Traveling to Kaluga end of March

[Chillidog]

Just purchased my airplane tickets yesterday.

date of travel will be the 26th of March to the 30th of March

Talked to my friend and depending on what time I arrive in Kaluga (taking the train from Moscow) she will meet me at the Train station. If she is not able to meet me (because I arrive before she gets off of work) her mother and my friends 8 yo son will meet me at the train station.

will take a brief stop to drop off my luggage and then.....

1st on the agenda enjoying a home cooked Russian meal with my friend, her son and mother. (the meal will be prepared by mother)

[Vaughn]

Express train from Kiyevsky Station?

Sounds like a nice plan. I wish you and your friend an enjoyable time together...

A nice article about Kaluga can be accessed here: http://www.mnweekly.ru/travel/20071018/55283756.html

Vaughn

[Chillidog]

Vaughn,

thanks for the link to the article on Kaluga.

yea, I'm hoping it is enjoayble also

[Chillidog]

One thing I do enjoy about FSU women --- there never is a dull moment

plans change again! (for the third time)

Originally I she had reserved me a room at the Kaluga Hotel (it was the closest and most convenient Hotel from her apartment-less than a 5 minute walk) and for 4 nights it was going to cost me $540 USD

apparently she continued to do some comparission shopping because a few days ago she said she found a Hotel "Oka" which would not be as expensive ($217) she showed her son where I would be staying and his comment was "Mother, Robert will not enjoy staying at this hotel" (I believe he only viewed it from the outside and did not like it compared to the Kaluga Hotel).

My friend after hearing her son's comments became very concerned and worried, and so asked me "Robert, did I do correct? I felt you only need hotel to sleep". I told her she was correct and everything would be good.

Well, as I said plans have changed again. I will no longer be staying at any hotel. Her mother's friend has an apartment which her friend is making available for me to stay at (at no costto me or to my friend )

Question I now have for anyone and everyone;

I arrive on a Thursday evening and depart the following Monday.

Will I need to get my Visa/Passport registered?

I certain do not want any hassels in the future in getting a Visa (If I do not register this time) but I am not "Offically" staying 3 buisness days (I believe the weekend does not count). It wasn't an issue previously becuase I was just going to let the hotel Register me, but now with only "3 full days" in this visit, I do not want to waste 1 of these days staning in lines of running around trying to get my Visa Registered.

any suggestions?

[Chillidog]

It is just 4 weeks until I travel. My friend today was lamenting that our time together on this visit will be so short, but that our next time together will be longer. Being somewhat of a "thick" male (don't always catch quickly to the subtle and sublime message of woman) it took me a second for this comment to sink in and then the light went on.  :brightidea: she was not really talking about our next meeting BUT this meeting!

she wants me to stay longer . so come tomorrow I will start calling the airlines to see what I can do to extend my stay and of course how much extra this is going to cost me

[2tallbill]

One thing I do enjoy about FSU women --- there never is a dull moment


Will I need to get my Visa/Passport registered?

I certain do not want any hassels in the future in getting a Visa (If I do not register this time) but I am not "Offically" staying 3 buisness days (I believe the weekend does not count). It wasn't an issue previously becuase I was just going to let the hotel Register me, but now with only "3 full days" in this visit, I do not want to waste 1 of these days staning in lines of running around trying to get my Visa Registered.

any suggestions?

Yes, you must register your visa.

When I was in Russia I stayed in an apartment and had a travel agent
register my visa it cost me something like $30.

Udachi!

Bill

[OlgaH]

National park "Ugra"  in the Kaluga region

[youtube=425,350]mGRWtsy7oT4&feature=channel_page[/youtube]

[Faux Pas]

Yes, you must register your visa.

When I was in Russia I stayed in an apartment and had a travel agent
register my visa it cost me something like $30.

Udachi!

Bill

Thats always a tricky and testy question. The Russian customs agents have always seem annoyed with the registration paper in my passport upon leaving. Once I didn't register and there was no fallout of any kind. It was never mentioned. Better safe than sorry and I recommend registering. Search prior to your arrival and see if you can find someone to do it for you for a fee. It takes three quarters of a day minimum in Tomsk. It's probably the same everywhere. Your time is short and might be worth the fee.

[Tamara]

You will need to register!   In the worst case scenario, they will make you pay a fine before leaving Russia.  Here is some good information for you to look at: http://www.waytorussia.net/RussianVisa/Registration.html

[Chillidog]

My friend and I have looked into doing this registering my Visa at the local Post Office. She said that she will go to the Post Office on Friday 8am and do this while I get sleep from my travels. Which of course I said "I am not a boy, I do not need to sleep" and that I will go with her to do this. That our time together is more imprtant than getting a couple of extra hours of sleep.

Hopefully by the end of this week, I might have info on the possibilty of extending my visit. also should have my Passport back from the Russian consulate by the end of the week also.

[Chillidog]

National park "Ugra"  in the Kaluga region

Olga,

on what day/date does this traditional end of winter festival start? I understand this festival to be called "Shrovtide" how would this festival be spelled in the cyrillic alphabet?

[OlgaH]

Olga,

on what day/date does this traditional end of winter festival start? I understand this festival to be called "Shrovtide" how would this festival be spelled in the cyrillic alphabet?

I think you ask about Maslenitsa Масленица fest.  Am I correct?

This year Maslenitsa fest took place from 23 February to 1 March. It is last week before the Great Lent.

Pagans in town! Russia celebrates Maslenitsa
http://russiatoday.com/Art_and_Fun/2009-02-28/Pagans_in_town__Russia_celebrates_Maslenitsa.html

Maslenitsa: Russia’s taste-fest
http://russiatoday.com/Art_and_Fun/2009-03-01/Maslenitsa__Russia_s_taste-fest.html

Goodbye, winter! Pancake week begins
http://russiatoday.com/Art_and_Fun/2009-02-24/Goodbye__winter__Pancake_week_begins_.html

Maslenitsa in Moscow
http://02varvara.wordpress.com/2009/02/16/maslenitsa-in-moscow/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslenitsa

[Chillidog]

Olga,

Thanks,

my friend had commented to me the other day that she had promised her son she would take him bowling (first time for each --- it is something all 3 of us hope to do when we are together) on the "First day of Spring".

Which for her is/was Today. Is March 1st typically thought of by Russians as the first day of Spring?

I will have to ask her about Maslenitsa festivities, me being Catholic lent already started for me with "Ash Wednesday" on February 25th. I'll have to remind her that it will still be "Lent" season for me when we are together at the end of March

[OlgaH]

Is March 1st typically thought of by Russians as the first day of Spring?

Yes, that's correct. Even if it is still cold in Russia the word Mach gives a spring mood 

I love bowling. I think you all will have fun bowling 

[Daveman]

Chillidog,

It sounds like this is going to be a great visit. Best of luck to you.

I want to make one small comment about the visa.  Your girl seems very interested in looking out for you, and that is wonderful.  BUT.... no matter what she says... just go to a hotel and pay them about $50 to register the visa and be done with it...  

When I visited Omsk, the lady pitched a fit about paying $50 to register the visa.. sooooo, three trips (always seemed to be just ONE document short), about 10 total wasted hours,  and a day late we DID get the visa registered at the police station for 14 rubles.   Never again.  It was cool and all that... but... it really tore to the very edge of my patience with the strangulation factor.. for both her and the police..  the Gulag already had my name on it.   If for some reason you do dance with insanity and decide to go to the police to register.. she will need to bring all of HER information.. She will need to say you are staying at her address, and show all of her documentation. She will be the one registering your visa... If you give the address of the apartment, then the apartment owner must go register your visa.. so listen to that little voice.. "Go to the hotel.. go to the hotel.. go to the hotel..."

Take it easy and have a blast,
Dave

[Ade]

Chillidog,

It sounds like this is going to be a great visit. Best of luck to you.

I want to make one small comment about the visa.  Your girl seems very interested in looking out for you, and that is wonderful.  BUT.... no matter what she says... just go to a hotel and pay them about $50 to register the visa and be done with it...  

When I visited Omsk, the lady pitched a fit about paying $50 to register the visa.. sooooo, three trips (always seemed to be just ONE document short), about 10 total wasted hours,  and a day late we DID get the visa registered at the police station for 14 rubles.   Never again.

Chilli, as I've said to you on another forum about this, the registration process can be a PITA but if she is set on doing it herself don't forget that you'll probably need photocopies of your passport and the visa page, a photocopy of your immigration card, and a photocopy of her internal passport as well as all the completed forms. Maybe there was something else too that I missed. My Tanya is arriving tonight and I'll try to remember to ask her if there was anything else from her side that was needed - unless Dave remembers? BTW, maybe the post office would be better than the police.

Oh, and my recommendation would be to do the hotel thing but having said that Tanya insists that she'll do the post office the next time too ("it will be easy next time now that we know what is needed"  )

[Daveman]

That about sums it up from what I can remember, SJ.  Please do post Tatyana's comments here. I just can't remember what all Natasha was required to have and present.

The 'visitor' need not be present.  I was "forbidden" to go after I shocked my girl by spazzing out a little at them on Day 3 when they required her to have another document which they failed to mention on Day 2 when they required her to have another document they failed to mention on Day 1. 

I didn't know this could be done at a post office. I would guess that would be much easier than a police station.

All he will need is exactly what you listed -- photocopies of everything, hand them to the lady, and then he could go have a beer and wait.   

I imagine the hotels and travel agents probably have a fast track registration process in place which is literally a rubber stamping assembly line for documents.  No questions asked stamp stamp stamp kind of thing.  When an individual does the registration process there's a bit more procedural nonsense involved.   

[mendeleyev]

CD, don't worry about Lent, you can share it as she'll be in the midst of the Orthodox 40 day fast which will end at Easter on 19 April.

If you're fasting then she'll probably fast along with you (no meat, oil, dairy, eggs, alcohol, etc).

Orthodox fasting guidelines allow her to cease fasting in situations when:
- Guests from far away arrive
- When traveling
- Anytime the fasting would call attention to itself by non-Orthodox (it is done as a personal matter, not to brag to others about your spiritual committment)

So essentially it's a call the two of you can make, to fast or not to fast. She can cease fasting while you're there and then return to fasting after you've left so don't worry about making things difficult on her.

Have a great time!

[OlgaH]

(no meat, oil, dairy, eggs, alcohol, etc).

During the Great lent the vegetable oil is allowed on Saturday and Sunday 

http://www.eda-server.ru/trapeza/kalendar/index.html

[mendeleyev]

Olga, I asked our priest this question once: If we cook something with oil on Saturday and there are leftovers, may we eat them on Monday since they were cooked on Saturday?

I don't do that any longer.   

[Ade]

That about sums it up from what I can remember, SJ.  Please do post Tatyana's comments here. I just can't remember what all Natasha was required to have and present.

After some digging Tanya found the official Kaluga site for this stuff here http://fms.kaluga.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16&Itemid=41

Under section 1) they have 2 files you can download, the first file has the rules and the second the registration form. The rules don't mention exactly what we had to do in the post office though so after a little discussion here and racking our memories here's what we needed and had to do;

- Registration form (this I take the liberty of translating as in Russian it's apparently an "Informing" form ). If there's no printer available for the above downloaded file then this can be had from a main post office and it's a good idea for significant others to pick this up and fill in ahead of time before you arrive.

- A duplicate of the registration form or photocopy of it.

- Photocopies of; Passport, Visa, Immigration card. I think we also were asked for a photocopy of Tanya's internal passport but she says no. Make sure she has it with her just in case.

- A form which lists what is being sent as a part of the registration - which you'll be asked to fill this in at the post office. This is basically a registered letter that's being sent so you need to tell them what is in it in case something gets lost.

We think that is it although at the time it seemed a hell of a lot more!
 

I didn't know this could be done at a post office. I would guess that would be much easier than a police station.

Don't try it anywhere near New Years eve!

But yes, it really helped that there was a photocopier in the place or we'd also have had to run back and forth.

Hope this helps. Now we are off out to buy some ingredients for a monster chocolate cake we're going bake together.

[Chillidog]

CD, don't worry about Lent, you can share it as she'll be in the midst of the Orthodox 40 day fast which will end at Easter on 19 April.

If you're fasting then she'll probably fast along with you (no meat, oil, dairy, eggs, alcohol, etc).

Have a great time!

Mendy,

Thanks, even though my friend is Russian Orthodox she is not waht I would call a "practicing" Russian Orthodox. Prior to lent (I completely forgot I was going to be there during this time when we were talking). Her mother wanted to know what I enjoyed eating, "meat" was one of these questions and another from my friend was she wanted to know If I would like to have a glass of Champaign with her mother (I sent some for New Years which stll has not been opened)

I will say this about my friend she herself does not eat meat, and will not allow her mother any more to eat meat. But says that meat is "good" for the male so her son is allowed to eat meat. My friend also does not drink (at all!)

Mother when I am in Kaluga is allowed (by my friend) to eat meat, but only when I am there.

we will have to have some further discussion on this subject. But if I go "off" the wagon during lent, trust me it won't be the first time   I will let her know that if it is their "practice" to adhere the "Orthodox fast" then this is "wonderful" with me and there should be no exceptions made on my account

then when I am there I will just follow the saying "when in Rome do as the Roman's do" , and eat whatever is put in front of me

[Chillidog]

SJ, Daveman,

Thanks for all the help and info. She at least for now, says the Hotel is not necessary (But Daveman, I will keep repeating in my sleep "go to the hotel, go to the hotel")

SJ, I will forward the link to my friend, (she may come back and say "why did you send this to me? I already told you this info") but it is better to be safe then sorry. any ways she already thinks I have "short term memory loss" so sending this link to her will probably help her case.

[Diplomacy]

Chili:

I heard the same thing about meat from my Fiance.  She does eat fish and chicken in small amounts.  I am not certain, but if there is a Farmer mentality in there.  The men may have been given more meat over the generations, then it became ingrained over the years.  Mainly due to the labor in the fields. 

I am totally throwing out theory here.  I just thought about food rationing, then the women working hard on their figure. 

I was raised to eat whatever was put in front of me, and never leave food on your plate.  It seems to be in FSU etiquette, to leave a small amount of food on the plate.  That way Mama will feel as though she has accomplished her goal in life.  This lesson was learned at the expense of a few pounds.  I literally felt like I was going to pop my belly button lol.  There was a little left on my plate, and I was gathering strength to get it down.  At that point, there seemed to be a stopping of eat,eat,eat coming from Mama.  She cleared my plate, and I was safe for a couple hours.

Another theory, but after I started doing that a few times, it seemed to gain the same results.  Worth a shot.

[Chillidog]

Diplomacy,

I should have clarified it a little, my friend will eat "fish and seafood" (still trying to figure out what the difference is) but will not eat "Red Meat"

my take on it and just like yours it is "only a working theory" and I have nothing to base it on other then my conversations with my friend.

"Red Meat" it appears from these conversations is vital somehow for the "male" growth. The way she puts it is that a "male's body is different then the females" (I for one, am very glad for that ) and the male requires red meat. my interpretation of this is, red meat= strength, virility

again just a theory of mine