Bad News at Christmas

[jj]

simoni- glad to hear you made it ok there. Marina and I pray for a speedy recovery.

[groovlstk]

Simoni just emailed me and would like to know if anyone knows of any wi-fi access points in Kiev's city center.

If anyone has knowledge of this please post in this thread and I'll forward it on to him.

[BC]

Simoni just emailed me and would like to know if anyone knows of any wi-fi access points in Kiev's city center.

If anyone has knowledge of this please post in this thread and I'll forward it on to him.

No first hand knowledge here, but if no one else chips up following might do in a pinch:

http://gridskipper.com/travel/kiev/wireless-in-kiev-200737.php

[LiveFromUkraine]

Simoni just emailed me and would like to know if anyone knows of any wi-fi access points in Kiev's city center.

If anyone has knowledge of this please post in this thread and I'll forward it on to him.

Chateau, the brewery almost across the street from the metro station.  TGI Fridays is another. 

I am told there are a lot of places that have wifi besides those two.  Simon can just walk in and ask them.


Thomas

[Simoni]

Chateau, the brewery almost across the street from the metro station.  TGI Fridays is another. 

I am told there are a lot of places that have wifi besides those two.  Simon can just walk in and ask them.


Thomas

Thanks, Groove, BC, and Thomas.

I had checked at three internet cafes.  And two coffee shops.  None had wifi.   But you guys came through for me 

Thomas, I'm at Fridays now having a latte and using their free wifi.  Thanks a million.   

I needed to transport documents from my notebook to my office in the US, and it's much handier with wifi rather than transfering data to a computer at an internet cafe.

Yes, I know that wifi is not "secure."  But they can steal these boring documents if they wish.    LOL

[Simoni]

I’ll backtrack a few days and share about my arrival in Kiev, and a rookie mistake I made in travel.

I recommend that men traveling to Ukraine NOT check baggage, but pack smart, with just a couple pairs of blue or grey slacks, one pair of jeans, and a few shirts.  And only enough underwear and socks for the number of days you are in country.  In winter, wear your coat onto the plane, with cap and gloves in the pockets.

I did NOT follow my own rule on this rushed trip.  I wanted to take a bigger bag so I could bring back some of Marina’s “stuff.”   So I took the hard cased blue suitcase; it weighted in at 18 pounds.

Four days later, I have yet to see it here in Kiev.  What I should have done was to carry my things in a duffel carry on bag, and checked the empty blue bag.  But haste makes waste.

Seems like the bag went to London instead of Kiev during my layover in Milan.

Marina had flown to Kiev to meet me and had to wait an extra hour  to see me as I filed the lost bag report.  In addition, this knocked me out of the green line into the red; another form to fill out and another grilling from a Ukrainian customs agent.  And no sir, no gifts are being brought in. ☺

Marina insisted I buy a few things here—cap, gloves and underwear and socks.

Now I’m toasty warm here in this COLD city, thanks to the gloves and cap.

We are not in South Florida anymore :-)

[catzenmouse]

Si,

 We are extremely happy to hear that Marina is on the mend! When we first heard of this Elena felt very guilty and that it was our fault. If we had followed through on those plans to visit you both over the holiday then perhaps Marina would not have been in Ukraine at that moment.

 Our thoughts, hopes, and prayers are with you both!

Elena & Ken

[Simoni]

Si,

 We are extremely happy to hear that Marina is on the mend! When we first heard of this Elena felt very guilty and that it was our fault. If we had followed through on those plans to visit you both over the holiday then perhaps Marina would not have been in Ukraine at that moment.

 Our thoughts, hopes, and prayers are with you both!

Elena & Ken

Ken,

We are having coffee at Friday's as I type.

Marina agrees and says "yeah, it's your fault you guys!  If you had come to visit us I would have stayed home!"

She is laughing, so don't relay this to your Elena as truth LOL

The reality is that you can't have such thoughts.  What if I had gone with her?  Would we have taken the same bus?  Could I have saved her?

Let's do new years next year, ok? 

Cheers,

Si & Marina

[Simoni]

Marina health update

Marina is doing well.  Only one problem remains on her face; a big scar that is about  3 inches long.  I can tell it will need help to heal to invisible.  Her forehead is still swollen, and she still has some nasty bruises on her body, three weeks later.  But those will heal in time.

We are getting out in public now, but Marina covers the scars with a bandage or cap.

[catzenmouse]

LOL! Yeah, we know the truth but you know how that thinking goes...

I don't know where we'll be next New Years but it will either be in Russia or someplace WARM!

Ken (where its a balmy 18F (-8C) right now)

[groovlstk]

Simoni,

If you need emergency goosedown airlifted to Kiev let us know and we'll put together a care package for you and arrange to have one of the many RWD pilots make the drop over Independence Square

Ken, it's good to see you posting again!

[Simoni]

LOL! Yeah, we know the truth but you know how that thinking goes...

I don't know where we'll be next New Years but it will either be in Russia or someplace WARM!

Ken (where its a balmy 18F (-8C) right now)

Marina says warm is where we live (Florida).   

But at this moment we have you beat-- its -11 here in Kiev!!!

[catzenmouse]

Thanks Groov,

 Had the hissy fit, spent my time in the corner, feel better now...

[Simoni]

Simoni,

If you need emergency goosedown airlifted to Kiev let us know and we'll put together a care package for you and arrange to have one of the many RWD pilots make the drop over Independence Square

Ken, it's good to see you posting again!

And maybe we'll hitch a ride home with them  

[Simoni]

Hey you singe guys...

In Russian lore, Santa has a girlfriend!

And she is young and beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And she is everywhere in Kiev!

Waitresses are wearing very sexy miss santa coustumes, and having great fun :-)

Christmas here is Jan 7, so we have a few more days to enjoy seeing miss santa    LOL

[catzenmouse]

Hey you singe guys...

In Russian lore, Santa has a girlfriend!

And she is everywhere in Kiev!

Waitresses are wear very sexy miss santa coustumes, and having great fun :-)

Christmas here is Jan 7, so we have a few more days to enjoy seeing miss santa    LOL

Don't tell us you're going to make a post like that and NOT add pictures are you? That's just plain cruel...

[Simoni]

Correction--

Marina says miss santa does not leave on Jan 7.

Rather, she says around until Jan 13, Old New Year's Eve. 

[Simoni]

Don't tell us you're going to make a post like that and NOT add pictures are you? That's just plain cruel...

Amazing, Marina is granting me permission to snap a pic of one of the miss santas.

Let's see what miss santa says...

If I get a green light, I'll do it.   Just for you, and post it next time I can.

[LiveFromUkraine]

Marina health update

Marina is doing well.  Only one problem remains on her face; a big scar that is about  3 inches long.  I can tell it will need help to heal to invisible.  Her forehead is still swollen, and she still has some nasty bruises on her body, three weeks later.  But those will heal in time.

We are getting out in public now, but Marina covers the scars with a bandage or cap.

I had to take a second look because there were pictures of a beautiful woman here and now they are gone.  Really, Marina looked awesome.  You couldn't tell she was in any kind of accident.  I have no doubts that her scar will not be a problem.



Thomas

[Simoni]

Marina is a shy girl, so just a peek was all 

[Simoni]

Marina just had the first opportunity to read all the comments made by our RWD family...and she asked me to write...

"I'm so pleased that so many people, many that I do not know, wished me well. And also pleased that people I know say so many good things about us.  I hope I will see some of them soon."

[Simoni]

My suitcase was delivered today.

Marina kept calling.  Finally, when it made it to Kiev, they told her due to the volume of lost bags, it would only be delivered in 36 hours.  She told them (deliver company) I was freezing and if it was delivered first, there "we will be very thankful, and we will apprecaite it and it will not be for free."

Thirty mintues later my bag was delivered  .  Marina gave them 10 bucks.

[Simoni]

Now that the crisis that started Gator's thread has passed, I'll morp this into a trip report of sorts.

I have been to Kiev perhaps a dozen times, but never in the dead of winter.  It's different, so I'll share some of our experiences here.

[Simoni]

Don't tell us you're going to make a post like that and NOT add pictures are you? That's just plain cruel...

Ok, here is one "Miss Santa."   

Marina says Miss Santa is usually blond.  But guess this brunette will do.  And yes, Miss Santa wears blue.

Santa seems happier here than in the US.  Nice to have a young gf rather than Mrs Santa in the North Pole.

Hmmm... wonder if Mrs. Santa knows why Santa enjoys his Christmas trips so much?    LOL

[Simoni]

It's really really cold here!  -!5 C.

I'm freezing, to say the least.

Like most guys, I HATE to shop.  Marina is overjoyed because I keep pulling her hand and leading her into stores to "shop."  She has figured out "why" I am going into the stores...to escape the extreme cold!  But the end result is she gets to shop to her hearts content.  And I get to warm up.

Christmas is not until January 7.  So the shops are crowded.  Ok by me-- shared body heat!

Here's a pic of the checkout line last night.

Crazy!