LenaC's trip to Tver

[catzenmouse]

Welcome Home Lena!

 We'll look forward to hearing your impressions. I've been hearing quite a bit from my "Lena" who is still there but will be home next week. Hurray!

Ken

[Bruce]

Leena, thanks for contributing.  I'll throw in my two cents about Tver.  It really looks much better than last year.  Even the roads are a bit better paved.  The flower beds and fountains beautify the city some and the renovations throughout the city, especially the downtown area is great.  Inflation has hit a bit, but it is by no means Moscow prices yet.

I just got back from Tver last night.  The flights on Delta 30 and 31 were packed.  There was late by 1/2 an hour and slow luggage made it a full hour.  Customs was a snap.  Comming back the flight was on time.  Food and service on Delta has gotten better.  Both planes had leather seats in coach.  I like the food on Aeroflot better.  Getting through customs in Russia without a huge line up the stairs is a huge plus on the Delta 30 flight.  The flight from NY to Moscow was an absolute high fashion show.

Now, if you take the local train from Tver you will truly think you are on a train full of barbarians until most of the population empties out at Likhoslavyl.  I could easily imagine horsedrawn carts or down rivers in boats full of settlers comming from the great north into Russia one thousand years ago with this crew.  Picture six big ill kempt guys drinking beers while playing cards as the train moves per table.  One big and bald, one shorter and blond with a distinct mustache and an odder smirk, the others sterotypical nordic barbarians just missing their axe, furs and blades.  One big fat guy at the end of a bench, a tall close cropped blond guy with a tatooed blond buxom girl accross from him with two younger guys to her left laughing up a storm.  I think you get the picture of the general train population.  Nobody bothered anyone.  Everyone was having a good time.  It was fun for me to observe.  In fact, nobody seemed to notice me anywhere on this trip, including Moscow.  What is going on here?  Was it luck, or people figuring out that I somehow belonged for my eleven days or did they see that my wife did not feel like talking for me?

The dacha town I stayed out unfortunately has been noticed by Moscow.  Evidently the river has lots of fish and you are allowed to hunt in the area so it is a big plus these days.  The advice from all last year to buy a place when prices were $2000 were spot on.  The price now for the same dacha is now $8000 and probably rising.  Life in the village was a lot of fun this year.  Our daughter just loves the village.  She helps pick raspberries, zemlinika, blueberries in the forrest etc.  Grandma and Grandma are a blast to her.  In her eyes mom and pop are now almost second fiddles. 

I made it to the Pushkin art museum in Moscow on our one day trip there.  Not as good as the Tretakovsky art gallery which is devoted to Russian artists.  I still have to pay the foreigner price, darn!  The lost gold treasures of Troy are a treat................. http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-18571056.html and worth the look see.  Schliemann collected quite a horde.  There is a tremendous Rembrandt collection there as well.  Since I love fine art the Rembrandts did it for me.  We ate at my favorite place in Moscow to get food I like at a quality price...........McDonald's (they have good toppings for Russians to put on their French Fries -the ice cream cones are the same here and there (all I ate).  The price was also right for half a barbecued chicken at the train station which was good eating, with along with a large J-7 apple juice was enough for us.

I got some nice JYell pieces and some more paintings which hopefully my MIL and FIL will be able to bring when they arrive this September.  It was a hoot visiting friends at a really nice dacha, walking over to an old artists house, buying three paintings on his show wall and then sitting them in the dacha, having a typical shastlick feast and then carrying the paintings to the packed electric train and then walking them home.

The train is a hoot because it is free.  Why is it free?  Nobody pays.  If agents come up to people on the train they will pay, but there are not enough agents because nobody pays if they only go a few stops. 

[TigerPaws]

Bruce,

 Thank you for the colorful trip report aboard the train, it brought back some interesting memories and I had a good laugh.

TigerPaws

[Gator]

LenaC,

Welcome home.  I do wish to read your trip report.  I am more interested in understanding more about this mysterious beautiful woman who KenC has been talking about for the five years I have been reading these forums.

I compliment the excellent writing style and colorful commentary of your first post.  It is difficult to realize that you are Russian.  Maybe you are more American than Russian?

[Simoni]

Bruce: Welcome home!   Look forward to hearing more about your trip.

LenaC:  Great beginning of your report, and wonderful writing.  We look forward to hearing more 

~Si

[DKMM]

I agree Gator, its almost strange to see how she writes just like an American.  And not just an average american but like a very well educated one.  Lucky guy, KenC is. 

I can't imagine my girl writing like that someday, it almost seems like it wouldn't be the same person! 

[Lily]

I am delighted to read LenaC on the forum! 

Lenochka please write, and put some pictures if possible. I mean the pictures of yourself, too

[vwrw]

 I am proud that through the years he inspired many of you about possibility of having strong relationships with Russian women. 

LenaC, welcome! You have not only wonderful writing but also a good sense of humor. The above words made me to laugh loudly.
Please, continue your T/R

[wiz]

LenaC

Welcome on the board and was very nice reading your first post.
That KenC is a lucky........man.

I can't also wait to read your travel report and enjoy your writing style.

Wiz

[IAmZon]

Please accept my welcome as well, Lena.

Your husband has always stood out to be a very honest, direct, and "level- headed" character to me... one of the very big reasons this board has a strong and unique value.

I have never read a post by you ... but now I suspect you could rival your husband's  influence here - and I am certain we would all be better for it.

[LenaC]

Thanks to all of you for being interested in my report and thank you so very much for complements about my writing. I know there is always a room for the improvement though...

[LenaC]

Home. Sweet home.
The moment when I step on Russian soil again is equivalent to almost a spiritual experience to me. I mean; it feels like I am coming back to what I am and what I am not any more at the same time. Excuse me for such a complicated explanation, but it is the only way I can put my feelings to words. Here I am: a Russian girl coming back “home”, to the country that gave me a wonderful family, great education and some of the best years of my life…. And here I am: the girl that gained the knowledge that Russia is not the only the place on earth where I could be HAPPY. Living in America forever divided my heart in two halves, one of which belongs to US now and another one will always belong to Russia.
At the airport my parents were ecstatic; their “little girl” is back!! When I left my family eight years ago, at the age of twenty-one, my parents experienced a personal tragedy. They never expected me to leave so far and so fast. They never wished for me to immigrate to another country. (From my knowledge, many Russian parents encourage their daughters to find a “better” country to live. My Russian neighbors for example, tired to talk their daughter into finding an American husband after they found out that I left. They also congratulated my parents on my decision to immigrate; to which my mom said: “I do not see anything great about it. I am cursed to miss so many moments that I could spend with my daughter. There are so many things in each others lives we will be missing…)
Then, at the age of twenty-one, I was not thinking about longterm effects of immigration on me and my Russian family. I was young, adventurous and totally in love. And you know how far this combination of circumstances can take you…. All away to America  Only years later I started to realize how limited the time that I can spend with my Russian family. Let’s say my parents live another thirty years. If I see them an average one month a year, it leave me less then three years of time that we can be together, and this is IF they live thirty years…. (That is why I try to do everything to stay connected with my parents; calling almost everyday, sending any new picture via E-mail etc.)
The reason I had to talk about this sentimental issue is to bring the understanding of the significance of my visits to Russia.

Trip from Moscow to Tver.
Having a nice car to travel will not save you from the terrible Russian roads and traffic. However the air conditioner in the car can be a life saver for a passenger in Russia. There are to many cars still working on diesel; like buses and trucks. There are many of them traveling on the two lane freeway between Moscow and Tver. My God, It was insane to see how my dad was maneuvering between them, trying to get ahead on that busy, only two lane road. When I did put my seat belt on my dad jokingly asked me: “Are you really afraid? Don’t you trust your father’s driving?” On that I answered: “I trust you, but I do not trust the other crazy drivers.” At that moment my memory brought back my American Driver’s Book instruction that suggested driving assuming that other drivers might not see you, even if you see them. The only way to cheer myself up was to think: “No, I was not risking my life flying for twelve hours across the ocean to die on the two hour trip to Tver going 60 miles an hour. God will not allow that.” And God didn’t.
We arrived to Tver in the evening; around 7pm. It was still like a day light outside. (In summers it is getting dark only around 11pm as opposed to California it is totally dark already at 8 in the evening.) Many nosey BABUSHKAS at my apartment building were enjoying some “fresh” air on their balconies when our car parked on the sideway. Seeing me and my parents to unload the car trunk, made babushka’s curious minds wonder: “Who is that? Where they coming from? What is in the bags?”  Yes, this is a BIG part of Russian culture having some neighbor babushka’s nose in your life. It used to be irritating to me, but now it is just so funny. At the evening meeting in the communal bench my lovely old ladies will have a lot to talk about and it will make their day. Why not?! All I cared about at that moment was that I finally reached my destination and that I could exhale for now……
To be continued..

[Wayne B]

Lena C, a very nice post...I can see the Babushkas now.. Very funny

[Jack]

Hello LenaC, I also enjoyed reading of your trip report. 

Many little things you mention that I think many people reading can relate to and brings a smile to many of those faces.

For which I Thank you.   

[KenC]

Some photos from Lena's trip.

[TigerPaws]

KenC,

You lady is absolutely stunning! As a general question what didn't you accompany her?

TigerPaws

[KenC]

Tigerpaws,
Thanks.  This is the busy time of year for my business.
KenC

[tim 360]

LenaC,   It was a great treat to read your trip report and I hope there is more to come.  Going back home to your family; you make it so very clear how close you are with your family and how much you miss them and it is really quite the journey you have been on since you were a girl of 21.  I am sure at times you feel your heart pulled in 2 different directions.  I look forward to your continuation and thank you for posting your thoughts.

KenC, you are one very lucky dog.  Finally I can now see clearly how you fell so irrevocably in love with Lena,  Cheerio, tim360

[Simoni]

Lena,
Thanks so much for taking the time to write about your experiences in Tver.  They are a great pleasure, and help, to all of us.

I remember that road to Tver!  Bruce does too; I think their car flipped over on that same road last summer.

~Si

[Mir]

Hello Lena

I guess in your heart you will find it hard to decide where you should sing '"Svetit Neznakomaya Zvezda", In the US or Russia?

[jj]

Lena, 

Thanks for a great trip report.  You are a welcome addition to the board.  I know how excited your parents must have been to see you again.  You and KenC are a great couple together.  I know we all look forward to hearing more.  -jj

[KenC]

Hello Lena

I guess in your heart you will find it hard to decide where you should sing '"Svetit Neznakomaya Zvezda", In the US or Russia?

She could sing it in Russian or English for Russia or America, but her best song EVER was when she sang "Love Me Tender" in her heavy Russian accent at a Karaoke place in Tver on my first trip.  That is permanently burned in my brain for life.  Of course, I knew I was "toast" when she did that!
KenC

[Mir]

Ken

That was a sweet memory you shared with us.
I am sure you know that 'Love Me Tender' was sung to the tune of 'Aura Lee' a civil war song written by W.W Fosdick(god what a name) in 1861. (RE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Me_Tender_(song))
Here are the modified lyrics of that song (with due credit and apologies to Mr. Dick)

As the blackbird in the spring,
'Neath the willow tree,
Sat and piped, I heard him sing,
Sing of Lena C    
Lena C, Lena C,
Maid with golden hair;
Sunshine came along with thee,
And swallows in the air.
In thy blush the rose was born,
Music when you spake,
Through thine azure eye, the morn,
Sparkling seemed to break.
Lena C, Lena C,
Birds of crimson wing,
Never song have sung to me,
In that night, sweet spring.
Lena C! The bird may flee,
The willow's golden hair
Swing through winter fitfully,
On the stormy air.
Yet if thy blue eyes I see,
Gloom will soon depart;
For to me, sweet Lena C
Is sunshine through the heart.
When the mistletoe was green,
Midst the winter's snows,
Sunshine in thy face was seen,
Kissing lips of rose.
Lena C, Lena C,
Take my golden ring;
Love and light return with thee,
And swallows with the spring.


I just heard the whole song in my head sung by the King

[groovlstk]

There are to many cars still working on diesel; like buses and trucks. There are many of them traveling on the two lane freeway between Moscow and Tver.

Lena, my mother-in-law made her first visit to the US last week (my wife has been in the US now for 8 months, she's originally from Moscow) and your comment reminded me of something. Mom noted that despite the number of cars on our roads, the air didn't have that rotten-egg smell that is common in Moscow and assumed that our cars used something other than gas for power

Thanks for a great TR, my wife will be traveling back to Moscow in Sept. for the first time since arriving in the US, I think her experiences will be similar to yours.

[Ste]

Nadia is back in Chelyabinsk right now, her second trip back.

She was telling me today she was showing pics to all from her recent trip to Köln, she's in placement (internship) in Berlin remember, do keep up, those at the back....

Now Köln seems to be at least 50% gay, and Nadia was showing pictures of a Gay Parade there - mistake....

Comments included:

Disgusting

They should be burnt

How is it they can marry; marriage is to provide children, how can they do that?

We don't have them in Russia

In the West people have so much free time they have sex with animals (yes - really, I didn't believe this one either!!) - too much free time to try these things.

I thought it was funny, but my poor lapushok is surprised at the intolerance, she never saw it before.

Meanwhile, me and my favourite sheep, Flossie, are having a romantic dinner tonight, mint sauce is off the menu tho....

Baaaaaa.....