To the Pearl of the Black Sea

[rw_recruiter]

When you don't have much money, can't afford fun and have to sit in a concrete box of an apartment everyday, it's a very dull place.

It sounds like these girls go out. They actually live in homes outside the city center. The city is very active Billy, people go out and do things even on limited budgets. They find a way.

No--the one who came to the table between you in very early post

A girl interacted with the two girls I was with the first night. It was hard to read, but looks flared and there was a discussion. That girl was very good looking also and it seemed like they knew each other in some way or she was involved in the industry. Hard to tell with my limited Russian, but "devushka, blah blah blah" and a little back and forth banter did occur.

[JayH]

It sounds like these girls go out. They actually live in homes outside the city center. The city is very active Billy, people go out and do things even on limited budgets. They find a way.

A girl interacted with the two girls I was with the first night. It was hard to read, but looks flared and there was a discussion. That girl was very good looking also and it seemed like they knew each other in some way or she was involved in the industry. Hard to tell with my limited Russian, but "devushka, blah blah blah" and a little back and forth banter did occur.

That is the one--I would love to know what was said then !!

How many minutes away does your girl live?mmm
Outside the immediate city area  there are apartment blocks-- some older Soviet era -- but also some new ones that are very like something similar in the west -- like a small suburb in itself  . There is also a large amount of free standing housing in the immediate area . There are also satellite "villages"  not far away.

Odessa is a thriving and at times jumping place . It is great to see that you can see the positives. It would not be a hard place to live ( on western income )

[rw_recruiter]

That is the one--I would love to know what was said then !!

How many minutes away does your girl live?mmm
Outside the immediate city area  there are apartment blocks-- some older Soviet era -- but also some new ones that are very like something similar in the west -- like a small suburb in itself  . There is also a large amount of free standing housing in the immediate area . There are also satellite "villages"  not far away.

Yea, I wish I knew as well. She looked very young, and was extremely good looking. After the exchange she watched us a while from a stand nearby. Interest in me, some connection with agency, if you cannot alleviate this guy from his wallet I can, not sure. It was the way they interacted and she made herself known you could tell something was definitely going on. You can sense these things.

Several of the girls live in free standing homes with yards. They have fruit trees and grape vines so not apartments. I may visit later this week and take pics.

[LAman]

That is the one--I would love to know what was said then !!

How many minutes away does your girl live?mmm
Outside the immediate city area  there are apartment blocks-- some older Soviet era -- but also some new ones that are very like something similar in the west -- like a small suburb in itself  . There is also a large amount of free standing housing in the immediate area . There are also satellite "villages"  not far away.

Odessa is a thriving and at times jumping place . It is great to see that you can see the positives. It would not be a hard place to live ( on western income )

Most girls live in Tairova area, half hour from center. That would explain having house and fruit trees.


RW- how much have you been paying for taxi's?

[Trenchcoat]

I like how JayH rants at my post then ends up backing up much of what I say. No I do not have as much experience as you or other members Jay but I can read between the lines quite well sometimes as I can be pretty perceptive though I'm not saying I always pick up on everything.

I have been thinking similar to Jay. I've been thinking that a lot of your mishaps may be down to the fact that you are with a known agency girl and all the locals know this as see you as fair game to be taken by them (as would usually happen but usually the girl would not give a damn). As Boethius tells us ripping of foreign men is seen as fair game by nearly all out there. I think she is acting like a magnet for them to all to have a play, it is because you are with her this is happening. When I was in Odessa for 3-4 days by myself none of this happened to me, I ate out made sure I paid the quoted price, no one bothered me, no dodgy situations, etc. Yet you turn up and all of a sudden it turns into Baywatch Nights I find this very odd.

If she is say 27-8 rather than the 21 she has stated then she is probably been in the game a fair while and is known as an agency girl. She is probably also now very much more on the look out for an out from the game than when she was 21. At that age most girls know that time is no longer on their side and in a few short years their earning income and ability to scam foreign men will drop as many of them start to lose their looks and their youthfulness. For you RW you may have struck it lucky and found the right girl at the right time and been the mr right she is looking for. may be worthy to investigate further

[rw_recruiter]

I have been thinking similar to Jay. I've been thinking that a lot of your mishaps may be down to the fact that you are with a known agency girl and all the locals know this as see you as fair game to be taken by them (as would usually happen but usually the girl would not give a damn). As Boethius tells us ripping of foreign men is seen as fair game by nearly all out there. I think she is acting like a magnet for them to all to have a play, it is because you are with her this is happening. When I was in Odessa for 3-4 days by myself none of this happened to me, I ate out made sure I paid the quoted price, no one bothered me, no dodgy situations, etc. Yet you turn up and all of a sudden it turns into Baywatch Nights I find this very odd.

If she is say 27-8 rather than the 21 she has stated then she is probably been in the game a fair while and is known as an agency girl. She is probably also now very much more on the look out for an out from the game than when she was 21. At that age most girls know that time is no longer on their side and in a few short years their earning income and ability to scam foreign men will drop as many of them start to lose their looks and their youthfulness. For you RW you may have struck it lucky and found the right girl at the right time and been the mr right she is looking for. may be worthy to investigate further

I can definitely see this as a possibility. Would explain how people interact with us and recognize her or the little things I have experienced. She may genuinely like me a bit so is keeping a closer eye on me for one reason or another.

[rw_recruiter]

RW- how much have you been paying for taxi's?

I haven't paid a dime for transport. Her parents picked us up from the airport and she has paid for a few on her uber app. Keep in mind I am in a very central location where I can easily walk for now.

[LAman]

I haven't paid a dime for transport. Her parents picked us up from the airport and she has paid for a few on her uber app. Keep in mind I am in a very central location where I can easily walk for now.

Yea but everyone has to come to you


If she lives where I think, it could be 50-60 uah  each ride. Or she is lying to use and using public transport and spending 3-5 uah.

[rw_recruiter]

Most girls live in Tairova area, half hour from center. That would explain having house and fruit trees

Lazy kitten woke up. They live in Zastava 1?

If she lives where I think, it could be 50-60 uah  each ride. Or she is lying to use and using public transport and spending 3-5 uah.

I think it is around $4 for Uber to that area she said. She mentioned her one gf took a tram then walked 10 blocks to meet us last night if I am not mistaken.

[JayH]

Yea but everyone has to come to you


If she lives where I think, it could be 50-60 uah  each ride. Or she is lying to use and using public transport and spending 3-5 uah.

I would never send a girl home at night on public transport -- and would never allow her  to go that way !
So it is a taxi or ,I always have a hire car -- so usually I would drive her --unless some other reason is in play !  ( eg the babushka network !)

It would be 20-30 minutes by car to where she lives.

[jone]

Don't know if you know this, but almost all Eastern Europeans take their vacations in August.  And September 1st is first day of school.  Have some great pics of my GF's son going back for the first day.  This translates into the end of the summer that you are now experiencing.    In some ways, it is a huge advantage...in that industry women have a lot more time as the focus, once again, is on the school year and after the vacation period. 

Don't know how this plays out, but I would think it to your great advantage as there are no distractions to your being there.

[Trenchcoat]

I can definitely see this as a possibility. Would explain how people interact with us and recognize her or the little things I have experienced. She may genuinely like me a bit so is keeping a closer eye on me for one reason or another.

Yeah having a guy ripped off like probably most of the guys she has dated but didn't like would probably not be a nice feeling for her. It sounds like from what you've told us and what we read that she is genuinely into you and if that is the case you have really struck it lucky big time.

Usually a girl is all to happy for a guy to pay for taxi's here or there, this is not normally too expensive if she pre-books by mobile rather than going up to one in the street which is usually a lot more expensive. That she is acting as she would do locally looks like she is really looking out for you so there is likely strong interest there, hopefully in you and not some long term money concern. The second girl I met in Nikolaev told me she would take the tram back after our brief (unsuccessful) date and was quite happy with that. I get the impression that is how most Ukrainians travel normally without it being a big deal. If Jay is right and she lives a 20-30 minute car journey from the city centre then she must really be concerned for her long term interest with you. Quite possibly she may live in a concrete tower block as like with most Ukrainian cities until you get real far out that is the standard construction out there.

I would avoid dismissing the idea of living out there straight away if it were me. You at least know she is not looking for an immigration mule and that must be a refreshing thought that she is not just after a green card. Also marriage in Ukraine and living there gives a lot more protection to the man's assets - basically any property the guy owned before marriage remains his. I think there may be still more of a story behind all this as to why she wants to remain in Ukraine and on this if I were you I would try and have a heart to heart with her to see what she truely desires long term. Girls like this don't come along everyday and dismissing her over her wanting to stay in Ukraine may be too hasty. I think the thing to do at the moment is to avoid getting entrenched into opposing positions on that one as Ukrainian girls seem to do that a bit and is the mistake me and Wall made, better as Billy B suggests is to not touch directly on disputed issue too much.

[BillyB]

if I were you I would try and have a heart to heart with her to see what she truely desires long term.

Earlier I pressed RW_recruiter to figure out the woman's heart and soul. I'm backing off that since he recently said he's not looking to get married. Some here may accuse him of just going over there for sex tourism but I think he can change his mind under the right conditions.


Some here said he found a nice girl. She's nice to him. She's an agency girl. She may have made a living taking advantage of naďve men and been around the block many times. I remember a guy coming here trying to rationalize marrying a hooker. Agency girls, hookers or any woman with a questionable job or past should be suspect. Some girls may be introduced to your bed but not to your mother. If RW_recruiter wants to someday get married, he should know there are tons of family oriented girls out there that find it beneath themselves to take advantage of another human being. That is the kind of woman you make a wife and the mother of your kids.

[Jumper]

 Thanks for sharing.

On agency girls,  they can actually make 500 to 1500 usd.or more.it's not a bad gig, most of the time their local boyfriends dont mind.

  That's just in general, don't take that to reflect on the girl you are seeing,  there can be a million variables.

Curious what's her regular job?


  I know quite a few women still working for the local affiliate agencies of Adate.Nothings changed for a long long  time.

[JayH]

Thanks for sharing.

On agency girls,  they can actually make 500 to 1500 usd.or more.it's not a bad gig, most of the time their local boyfriends dont mind.

  That's just in general, don't take that to reflect on the girl you are seeing,  there can be a million variables.

Curious what's her regular job?


  I know quite a few women still working for the local affiliate agencies of Adate.Nothings changed for a long long  time.

Funny thing AJ is that on reading a few  above using the "AGENCY" girls as if only in a derogatory way --I was at pains in an earlier post to try and explain more.
The type of agency girl the forum talks of is at the extreme end of the rip off scale -- a girl who will do as little as possible to get what she wants--or is prepared to do whatever she has to get what she wants !
But-- as I was pointing out above -- because they are registered with an agency( most are as that is the only way to access the high dollar notorious sites) that does not mean automatically the girl is into extended scams or scamming --  or that she could not get serious in the right circumstances.

[msmob]

OMG, the Trench 'Guide to Success in FSU relationships, AGAIN ... ? ((

 

I would avoid dismissing the idea of living out there straight away if it were me. You at least know she is not looking for an immigration mule and that must be a refreshing thought that she is not just after a green card. Also marriage in Ukraine and living there gives a lot more protection to the man's assets - basically any property the guy owned before marriage remains his.

The OP made it pretty clear he wasn't looking for marriage....

Does every thread have to be about Trench's criteria for how to get out of a relationship before even being in one ? ...

You have made it clear that you are an insecure, tight-wad. - who is clueless about women in general and particularly FSU lasses ...there's really no need to keep proving it ...

 

[ML]

Hey guys, you are jumping to a lot of conclusions about this gal that RW is visiting.

And, in any event, you shouldn't be talking that way about a gal who could become a wife.

Plus, there is nothing wrong about a gal wanting to have sex, just as same as nothing wrong about guy wanting to have sex.

Could be she is very selective about sex, but just happened to be attracted to our guy.

I wish he and she well.

[BdHvA]

I can read between the lines quite well sometimes as I can be pretty perceptive though I'm not saying I always pick up on everything.

 

[JayH]

Yep !!

[BillyB]

Hey guys, you are jumping to a lot of conclusions about this gal that RW is visiting.

Conclusions are usually formed based off what was said. This trip report is different than most so reactions are going to be different. Our guy was deceived about his lady's age. She brings an agency girl on every one of his dates. Another mystery girl tries to butt in between our guy and his girl. Who was she? A prostitute who thinks every man is fair game to take and go to bed with? Obviously she knows the woman our man is with. I doubt she'd do that to the many strangers walking down the street who could be husband and wife and risk getting bitch slapped.


Our man said he's not looking for marriage but if he is, I hope he starts bragging about all the family oriented activities he's doing with his lady. Bragging about the wonderful home cooked meals he had at her and her parent's houses. Bragging about how sweet she is, she has honorable goals, good manners, and impeccable character. He did mention she has attitude. That doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside.


We had a poster named Albert and he went by a few other handles here. Albert said he has phone sex with girls because he wanted to make sure the girls were interested in sex before visiting them. He's had girls drop their panties within hours and even minutes of initially meeting them based off his trip reports. Some people were hard on him because he seemed like a sex tourist but at least he didn't mislead women. He targeted the women that are looking for the same thing he's looking for. Who knows, Albert may have made one of those ladies his wife but people stated their opinions. People are very polite here compared to what happened in Albert's trip reports. If RW_Recruiter is looking for a good time, mission accomplished and successful trip report. If he's looking for wife material, he better start talking about the character traits of his lady that makes her such an outstanding person that she's worth risking half of everything he owns.

[rw_recruiter]

Don't know if you know this, but almost all Eastern Europeans take their vacations in August.  And September 1st is first day of school.  Have some great pics of my GF's son going back for the first day.  This translates into the end of the summer that you are now experiencing.   

I have noticed a large number of private schools and military cadet type uniforms in the city this week. She said some are technical schools, what I assume is equivalent to vocational tech in the US or a 2 year degree. Some are naval, some just sharp uniforms, and a few military looking guys.

Quite possibly she may live in a concrete tower block as like with most Ukrainian cities until you get real far out that is the standard construction out there.

She lives in a stand alone house as they have a yard with trees, grape vines, etc. Think Jay is right, 30 minutes or so from the center.

Curious what's her regular job?

Some sort of administrator or inspector at the Port of Odessa.

[rw_recruiter]

Today we spend wandering around the city and she wants me to learn more about her culture and childhood. We stop in to a small industrial cafe. We walk up into the loft it has a retro Soviet feel to it. Persian carpets on the floors and walls, old cassette recorders, babushkas hand meat grinders, guitar amps I have never heard of, and video game consoles with names like "Dendy".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendy_(console)

She says it reminds her of her childhood and grandmothers house and wanted to share it with me.

The waiter lays down Russian newspaper and the food arrives on a skillet. It is basically home fried potatoes with sausage, and eggs but of course smothered in dill.

[rw_recruiter]

We walk through a different art of the city and stop along the way at several cafe's. One is more upscale with what appear to be people on the upper income level. Nice courtyard but a bit stuffy and poor wifi for me to work so we move along to one called Morgans. We sit for a few hours and chat while I work.

Until now I have been tipping around 10 percent like some suggest. But calculating the exchange rate in my head starts to give me guilt trips. My mother worked in the service industry as did I when younger. You just don't leave someone loose change. Even if the cost of living is less there are certain things that are more expensive wherever you are in the world. I make an effort to leave a bit more from now on since the food is so reasonably priced.

We wait to meet one of her gf, but she has put her baby to sleep and cannot leave the apartment. Her husband works as a sailor and makes 36k a year, an excellent salary in Odessa. He can be gone for up to 6 months while on duty though, so her gf can be alone for long lengths of time with a small child.

We walk past a gentleman's club and she teases me about the hot Odessian women. Later that night she jokingly says she will drag me to it, and we translate the website over drinks. We have a good laugh at the services they sell.

[rw_recruiter]

"So then I used to live in Odessa, dusty city…
Where skies are forever bright and pretty
Where trade-busy bee bustles and hustles care-free
The Europe breathes, flutters.
The South dazzles and motley crowd glitters.
Merry streets enjoy the tongue of golden Italy
Where proud Slavs, Frenchmen, Spaniards, and Armnenians mingle
Free
And Greeks, and heavy Moldavans are
Next to the son of the Egyptian land,
The retired corsair, Maurali."

- A.Pushkin

We stop in and visit the Pushkin museum for a bit. An old hotel he stayed it for 13 days during his Southern exile in fact. Most of the hotel has been renovated and is a still a luxury hotel. Price is 35 Hrivnas per person and it is a small collection of his items in several rooms.

Inside we are met by a short Ukrainian woman with intelligent and bright eyes. She is excited a foreigner wants to learn about Pushkin, brings me a translated book and gives us a personal tour. Her narrative leans heavily on Pushkins loves and the women he admired. This vibrant little old lady can tell we are a couple falling in love and is excited by the romanticism.

Odessa has always been a very international port city. At one point it only had dusty dirt roads, people and news would come and go, and the main street once paved became a central social meeting place. It is still that way centuries later.

A shame I cannot speak Russian as things like this never truly translate.

We thank the lady and go on our way to cool off a bit before heading out again last night.

[rw_recruiter]

Since Odessa lies on the Sea it is known for seafood. Nothing like I am used to back home and many species they eat here we would probably not consider the same quality. But Anya wants to take me to eat mussels. They are locally caught in Illichivsk neaby.

We walk up into town to a place called Kotelok. It has been rated as one of the top five seafood joints in Odessa. We get there and it is casual with a New Orleans feel to it. Kinda jazzy Russian music playing.

She orders mussels in a white wine sauce and a little fried fish similar to what we would call smelts in NY. We drink kompot, and dine on a smattering of appetizers and a salad. Bill as usual is cheap.




Large traditional grill they use the steam the mussels. Similar to cooking a paella.