This could happen to you..........................

[Jack]

oh Bruce, Bruce, Bruce, I knew you lived a wild and crazy life.

One of the thing your story does for me is to remind me just how precious our time is here and we could go anytime. As it is 60-70-80 years on this earth is nothing, it's just about over as you think you have it figured out.

But the main thing your story does is maybe to help remind those who do travel there frequently to be alert to everything, be ready to help in any way. The conditions of the roads, the conditions of a lot of cars and  trucks, many ot those trucks could never legally drive in America.

Glad your ok, maybe see you in Tver (or Moscow) next spring.


(oh, and PS.  I bet I know who is helping fil get a new auto?)

[BC]

On this occasion I agree with Jack.. It's moments like these that puts life into perspective for the future.

BTW my worst experience was in the UK crossing the street at the arrival terminal.. I was looking left and the bus was coming right..

Happy to hear all is well in the end.

[Cold Warrior]

Just saw this Bruce. I hope you and wife and daughter are doing OK. Take care and avoid Ladas if you can.

[SANDRO43]

BTW my worst experience was in the UK crossing the street at the arrival terminal.. I was looking left and the bus was coming right..

In London pedestrian crossings are (were ?) prominently marked LOOK RIGHT in large white letters. When I lived there, I would occasionally see foreign tourists reading the sign, carefully adjust their ties and being almost run over by vehicles coming from the unexpected direction .

[beattledog]

did you have travel insurance or medical insurance while in another country?

Beattledog

[Maxx2]

I rarely read in the Trips report section so this is the first time I heard of this. Bruce I am sorry to hear about your accident. Hang in there man! it will get better.

Maxx   

[Bruce]

Maxx - thanks for the kind words.

Now for an update:

I just spent the past five days flying to and comming back from Tver.  Delta going out was really easy this time.  I came 3 1/2 hours early and wouldn't you know it, I got through the security procedures and to the gate in 40 minutes total from the time I entered the building - no standing outside on a line this time.  I also flew out of JFK on a Friday Delta flight 30 - which you think would be more of a hassle.   So, you never know.  Comming into SVO the flight was early.  Customs was efficient and had everyone from our flight through in a maximum time of twenty minutes.  However, this time it took the Russian baggage handlers 45 minutes, so I got out of SVO by about 12 for the drive to Tver.  Drive was fine.  Wife is much improved but has a neck brace she has to wear for trips and she can not pick up our growing baby for more than a few minutes to protect her healing cervical vertebrae.  Her face looks fine and her spirits were good.  I still have to confirm everything back home in the near future.  We know for sure the dentist is again high on the list. 

I had a great busy few days in Russia.  We visited one of mothers girlfriends who had a really fancy dacha.  This was in an area where the dachas cost 30K to start with.  Her family rebuilt everything so fancily for another 50K, so some Russians are definitely making the cash.  We spent the day there and had shaslick which always is a treat for me (still, the best Shastlick for me still has been in Sochi).  We took the free local train three stops and took a 20 minute walk through fir and pine trees to get to this dacha settlement.  It was extremely refined and elegant - still her parents more rural dacha has everything you need.  It was fun for me to be in a very "civilized" dacha this time. 

The next day we bought a few trinkits, registered my visa in a hotel, since I arrived on a Saturday we registered on Monday.  I just payed for one day and registered my visa for the length of my stay in Russia, which was August 19 until August 23. 

Flying back was not too good.  The Delta flight 31 instead of leaving at 1:35 left at 2:35.  Then, when we arrived exactly one hour late, we sat on the runway for an additional 45 minutes (we had to be towed to the gate because of construction) until deplaning.  When we arrived my wife had to go through foreign citizen customs.  I went to the room which was full of all sorts of foreigners.  There were two and then three officers processing what had to be 15 people ahead of my wife in order.  All we needed was the stamp for the I-131 / new I-94 card put in her passport.  I saw it would be a while so I went and got the luggage on a cart and one of the guards had me place it in front of the room.  This is an interesting story.  There was a Russian girl with a baby younger than ours, slightly - also a baby girl.  This woman had come on a student visa six years ago.  She met an American man along the way, married and had this baby.  Long story short she had to leave the country with the baby and fly back when she would be accepted on I believe a K-3 visa.  Her process was started from scratch.  Her husband was not with her and they really hassled this woman, in the process due to delay etc. she missed her flight to Seattle.  This woman was still being processed when my wife got stamped.  Anyway, it took 1 1/2 hours until my wife was stamped.  My wife was furiously crazy from the delay.  I took it in stride - heck they stamped / processed her I-131 without hassle, and thats the important point.  We proceeded out of the airport no hassles.  Getting a cab / car service was difficult and took another 25 minutes.  My cell phone did not work so we had to take a city cab.  We needed a van with the baby and all our stuff ie. I had a big box with two paintings from Russia, which had to be declared on the Russian side- no problem wifes family processed the paperwork.  Finally we got a van and made it home, to empty our bags on the floor and go to sleep.  Baby got us up 3:15 am this morning because she is all out of schedule..................but we are working on getting her back on schedule.  Now the fun begins again, but we'll persevere. 

By the way, all the American tourists ie. old people just loved the river cruise ie. they go from St. Petersburg to Moscow etc. - so that may be a way to get your parents to visit. 

Tver looked much improved this August in comparison with late June / July.  The flower beds in the city were really nice and they were actually working  on road repair.  New buildings are going up / others being repaired.  Things visibly look and feel better.  The new Oasis is still not open but I am sure it will be a huge success when it opens ie. single guys I am sure will be in for a treat.  Restaurant Rima was replaced with a fast food chicken place - now thats a down grade because I actually liked eating in Rima.  Still plenty of good looking women around as well  .

[catzenmouse]

Bruce,

 Very happy to hear that everyone is home now and on the mend. Our best to you and your family and our wishes for speedy continued improvements!

Elena & Ken

[viking]

Bruce

Hey buddy. I'm all of 30 minutes, if that, from JFK. Give a call next time and it will be my pleasure to help you back to Brooklyn. Thats what RWD friends are for. Besides I'm cheaper than a taxi. One beer. Ok, maybe two. Hope to see you soon.