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Just returned from 10 days in Novosibirsk and found that I really have a love for "city life" again.  Seems to be a recent trend among some guys around here getting hitched or at least engaged, well, add my name to that same list.

Because of the lack of reasonable information about the city on the internet, I took hundreds of pics, a lot digital, and a lot on film.  I've posted a smidgen of them here:

http://communities.msn.com/Novosibirsk

For the folks that are experienced with Sheremeteyvo (sp?) ops and such, there's nothing worth looking at, because most of the pics are in transit.  But if you want to see us.. look at page 3 of the pics.  (more will be posted in the next few weeks).

Thanks to all for all of the great info and help over the last year.  Especially you rags.. lol... your recent info "slow down" post to Oscar I saved to hd on my laptop just in case I needed it.  But because it was kind of hitting me late in the game, (and because russia uses I think a-11 paper instead of us 8.5 x 11 among other things), we're working it out one step at a time via mail etc.

Lena and I also met up with Bruce (hockeybrain) at Akademgorodok... what a character.  Great straight up dude, (short too!  lol!).

I guess the best part of the trip was that Lena's brother (or should I say sister-in-law Irina since she wears the pants in the family), loaned us one of their two lada's for the time that I was there, and we had the time of our life... wow.  (yeah, I can drive like a freakin russian too).

I just got back tonight, and off the phone with Lena, and I'm ready to do it all over again.  Only next time, I won't even sweat the details of dealing with russian etc etc etc, (I did the analysis by paralysis thing, what a waste of time)...  just do it with my own broken russian with a lot more confidence.  Playing stupid american works almost everywhere, especially if you can say: ya iz amerikanitz, nyet paruski, help me?

Gotta love it.

ahlll beee back!

... in response to Novosibirsk., posted by BrianN on May 30, 2002

Great set of pictures!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing :))

... in response to Re: Novosibirsk., posted by JR on May 30, 2002

Take alot of pictures.

... in response to Novosibirsk., posted by BrianN on May 30, 2002

I couldn't even put my own bio data in this thing with the fixed type size.  jeez.

... in response to So much for "fillable" forms., posted by BrianN on May 30, 2002

I KNOW!!  I was so excited to think I could type the whole thing in very neatly but you can't change the type size and there is not enough room for much of the info! LOL!  So I have had to hand write the hole bloody thing after all! ;-)

Just one of those little governmental plots to try to make you give up and forget the whole thing! LOL!

Later,
Oscar

... in response to Novosibirsk., posted by BrianN on May 30, 2002

http://communities.msn.com/Novosibirsk

All after page 3

... in response to 80 pictures now on site, posted by BrianN on May 30, 2002

Lena is beautiful, but that is one ugly dog.  Man, looking at these photos really has me going.  I think it is a good thing I work for the next 6 days and leave after that

I will be spending at least three days in Novosibirsk.  I will be staying in an apartment on Ob Lake.  I will also be taking a boat up the river for three days.

... in response to Great Photos, posted by Philb on May 30, 2002

Man it's really warm there.  There wasn't a day or night when the temp was below 65F.

Stupid me, with my coat and gloves... well, lets just say I gave the new winter gloves to Igor.

... in response to Great Photos, posted by Philb on May 30, 2002

Yeah... Lena asked me, "wot is peeg lizard?".  All I could say was, "don't forget film - galaxy quest - you will see pig lizard".  "looks like arnold".

... in response to Novosibirsk., posted by BrianN on May 30, 2002

Really great! Sounds to me like you are a lucky guy. No red or yellow flags at all. Simply the best of what Russia has to offer. I really liked photo lapt0a.jpg
Now that photo shows her true nature :) Nice figure and face BrianN! Best wishes

Steve

... in response to Re: Novosibirsk., posted by Quasimoto on May 30, 2002

Thanks a lot.... yeah, I love that pic too.  The best though I can't show (evil grin).  I haven't seen a body like hers since I was in high school.  Whew... and I NEVER, had anything that gorgeous to wake up to in my life.  Man does she look great when she wakes up - (man I gotta stop thinking about this or else I'll end up on the plane back in the next couple of hours ... lol).

... in response to Re: Re: Novosibirsk., posted by BrianN on May 30, 2002

What? You haven't booked your next flight yet??? I give you another two days MAX :)

... in response to Re: Re: Novosibirsk., posted by BrianN on May 30, 2002

Ahh, the best news BrianN is that your hot water bill will not be as high over the next few months, considering all those cold showers.

Steve

... in response to Novosibirsk., posted by BrianN on May 30, 2002

Brian

 Nice picture's.  Did notice one thing. In the picture, " Leana in Lada"  The top she is wearing say's "BOSS" :)

... in response to Re: Novosibirsk., posted by terry on May 30, 2002

Yep.  That's one of our favorite jokes.  She's the boss, and when I was there, every time I wanted to buy something, the next standing joke from her was "You have Russian money?".  Of course not.  haha.  I let her keep it all.  fwiw, I went there with only $340 in cash, and was crazy enough to leave cc's at home..  (I had wu backups with neighbors here).  

I still can't believe, that after 8 days, we still had 100 bucks left, and had no want for anything.  Some interesting thoughts:

1.  She has never had a phone card, and didn't know how to purchase or use one.
2.  She has never stayed in a hotel, and knew nothing about visa registration, or how to do it.
3.  She's never rented an apartment before (she owns her own house and lives with her aunt across town most of the time).
4.  She hates bars, because according to her, they're frequented by too many teenagers and hustlers.
5.  The best restaurants she's ever eaten at in Novosibirsk, is Grill Masters, Allegro, or that new chicken place.
6.  She never used the internet in her life, and the internet cafe, was a learning experience for her.

It seemed as if I knew more about "survival procedures", than she ever dreamed of.  Lucky though, she was able to rent our apartment for 550 rubles per day which was a bargain. (I did send her the money for the apt two weeks before I left).

Day before I left, I had 100 bucks wired to me, and we kind of "let loose" buying food and stuff to bring back, and still didn't even spend 30 bucks of it.  Just left the balance with her, and when I left, I had a 500 ruble note and 25 in cash.  I still have 18 in cash right now, and blew 380 rubles at the airport in moscow in about 2.3 seconds; (lol).

When in russia... live like a russian?  :^)

... in response to Re: Re: Novosibirsk., posted by BrianN on May 30, 2002

Yep, that was my advice to all that have the opportunity to travel to FSU...live like a Russian and you will be suprised how little money is spent for daily living.

My biggest advice is to travel on "Russian" excursians in lieu of "western" because you will travel with and get to know people how they really are...and pay about 2/3 less than the western rate.

... in response to Novosibirsk., posted by BrianN on May 30, 2002

Glad things went well for you..  And yes, "Rags" has been very helpful to me in getting my papers in order... Those are some nice pics, you have a very cute girl!

Congrats,
Oscar

... in response to Congrats Brian, Cute Girl!, posted by Oscar on May 30, 2002

Thanks...  if you want to post pics, MSN's photo thing is pretty quick, and these days, is much faster than Yahoo's service, (which has been a slug for years).

All you need to do is get a microsoft.net passport thing online and you're good to go.

... in response to Novosibirsk., posted by BrianN on May 30, 2002

It is good to hear you had a good trip.  I am looking forward to hearing more.  Looking at the photos got me pumped.  I leave for a month in Russia on the 6th of June.

... in response to Congratulations, posted by Philb on May 30, 2002

Yeah, I know what you mean.  I'm ready to turn right around and get on the plane again.  Gotta get me one of them "No Fear" t-shirts.. haha.

I think, I'm going to do a u-turn in about two months.  I really love Novosibirsk!

Started on a trip report when I was there, and ended up just creating a day by day timeline (outline) with Lena's help... (her memory was getting as fuzzy as mine).  Don't think I could have wished for a better match in a woman in my life.  11 months, and 1 day after starting internet correspondence... we get to the apartment, and don't even make it to the bedroom....  This woman's is a 100 percent match up with me in the crazy and wild department.  wow.  At 43 and 34, we made even the teenagers in Novosibirsk do double takes.  We are two happy people.

... in response to Novosibirsk., posted by BrianN on May 30, 2002

I'm glad you had a great time. Thanks for the pics. They bring back some fond memories (except the SVO ones :)

Another charming couple I must say! Good luck and write a little more about your trip once you get settled back in.

... in response to Re: Novosibirsk., posted by Rags on May 30, 2002

but you weren't around.  Alyona is just finishing her paperwork now and I am mostly done with mine but have a few questions that have come up that I wanted to run by you..

Later,
Oscar