Spring trip report

[Jack]

In a short time on this board I have been pleasantly surprised with the vast amount of new things I have learned. In addition being able to sit back and read some interesting trip reports, seeing the thoughts of and from the Russian ladies who contribute, mixed with those scandals who have slithered here from banishment elsewhere, have brought many smiles to my face.

So in an effort to try and give just a little back to the RWD community, between my laptop and many I-net cafe's, I hope to be able to make some from the scene spring trip reports starting next week.

[Photo Guy]

Jack,
I'm bored. What are some of the new things that you've learned?

[Jack]

2005, eleven city, 46 day spring trip to Ukraine and Russia. "The Beginning".
 
Old man winter held onto winter about two weeks longer than usual in Russia and Ukraine this spring. With snow falling in parts of Ukraine the second week of May he did not release his grasp until May 16th/17th.  There were more than a few foreign men arriving the first weeks of May who ended up buying much heavier coats.
 
Arriving into Kiev in early May one learns quickly as to the rising prices of local flats, gasoline and train tickets. Eurovison has flat owners located in the center all the way out to the first metro stops seeing dollar and euro signs. One bedroom flats on Khershatyk that normally rent for $65 a night are going for over a hundred.
 
The price of gasoline has increased so much the new president signed an order that gas would not be sold for more than a certain price. This order lasted for about two days before you saw gas owners charging more, and apparently the new presidential order did not hold up as more and more stations began charging more. Some Russian leaders had expressed concerns with Yushchenko's setting a price on the amount that gas could be sold for and I think the concern raised by the Kremlin made Yushchenko (just completing his first 100 days in office) think twice about messing with the local gas resellers who were having to sell at more than the maximum price he had just set.
 
First-class train tickets rose 50%! A first-class train berth that in December cost $26 now cost $40.
 
The Euro is rising, the dollar dropping. For the first time in probably four and a half years the dollar had dropped to under 5 grivnas.
 
"Tapegate", as it is referred to, has the attention of many. In the city of Ostrava in the Czech Republic former presidential Ukraine body guard Mykola Melnychenko has delivered 45 compact disc's containing 1000's of hours of recordings that implicate former president Kuchma in a host of crimes including ranging the murder of journalist Georgy Gongadze.
 
Kiev is buzzing with excitement as Eurovision is bringing in a lot of tourist. The Ukraine government has lifted the visa requirements for people from the European Union and the Swiss. The roads are clogged with traffic, the hotels are booked, flats are full, the streets are full of young beer drinking foreigners. It's time to head to Kharkov.
 
 

[Bruno]

Welcome back Jack, it is a long time that we have not see you here... i can read that you have know almost the same weather that me in Nikolaev... i am happy of this , i was to think that i was cursed

[mischief]

wow, didn't know that Eurovision was coming.. very exciting for Kiev!

Can't wait to hear more!

[TwoBitBandit]

wow, didn't know that Eurovision was coming.. very exciting for Kiev!

Dude, Eurovision already came and left Kiev.  Sorry, you blinked and missed it!

[MandM]

wow, didn't know that Eurovision was coming.. very exciting for Kiev!

Dude, Eurovision already came and left Kiev. Sorry, you blinked and missed it![/quote]Yep, like a month ago!  And it's going to Greece next year.

[Albert]

As seen from the Eurovision note, Jack is posting well after the fact.  I am sure he is doing this in sequence and will be up to date as his reports progress.

Likewise, the dollar rebounded in late May - early June and was up to 5.12 - 5.14 hryvinas at that point.