhouse - Fair?

RE: Prawns... It was a roll of the dice... I knew it then... and am paying for it now...   Ah well, live and learn Bread and cheese for me from here on out LOL!


BB

PS: Been corrected

[Hammer2722]

Also steer clear of those vendors on the streets and sidewalks. I once bought what looked like a hotdog from a stationary van vendor near the city garden. Man, did I pay for it that night and all the next day!!!!