Back in the saddle

[msmobyone]

I'm off to Russia and applied for a tourist visa. I'd only had a business one, before.

I was amazed how easy it was to get one.  The main problem is that they require you to have a planned itinerary BEFORE you apply for the visa.

No problem. There's plenty of Russian tourist companies that will issue your 'itinerary' for 1000 roubles.

Travel insurance is a prerequisite, even though the Brits have an reciprocal health agreement - but my policy was not checked at the time of my application. The policy cost 15 GBP = 25 USD and is valid for all of Europe - west of the Urals.

One has to have a fingerprint scan, now and the application was processed in 5 working days.

I'm going to Sochi to visit svietik.coral's home.

I've been to this part of the world, before and found the proximity of the mountains to the sea fascinating.

I hoped to visit 'Abkhazia', but non-Russians need special permission, so that will have to wait. I have this 'thing' about visiting nations that aren't officially recognised.

Today it was 22C and madam was sunbathing.

Looking forward to sampling St. Patricks night in Russia





 

 

[jone]

A trip report - either while on the road, or upon your return is certainly in order.  Would love to see some pics.

[msmobyone]

Deal 

[msmobyone]

So, svietik.coral asked me to bring some Passion Fruit - as she cannot get any in Sochi

As the ones I can get are from Columbia - not from the 'sanctioned' EU  - can you bring in such stuff in your baggage?

I have visited  http://eng.customs.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1686&Itemid=1908- the Russian Customs web site. We even rang the Sochi airport Customs, who told us 'ask your airline' and hung up!

Can't see it is forbidden in the personal import section.

 

[Steamer]

So, svietik.coral asked me to bring some Passion Fruit - as she cannot get any in Sochi

As the ones I can get are from Columbia - not from the 'sanctioned' EU  - can you bring in such stuff in your baggage?

I have visited  http://eng.customs.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1686&Itemid=1908- the Russian Customs web site. We even rang the Sochi airport Customs, who told us 'ask your airline' and hung up!

Can't see it is forbidden in the personal import section.

 

I'd check that out very carefully. Fresh produce usually raises alarm bells coming into the US, not sure about going the other way.

[SANDRO43]

Can't see it is forbidden in the personal import section.

Maybe you should check for alternative names: the passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) is also known as Purple granadilla (South Africa), Lilikoi (Hawaii) and Maracujá (Brasil, one of its major exporters) .

[ML]

Maybe you should check for alternative names: the passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) is also known as Purple granadilla (South Africa), Lilikoi (Hawaii) and Maracujá (Brasil, one of its major exporters) .

These other names are better for public viewing.

I get a little disgusted when I see words like 'passion' typed right out there for everyone to see.

These words are better said in private.

[msmobyone]

Maybe you should check for alternative names: the passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) is also known as Purple granadilla (South Africa), Lilikoi (Hawaii) and Maracujá (Brasil, one of its major exporters) .

Thanks, Sandro. I hadn't thought of looking up wiki


I now know I should spell Passion Fruit (US)as Passionfruit in the UK;)

[mendeleyev]

Can you bring in маракуйи across customs? Maybe, then maybe not.

Bringing in any plant or live food is prohibited for food safety reasons, just like many other nations. Once a foreign culture is introduced to a habitat, the future damage can be significant. If caught...

So, where does Starbucks in Moscow get маракуйи for their Манго-Маракуйя (mango-passion fruit) summer drinks? From India, which has good trade relations with Russia. Take her to Starbucks. 

Every bar I checked serves some sort of passion fruit drink.


Best to check supermarkets:

Azbuka Vkusa  www.azbukavkusa.ru

Dixy Markets  Tel: 8-800-333-01-02   www.dixy.ru/en

Magnit (Magnet markets) www.magnit-info.ru

Perekryostock Supermarket Chain has a location in Sochi at 6 Uchitelskaya ul. They are "Western style" and might have it.

Seventh Continent http://corporate.7cont.ru/

If necessary, go to Moscow's Yeliseyevsky Market. It is at Metro Pushkinskaya, Tverskaya street, 14. Most of us ordinary folk need to take out a second mortgage before shopping there, so buyer beware.

[msmobyone]

Thanks, Mendy

only http://www.perekrestok.ru/shops/south/have stores in the region and Madam says they don't have маракуйи,either (

I cannot find the personal import of these fruit is prohibited on the Customs site, so I will risk bring some in my case and declare it

 

[msmobyone]

Today's the day and I'm at a airport hotel and wake far too early - such is the level of excitement.

I found my answer to the fruit question from the IATA site:

http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/RU-Russian-Federation-customs-currency-airport-tax-regulations-details.htm#Import regulations

''PROHIBITED:
- Photographs and printed matter directed against Russian Fed.. Acipenseridae family (sturgeons) fish and any product made thereof and live animals (subject to special permit). Military arms and ammunition, narcotics, fruit and vegetables. Dairy and meat products from Armenia and Georgia. Poultry and poultry products from China (People's Rep.).'' 

Another question:

Soon, I will find out if Istanbul's main airport is as chaotic, frustrating, challenging- yet appealing, as I remember.

I will arrive in Russia as St.Patrick's day commences.

[Gator]

BON VOYAGE!

Thanks for the T/R.

[msmobyone]

Well, I am in the vip lounge at the airport as the lay over is approx 6 hours.

It costs, 60 Turkish Lire = 25 USD and you get free wi-fi , drinks, snacks and can even take a shower.

Putin has been 'found', I watched a Pierce Brosnan film called 'November Man' - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2402157/cwith Olga Kurylenko - the Ukrainian actress from 007's Quantum of Solace and enjoyed Turkish Airlines hospitality - I miss the Levant.

Comfort Lounge - Ataturk Airport : http://www.ataturkairport.com/en-EN/shoppingdinning/Pages/LoungeServices.aspx

My destination is Sochi - which was part of the Ottoman Empire - Imagine if they decided they wanted Crimea and Sochi, back





Landing in the middle of the night and Svietik.Coral has promised to run into my arms - no matter how tired I look or how many people are watching. Now, if I can just persuade Mr.P to experience this, before being driven / flown to be interrogated by the FSB ...

[ML]

25 USD and you get free wi-fi , drinks, snacks and can ever take a shower.

This strange sense of 'free.'

Must be something in the water in these socialist countries.

Just now I am waiting to close a deal on sale of some property.  They are going to pay me a nice sum of money, and then I will give them the property free.

[AC]

My destination is Sochi - which was part of the Ottoman Empire - Imagine if they decided they wanted Crimea and Sochi, back

It's in the works.  Once 2017 rolls around and the USA backed by NATO helps Ukraine rid themselves of illegal Russian troops and mercenaries in the East, the Turks will be encouraged to take back Crimea for themselves and the Tatars.

[msmobyone]

Are you taking bets on this,  AC ?!

Crimeans were never in 'danger' from Kyiv

 They outnumbered Tatars and Ukrainians. They 'felt' / feel Russian and the ousting of Yanu' set in motion a plan to restore Russian pride - knowing the west would not interfere, militarily.

Any way, there's enough of these threads.. this is a trip report, right !? My 'bad' for bringing the Ottomans up

[AC]

Are you taking bets on this,  AC ?!

Crimeans were never in 'danger' from Kyiv

 They outnumbered Tatars and Ukrainians. They 'felt' / feel Russian and the ousting of Yanu' set in motion a plan to restore Russian pride - knowing the west would not interfere, militarily.

Any way, there's enough of these threads  .. this is a trip report, right !? My 'bad' for bringing the Ottomans up

It's par for the course.  I hope you have a great trip.  Are you planning on visiting any of the Olympic venues?

[msmobyone]

Sochi is great.

Off to the Olypmic Park

http://s1119.photobucket.com/user/Svietik/media/SAM_0057_zpsauxrmjic.jpg.html

[jone]

Great pics, Moby.

Were the flowers in the background brought by you or where they there already? 

[Gator]

I did not realize Sochi had such a sunny climate.   She looks like a Florida woman.      

Great photos.  She has you on your knees a lot.  You are obviously enjoying your trip, and justifiably so.   Thanks for sharing. 

[msmobyone]

A few observations:

Sochi is as expected. Hilly,with plenty of trees and and the sea.

Registering my visa took 15 minutes. I drove - first time in RU - to the town centre and we went to the Post Office in the early evening. No queue and I was registered as staying with Svietik.Coral for 50 Rubles.

The shelves are full of produce. Plenty of wines and spirits from the west - but there was a lack of more exotic fruits 

Everyone is friendly and I took Svietik's tiny Russian Toy Terrier to the bankomat and plenty of people stopped me for a chat.

Off to the mountains today and many more photo ops.

[Turboguy]

I did not realize Sochi had such a sunny climate.   She looks like a Florida woman.      

Great photos.  She has you on your knees a lot.  You are obviously enjoying your trip, and justifiably so.   Thanks for sharing.

VWRW and I spent a week in Sochi while we were waiting for our visa.  I was quite surprised to see Palm trees there and people swimming in early Spring.  Sochi may not be quite Florida but it seems to be the closest thing Russia has. 

Moby, great photos.  I can tell from the smiles that you both make each other very happy. 

[msmobyone]

Hi Turbo,

Thank you

The beaches around here are stony, but Sochi has hills and mountains;)

There's been a heck of a lot of spending, as I saw today when I drove into the mountains to visit where the winter skiing events took place - about 40km inland from the airport.

We took the 4 cable car rides to the top and saw a magnificent panorama from 2300m- including the distant Black Sea

http://youtu.be/ribclU3J-tk

http://en.rosaski.com/about/

We are just home, but Svietik.coral is frightened as a Policeman on a corner flagged me down and I just slowed down a little and carried on... thinking his sign was 'slow down')

I stopped for 5 mins a little further up the highway and waited.. but no-one came and we passed more stop and check points without drama. Still, if you don't here more from me.... you'll know why !

more to follow:

[msmobyone]

more photos

The guard dog.. The fresh food market in central Sochi..fantastic juices squeezed while you wait. Recommended : Pomegranate,Celery, Ginger

http://www.dropbox.com/s/xemtoc6blqouwww/2015-03-19%2013.00.30.jpg?dl=0

[msmobyone]

cable car ride to 2380m - top of Rosa peak - you can see the Black Sea to the west



Irish Bars found nearly everywhere - even in Sochi's winter resort



Yes, they get everywhere



A street in Rosa Khotur.. I call it Rosa's Hooters, now. Could be in Austria, but it reminded me most of Karlovy Vary in the  Czech Republic - much favoured by Russians

The roads, rail links, bridges, tunnels and cable car network - along with the resorts hotels and all the winter sports facilities are impressive.