Kharkov - July 2008

[GoodBrew]

First trip report but not my first trip.  Things did not start well for this trip, but the results were much better than expected.  I had originally planned to return to Sumy after my last prospect in Kharkov had not worked out.  A few ladies at Heart-Desires were contacted, and I had cut out the agency from most of the communication thanks to the assistance of Anastassia Ash.  An additional contact in Simferopol would meet me during the second week of my trip.  One of the best pieces of advice offered on RWD is to always have a backup plan, and it was about to become very clear why.  Two of the three ladies I was going to meet through Heart-Desires turned out to be best friends.  Neither of them were pleased with this turn of events.  Both of these ladies are very popular and have their pick of men both inside and outside of Ukraine.  At least that was the reply that both of them sent to me.  The lady who I was most interested in meeting was rude to Mrs. Ash when she tried to initiate a translated call and was never contacted again.  Her best friend had already been contacted, thanked for her correspondence, and told that I would not be seeing her.  The third lady complained that some of the information from my letters was being edited out when the agency called to read my correspondence to her.  Apparently that included the part about how old I was and the photo that I sent to her.  After contacting her through her private email address with a photo she decided that there was too much of an age difference for us to work.  So much for Heart-Desires.  Eventually I decided that the lady in Simferopol was not serious enough about our meeting, and that part of the trip was scrapped.

[Misha]

Out of curiosity, what was the age difference with the last woman? How much did she consider too much?

Sorry to hear about the challenges you are facing.

[GoodBrew]

Out of curiosity, what was the age difference with the last woman? How much did she consider too much?

15 years.  I think for her the point was that she wanted to take her time, and she thought that I would be pressing the issue.  There was probably some parental involvement in her decision as well.

[GoodBrew]

Now that all four contacts are history, what sites can I use to find some new prospects with a little over two months until my plane lands at BorySpil?  Elena's Models and LuckyLovers will be the next sites that I use to make new contacts.  After a few weeks on LuckyLovers I had a couple of good contacts including one in Dnepropetrovsk and another from Kharkov.  Once again there was trouble as a month prior to arrival in Ukraine the lady from Dnepropetrovsk wrote telling me that she was pregnant!  Scratch Dnep from the visit list.  Now what to do?  Thor had written about how to use a newspaper adto meet women in Kharkov, so that option was becoming more of a possibility.  After a little searching I found Milawho would place the ad and act as my representative while I am in Kharkov.  The ad would run a week before I arrived and one week while I was in town.  A different type of trip was coming together as I had one contact through LL and an unknown quantity of women who I would meet through the ad.  With three weeks left before the trip I contacted four ladies through a mega-site as additional backups.  Prior to leaving the USA a fifth agency girl was found to be dating another member of RWD, and a decision was made not to meet her after the other RWD member and I exchanged PMs.  Slava was contacted to procure an apartment for me near Prospect Lenina, and the last arrangements were made for transit from Athens->Atlanta->NY->Kiev->Kharkov.  Another bit of good news was that board members Thor and RK would be in town during the same time, and it would be good to have a brew and swap stories with other members of RWD while I was in country.

[Artur]

Have you been to aquapark in Kharkiv? Is it OK? I think about going there for 2 days with my girlfriend. But we are interested in Aquapark only.... It is in 2 hours from Dnepropetrovsk...

[GoodBrew]

Have you been to aquapark in Kharkiv? Is it OK?

Do you mean the Jungle?  Mila told me about the aquapark, and I was looking forward to visiting it.  However, there was a fire at that place when I was in Ukraine, and it was closed for repairs until after I left the country.   

[Mila]

Hey guys! Aquapark "Jungles" works now! Wonderful place and it is worth visiting!!! You will never be disappointed! My advice to everybody who is in Kharkov to go there! Wonderful place and nobody can be bored there Wonderful pools, rides, massage, saunas, restaurant with cheap and not bad food and billiards, hotel and so on.... During the week the price is much cheaper but on weekends two times more expensive! So, enjoy your life and visit such places as "Jungles"!

[GoodBrew]

The trip to Kharkov was uneventful, and thankfully, AeroSvit has decided to go with the Yak-42 over the An-24.  The apartment that Slava arranged for me was on Ul. Kultury, close to Prospect Lenina and a short walk to Lenin's Monument and several places to eat or exchange currency.  Mila came by later and we discussed when and where she would set up meetings.  She has a warm personality, a great sense of humor, and very mature for someone in her early 20s.  Over the next two weeks it will become obvious that I made the correct decision to hire her as a translator.

Since we decided that the meetings would be in the late afternoon or evening it left plenty of time to walk around the city and take photos.  Here are some of Kharkov's cathedrals.

 

[GoodBrew]

Top photo is the Internet café near Hotel Kharkov and close to Lenin's Statue.  During the late afternoon hours this place is a good spot to view some of the local talent.  It's also very close to Shevchenko Park which is another great area for people watching.

Second photo is Mandarin, a reasonably priced Ukrainian cafeteria located in the back of shopping center Prizma.  Metro station Nauchnaya and the McDonald's on Prospect Lenina are nearby.

Third photo is the 24 hour flower shop on Ul. Trinklera.  RK showed me this place one evening.  The shop assistants had what looked to be sleeping cots that they pulled in front of the store during the night.

Bottom photo is the French pastry shop near McDonald's on Prospect Lenina.  You can get coffee and great pastries here.  This place is very popular and the line stretches down the block in the winter.  Great place to get dessert for you and your lady.
     

[GoodBrew]

If your lady expresses a desire to eat at Pushka or Sharikoff for a first meeting you might want to consider finding someone new.  They're great once you have established a relationship with someone, but too expensive for a first date.  The Green Parrot is just overpriced, period.  Unfortunately, I found out the hard way about these restaurants during a previous trip.  Live and learn.

[Fogged]

Interesting comment on Sharikoff because I have been there a few times and did not find the prices too offensive, but that certainly that depends on what the lady is ordering. The food was decent and the atmosphere is nice.

As for my most recent trip just completed last week, we went to only two restaurants and each cost about 260 griv. The rest of our meals were spent at home or at her mother's.

[Muj]

Do you mean the Jungle?  Mila told me about the aquapark, and I was looking forward to visiting it.  However, there was a fire at that place when I was in Ukraine, and it was closed for repairs until after I left the country.  

Hi Fogged,
Intresting trips, sounds like you dodged a few throw backs.
What are the details of the fire at the aquapark?  I've never heard of a swimming pool fire.

[GoodBrew]

Interesting comment on Sharikoff because I have been there a few times and did not find the prices too offensive, but that certainly that depends on what the lady is ordering. The food was decent and the atmosphere is nice.

IMO for a first meeting it's too easy for a lady to go overboard with her appetites there.  Coffee or tea with dessert and some interesting conversation should be enough for a first meeting.  But you are right about the atmosphere at Sharikoff.  I just think that it is more of a place to visit after you are in a relationship.

What are the details of the fire at the aquapark?  I've never heard of a swimming pool fire.

It was caused by an electrical short.  Here are the details. 

[GoodBrew]

In all I would meet thirteen ladies over two weeks through the ad.  When I contacted the agency girls I made sure to tell them that Mila would be handling all necessary translations and setting up my meetings.  During my time in Kharkov none of the agency girls were available for meetings.  Imagine that!  My LL contact disappeared as well after giving Mila the wrong phone number to contact her.  Rather than give a day by day account of what happened I will just summarize a few of the meetings. 

Artist – Good personality.  She's into Eastern philosophy and transcendental meditation.  After dealing with agency girls in previous trips she is not who I am used to meeting.  I keep thinking that I am sitting too close to her for a first meeting, but the truth is that I'm about to fall off my side of the bench.  She's spent most of the meeting inching towards me.  She's into me, but this is the first lady I've met and there is a desire to see who else answers the ad. 

Professional makeup artist – She's well traveled, very attractive, and speaks decent English.  Her tank top and push up bra are testing my concentration skills.  Apparently people thought enough of her makeup artistry to request that she accompany them to EuroVision.  She's traveled to the Maldives and the next destination for her is Thailand.  Unfortunately the attraction is not mutual.

Student – She looks too young.  “How old are you?  Nineteen!!!”   My jaw hit the table.  Mila asks her why she wants to meet a 43 year old man, but I can already guess.  We talk for a while, because I am stunned and curious.  Mila and I have previously used this café for meetings, and the same waitress is waiting on us today.  The waitress is tall, slim, blond, and has a nice smile.  She looks to be in her mid-20s.  When we leave I thank Miss Underage for meeting me and ask Mila to see if the waitress would like to get together.  A couple of minutes later Mila emerges from the café, and we talk while walking to the Metro. 

“Scott. Scott.  I am so sorry!  The ad said 25-35 years old.  I did not know that she was nineteen.  By the way the waitress is eighteen.  She will meet with you.”

It's just not my day. 

Technologist -  Mousy girl.  This poor girl had no idea what she had gotten herself into.  She's 24 yrs. old and has visited the USA before.  MG does speak English, but her voice is too soft.  She's wide-eyed and too shy.  My attempts to lighten the mood only seem to intimidate her more.  Afterward, Mila and I both feel sorry for Mousy Girl.  Surrounded by so many hyper feminine Ukrainian women she will have trouble attracting someone.

[GoodBrew]

It has been hot and humid most of the time during this trip, not unlike the weather in north Georgia.  The small café we use for meetings is normally empty, and we can sit near the air conditioner while I enjoy a Hoegarden or Leffe and get to know the ladies.  I wonder if Mila is already inside waiting on me as I approach the building this day.  No, she is near the Metro entrance talking with one of her friends.  I stop and say “привет” to both of them and wait for Mila to introduce me to her friend.  Instead she turns to me and says, “Let's go inside.”  Wait a minute.  That's my date?  She cannot be my date.  The lady who I am meeting is supposed to be in her mid-30s.  This lady cannot be more than 26 or 27 years old.  We sit down and start to talk.  Furniture Gal has a great smile and personality.  She's definitely looking good in her painted on jeans.  While we swap a few stories and ask each other questions I check out her body language.  She starts flipping her hair about 5 - 10 minutes into our date.  I'll definitely see this one again.  When the date concludes I give FG a kiss on the cheek and ask her about her work schedule.  As she is walking away I ask Mila to set up another date with her soon.

[GoodBrew]

Since the students had departed Kharkov for the summer the city was nowhere near as busy as I have witnessed previously.  There were still plenty of attractive ladies walking down Prospect Lenina, Ul. Sumskaya, and in Shevchenko Park.

[GoodBrew]

It is two days before I leave and FG is going to meet me for drinks and appetizers at the brewpub, Stargorod.  Mila thought that this would be a good place for us to experience, and it will give me an opportunity to share some photos with FG.  The brew is pretty good, and there is a definite attraction between FG and me.  Then she tells me that she wants to take things slow between us.  She does want to accompany me to the airport to see me off, so it's not entirely a buzzkill.  We talk for a little while longer and right before we leave she announces, “What time do we meet tomorrow?”  Now, I have three meetings scheduled for my last day in Kharkov.  None of them are supposed to be with her.  Mila and I give each other a look like “What are we going to do?”  She is very persistent about seeing me again before I leave.  I tell her we'll let her know what time to meet us.  Later, Mila will drop one of my meetings.  The third lady has to work, so that situation takes care of itself.  Within a couple of hours my next date with FG is set up for the following evening.  We are going bowling at Kompas.

[MarkC]

Nice pictures 

[CCowboy]

Hi Scott,

This is Robert, RK's buddy.  We met last year at the cafe when you were still working with CL agency.  I'm glad you're working with Mila.  I heard nothing but great things about her.  I was almost ready to change my plans to Dnepropetrovsk and make another trip to Kharkov just to use Mila's services.  Now I'm glad I didn't because I think I've met the woman I've been looking for.  If my intuition proves to fail me, I'll definitely return to Kharkov and use Mila.  Your trip report continues and I hope it has a happy ending.  You've certainly stayed on course despite some ups and downs along the way.

Good Luck, Robert

[GoodBrew]

Hi Scott,

This is Robert, RK's buddy.  We met last year at the cafe when you were still working with CL agency.  I'm glad you're working with Mila.  I heard nothing but great things about her.  I was almost ready to change my plans to Dnepropetrovsk and make another trip to Kharkov just to use Mila's services.  Now I'm glad I didn't because I think I've met the woman I've been looking for.  If my intuition proves to fail me, I'll definitely return to Kharkov and use Mila.  Your trip report continues and I hope it has a happy ending.  You've certainly stayed on course despite some ups and downs along the way.

Good Luck, Robert

Thanks Robert.  It is good to read that things are going well for you in Dnepropetrovsk.  During my stay in Ukraine and since I have returned to the USA Mila has been a source of good advice and encouragement.  She is also available to work in Kherson or Zaporozhye if things fall apart for you in Dnep. and you are tired of Kharkov.

Nice pictures 

Thanks.  I will try to upload a few more before this TR comes to an end.   

[GoodBrew]

Mila and I take the Metro to the last station on this part of the line, Geroev Truda.  The entertainment center, Kompas, is very near this station.  Kompas contains a restaurant on the lowest level, a club in the center, and the bowling alley is on the third level.  Although I did not experience this particular club I was told that it is very nice.  Outside of Kompas is a familiar sight, the kvas trailer.  There is also a horse drawn carriage nearby advertising the club.  FG meets us a short time later and we head toward the bowling alley.  We bowl a few games, and she is becoming more confident with her English.  As long as I speak slowly and avoid slang phrases we communicate very well.  After a couple of hours bowling the place starts to fill up, and the attendants hint that we should bowl our last game so the other patrons will have their opportunity. 

Once outside Kompas we decide to visit the Karavan shopping mall.  As we make our way through the Metro station I stop and get a rose for FG.  We continue walking to Karavan.  It is pretty much like the malls in the States.  It does have a nice skating rink, and the Zamboni is busy working its magic on the ice.  I tell them that my ice skating skills are the pits, but it would be nice to try in the future.  Mila and FG lead me to a nice fountain in one part of the mall, and Mila takes our picture by the fountain before security raises a fuss and tells us we cannot do that on private property.  As we leave the ladies get me a taxi back to my apartment.  I say “Good Night” to FG and watch as she walks back toward the Metro, rose in hand, with Mila.  Tomorrow she will be at my apartment early in the morning with Mila and her husband to take me to the airport.

[GoodBrew]

A few more of Kharkov's ladies, some of Kharkov's construction boom, and one of the city's nice fountains.

[Jack]

Good trip report Goodbrew.

I have often used Pushka and Sharikof as places to meet ladies for first meetings. I like both places, prices are good and I think help to make a good first impression. In fact Pushka is my favorite restaurant in Kharkov.

GoodBrew I was in Kharkov a few weeks ago and have some photos of Kharkov ladies if you would like me to show a few to your report on Kharkov.  Were you able to make the Queen Concert?

[Fogged]

Oh, the Queen concert. I was there when that was taking place and asked my fiance if she would like to go. She declined saying that she would rather spend time with me elsewhere and for another personal reason.

[GoodBrew]

Good trip report Goodbrew.

I have often used Pushka and Sharikof as places to meet ladies for first meetings. I like both places, prices are good and I think help to make a good first impression. In fact Pushka is my favorite restaurant in Kharkov.

Jack, I happen to like both those restaurants as well.  In the past I have used them for first meetings.  This time my assistant was adamant about keeping my first meetings scaled down and informal, and I really cannot argue with her methods after experiencing the results.

GoodBrew I was in Kharkov a few weeks ago and have some photos of Kharkov ladies if you would like me to show a few to your report on Kharkov.  Were you able to make the Queen Concert?

Post away, Jack.  I'll be wrapping up this TR in the next few days, so get them in quick.  I was long gone by the time Queen came to town.  I've seen the photos from the show.  FG was there and told me about it.