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JPjr
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Posted: Monday April 10th, 2006 10:20 pm |
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| I have not posted to Travel Logs till now. I have my Tourist Visa and airfare confirmed. I will meet my RWGF at the Moskova SVO 2 Friday, May 5th. I am very excited to be going to meet a beautiful woman and happenstance is taking me to a place that has interested me most of my life. Todays Republic of Chuvashia, is yesteryears, Kingdom of Volga Bulgaria. In direct line of march of the invading Mongel and Tartar hordes of 1223, the Volga Bulgaria Kingdom was the only force to repel and hold the Hordes at bay. The Volga River Valley has seen much of the most important events not only in Russian history but great sagas of World History. It was not until 1236 that a disunified Volga Bulgaria was over run and most of its people slaughtered by the vengeful Mongels and Tartars. This is the orgins of the Golden Horde that would hold Dominion over the Muscovey and the Deineper, Don, and Volga River Valleys for 300 yrs or more in some places. Well in more recent history the Deineper, Don and Volga Rivers are famous for their Cossack Seiches, the main armed instrument of The Russian and Polish nations, responsible for the reconquest of the Tartar Kanates from the Black Sea to Mongolia and the pioneers that forged across Siberia to the Pacific Ocean. Cheboksary is the capital of the Chuvash Rep. and lies on the middle Volga. It is also listed as one of the cleanest and modern of the Federation's cities. With extensive rail and highway system, not to mention the river traffic, Cheboksary is a hustling, bustling place. I will have the pleasure of spending 4wks with my RWGF, 3 of which will be her hard earned and long awaited vacation. I am sure I have not thought of everything, but now it is time to pack. haha Joe Last edited on Monday April 10th, 2006 10:28 pm by JPjr
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dwfunk
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Posted: Wednesday April 12th, 2006 03:29 am |
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Congratulations! You will enjoy yourselves immensely!! Is your RWGF from Moscow? If she is, have her "make orders for taxi" to meet you at the airport to take you to your hotel if you can. The reason for this is that a pre-ordered taxi comes with a set price, no surprises. The local mob pretty much runs the taxi's out of the airports and they are really good at fleecing newcomers.
Also, take your cell phone if you can. If you are delayed getting in, and or if she is delayed getting to the airport, you two can communicate and won't get held "hostage" by the "helpful" folks wandering around in the airport.
--
David & Natalia
Republic of Texas/Moscow, Russia
http://www.davidandnataliafunk.org/
http://www.russianwomanwiki.net/
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JPjr
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Posted: Wednesday April 12th, 2006 05:31 pm |
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Hi David, Luba was born in Sibir, I have not been able to find that on my Chuvashia maps yet. She lives in Cheboksary and bought the train tickets for the trip. I like Russian train co., $335 for her RT to Moskow to meet me at the airport and my RT to Cheboksary and return to Moscow. I hope she got a berth, for a little nap on the 12 hr ride to Cheboksary. 
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ronin1
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Posted: Friday April 14th, 2006 03:54 am |
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JPjr,
Sounds great. Did you brush up on the local history or are you a history buff?
Looks like you will be spending at least a couple days on the train. If your RW cares about you, she will take a general ticket to meet you. If you want to spend some quality time together on the train, I hope you instructed and insisted on getting a private compartment for your travel to Cheboksary. If you're taking an evening fare to Cheboksary, a sleeper car is best. These are premium fares but well worth it for the time you will be with your RW.
Ronin
Last edited on Saturday April 15th, 2006 12:44 am by ronin1
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dwfunk
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Posted: Friday April 14th, 2006 04:36 am |
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ronin1 wrote: Looks like you will be spending at least a couple days on the train. If your RW cares about you, she will take a general ticket to meet you. If you want to spend some quality time together on the train, I hope you instructed and insisted on getting a private compartment for your travel to Cheboksary. If you're taking an evening fare to Cheboksary, a sleeper car is best. These are premium fares but well worth it for the time you will be with your RW.
My next trip will be in August and we will spend a week in Moscow and then take the train to St. Petersburg and spend 2 more weeks. Since this particular connecton runs over night, we are getting the sleeper compartment. I highly recomend them.
And on the cares for you part, yup, my gal is more frugal than I am, and I pride myself on having 'something' in a savings account. She's got me beat by a mile!
--
David & Natalia
Republic of Texas/Moscow, Russia
http://www.davidandnataliafunk.org/
http://www.russianwomanwiki.net/
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JPjr
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Posted: Friday April 14th, 2006 05:57 am |
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Hi Ron, yes and yes, I am a history buff and have been working in the area of 1600 to 1700 and later Polish Lithuianian Commonwealth. Their use of Cossacks and Ruethenians in general to hold and push the Tartar and Turks back to gain BlackSea access. The Muscovy of the time( Ivan the Terrible and the begining of Czarist Russia) had already pushed past the Volga to the East and the old Khanates were begining to crumble, That is the Tartar Hordes. So when I found Luba, or better she found me on her site, and I would be going to Cheboksary, Chuvashia, ( where the hell is that, On the Middle Volga) I had to do some extra Russian reaserch to find out some of the action I had missed in previous studies of the early Mongel Tartar conquests in Eastern Europe. Which led right into the usage of the now, 1650 and on, Russian Cossacks to do the Border watch and pushing action, previously done for the Polish Commonwealth. So now I know about Luba's City and its history. Cheboksary and its Unis are known for their Electrical Engineers and Luba is an Electrical E. from one of them. Power Transmission is one of the areas specilties. Edit to say I desided to wait and see which travel class Luba wanted, private or public compartment. we have the tickets confirmed, I have not asked yet which. Of course I am betting on private. I think she will experience Love at first sight. Edit for a PS, I have been meaning to say I like your avatar, I think of myself as a Ronin and have practised the Bushi, not so rigoressly now, but my swords and blades of various usage are on the wall.Last edited on Friday April 14th, 2006 06:06 am by JPjr
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ronin1
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Posted: Saturday April 15th, 2006 12:58 am |
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JPjr,
Knowing the history gives you the edge in understanding their present.
So will you ask about the tickets or will you leave it as a surprise? I too am hoping that you will have a private compartment. If you are sharing a compartment, it's a toss up. You may end up knowing more about the other passengers than your RW.
Though I don't follow path of the 'Way of the Warrior', it is in my blood and thus have been so influenced.
Joe, find a suitable avatar for yourself, I found mine on the internet and heavily altered it to suit me style. If you can't cut it down to the 100 x 100 pixel size, just sent it to me and I'll do it for you.
Ronin
Last edited on Saturday April 15th, 2006 01:23 am by ronin1
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JPjr
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Posted: Monday June 5th, 2006 07:35 pm |
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| Well here goes the first installment. What is of interest, how detailed should I make it? I will start and ask for critic or expansion of a part. I arrived in SVO2 without incident, I thought. My Checked baggage did not. I was 1 hour signing forms in tripllicut. When I came out the Red Line of customs instead of the green line, I was the last out and I could see Luba, through the glass wall that protects you from the mob of taximen. She was stareing at the green door with a look of horror, I had not shown as Planned. She looked as if she were about to cry when I lightly tapped on the glass from her blind side. She almost feinted. I went through the doors to meet a woman I was already in love with. Kids do not try this at home, it is inherently dangerous. We said little as we hugged and looked with relief at each other,we were real and together. Luba snapped out of it first with a tell me later look we were off through the sea of Taximen. She had our man waiting and within minuets we were away. We worked on the late arrival with translator and she let me know she did not really want to stay in Moscow, what did I want to see there. My first points " I came to see you, I do not want to spend the day touring, we should be relaxing somewhere and chatting, I was hungary and thirsty". She smiled a very tired smile and told the driver to take us to the train staion. Train station, one of many historic train stations in Moscow, was big and and antique. trivia: I found out that trains here run back and forth to various destinations with stops and dead ends, back to Moscow. Other train stations around the city led off in other directions with simmilar results. We Stored our bags and went for a walk down the prospect. Luba said it had been so long since she had been there she knew little about the surroundings. We walked till we found a cafe with seats in the shade and sat the rest of the afternoon and got aquinted. Luba had slept little on her 12 hr ride to Moskova and then waited the 6 hrs till my plan arrived, plus the hr of fear. She was dead on her feet and glad I was happy to sit and enjoy. The train would not leave for4 1/2 hrs so we just sat and chatted with the translator and her dictionary. It was a very pleasent afternoon and she became refreshed as we sat and rested. Back to the train station about 5 and a little nap upstairs in a quiet area of shops with a large waiting area of chairs and benches. The Chuvash express came in on time and into our private compartment we went. We were very audible with our sighs of relief and the comfort affored by the cabin. We ate and chatted with the translator . till she cried for mercy and sleep. I slept very well and the night passed well. I got up to checkout some of the stops and smoke, as there is no smoking in the cars, only at the end where you cross to the next car. The train left on time and arrived on time. It is not a bullet, nor even fast., just steady. with many slow downs for no apparent reason. Of course my new family was waiting when we debarked, but that is another post.
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dwfunk
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Posted: Monday June 5th, 2006 08:18 pm |
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Awesome!! Keep'em coming! And congratulations!!
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David & Natalia
Republic of Texas/Moscow, Russia
http://www.davidandnataliafunk.org/
http://www.russianwomanwiki.net/
16th World Spacemodeling Championships
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JPjr
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Posted: Monday June 5th, 2006 10:20 pm |
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| Hi David and Natalia, not to boring yet. We steped off the car right into the arms of her family. Arkady her father is a big Chuvash man and as it turns out worked at the mighty forges in several places in Russia. He worrked 43 yrs in the forges, the last one since 1970, the yr I graduated WHS. He retired as Big Boss of 700 men, 1/2 the forge's man power. He was a Maker of steel and I was connector of steel. He was impressed. Luba's family is Sister Tanya, Broinlaw Guinna, Nephews Eugene and Alex, who speak English fairly well and were a great help. Luba's mother paced last yr in Sept and she has a long lost brother Pavel who is in Moscow. Tanya Luba's GF who helped her with the internet, when she could was there and we became good friends rather quickly. It was desided I would check into the Russia Hotel, about 3 big city blocks from Arkady's flat for two days and see what was to be done after that. Hotel Russia Eugene said was the best in town and it was very comforable room, inexpensive, 30 a night with cable television. Everyone went home except Luba and Eugene who had one more task, purchase shirts, socks and underware as we did not believe I would get my Luggage back. When the shopping spree was done Luba went home for relaxsation, they call a shower and a nap. She walked down later and we continued our courtship. We walked the prospect the hotel was on and headed down to the manmade lake that is the main downtown waterfront. The lake was a river inlet to the Volga, but a causway turned it into the cities main Park and amusement center, with it's very own MacDonalds, 2 story on a very prominent and expensive corner. I will post pics to the Photobucket album to go along with the post. The album now consists of a condensed pictorial of the journey. As evening approched we bused back up the hill about 3 miles, but uphill all the way, to her flat for dinner and conversation with Papa. Luba cooked porkchops as arkady and I at first struggled with the translator. He did pretty good once he caught on. At first he would wave off the translator, but as the first week grew he becme keen and wanted the translator as soon as I walked in. We would have coffe and cookies and chat away to Luba's amusement and delight as she saw us bond as well as she and I. I t grew late on my first night in Cheboksary and Luba insisted I stay the night instead of walking the 3 blocks back down the hill to the hotel. I amde jest of it, as I wanted the chance to walk tha street home and have a drink or beer in one of the many beer bars. I saw that she was adament and I settled down on the Sofa futon for the night. I slept well and everyone got up the next morning full of smiles anmd happiness, but that is another post. Pic across the lake in Blue Old Church from the beginning and a monastary beyond in green to the left another church of historic significance. Attachment: Marrying Luba Love 037.jpg (Downloaded 91 times) Last edited on Monday June 5th, 2006 10:23 pm by JPjr
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JPjr
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Posted: Monday June 5th, 2006 10:24 pm |
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| At the lake Attachment: Marrying Luba Love 043.jpg (Downloaded 95 times)
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ronin1
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Posted: Tuesday June 6th, 2006 05:00 am |
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JPjr,
Great posts! 
I'm glad you got a private compartment on the train. It' always worth the few extra rubles.
From the pics it looks like you arrived in Chebokary at the perfect time. There wasn't a gray cloud to be had.
So far everything seems to be going perfect. Were you that lucky that everything went well (not including the baggage fiasco)? If not, could you touch on some of the things that you would have done different if you had the change to do it over again. Perhaps some other thoughts as you develop your travel log further. What were your thoughts of being in Russia... stranger in a strange land?
Ronin
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JPjr
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Posted: Tuesday June 6th, 2006 05:17 am |
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| Hi Ron, so you know Heinlein. I grok things pretty quick and Luba was amazed that I knew things about Chuvashia that she did not. I felt like I was home and it was not long, Luba said she felt like we had known one another a long time. I knew right away a 30 day visa was not enough, but could not find the right connection to get it extended. I will always get the multiple entry visa now. Luba and I are Christian and way back in our correspondance we expressed to each other the feeling of being spirit met and led. Things have not gone without obstacles and inconveinances, but everything went very well. 2 days in the hotel and her father wanted me to come home. 3 days there and we were given a flat to love, marry and honeymoon in. It could not have gotten any better. Luba did not care about luxury, she had never experienced it except that which had been affored by her GFS that had married well. We fit together like peas and carrots. When I told them about my Cherokee GGrandmother we laughed about me being the Siberian conection., but it is no joke. I felt very connected to the people and the land. As a side note, in all the pics of Luba wearing sweaters, she knitted them all. She is also a seamstress and is only limited by the age and decrepency of her sewing machine. I will remedy that as soon as she is here. She also does custom sweaters for her friends. Attachment: Marrying Luba Love 054.jpg (Downloaded 91 times) Last edited on Tuesday June 6th, 2006 05:26 am by JPjr
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JPjr
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Posted: Tuesday June 6th, 2006 11:45 am |
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| Papa got out all the fammily pics, some going back to the Revolution. Luba's Mother Yuliana was Yrkranian whose family and many others had been forced to Uzbekistan back in Stalins day. At some point the maternal family moved up to the southern end of the Ural Mts. to Karabash. Arkdy the Chuvash steelman was sent to a new forge for the smelting of copper in Karabash. There Yuliana and Arkady started the Leonteva Family. This is the steel foundry, right across the Prospect Mira, from the Flat given to the Leonteva's. The foundry is about 1 mile long to the right and 1/2 mile deep. Trivia: In Soviet times aprtment complexs were built at the same time as the plants they would house the work force in. Approximity gave the people quick and easy access to their jobs. Within the various groupings of buildings making up the complexs the schools were built for each of the acchievment levels, even many of the technical schools are within walking distance of whatever industry needs them, for the advancement of the workforce and the children. Attachment: Marrying Luba Love 085.jpg (Downloaded 89 times) Last edited on Tuesday June 6th, 2006 11:53 am by JPjr
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JPjr
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Posted: Tuesday June 6th, 2006 12:57 pm |
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| The inlaws Guina, Tanya, Alex and Eugene. Tanay is Luba's half sister and is Yrkranian and Guina is Chuvash from a villiage, 100 K south of Cheboksary. Guina has done very well for the family, both in Soviet times and Perastroyka. Perastryka to everyone I talked to was not the period following the fall of the wall and the disintagration of the Soviet, 90 to 95 the good yrs. Jobs money and goods were abundent. The ogliarches stole everything and took the industries for their own new capitalism and it all fell apart. To everyone there that is when perastroyka started, no jobs inflation and recession at the same time, low wages. Arkady laughed and said in the soviet times money was plentiful and goods were scarce. With Perastroyka goods were plentiful and money was scarce. Still no one could have any of the benefits of the new Russia except the elites. Luba went from being a top Electrical Engineer to working in markets for a pittance. Arkady allready at the end of his work life was retired from the foundry, and mother Yuliana, teacher turned to making cloths and teaching Luba Knitting and seamstressing. Guina on the other hand had been a master welder and pipe fitter and things were a little better for him, in that heating and air were at the top of the list, for those that could afford it wanted air conditioning. Guina strated a heating and air business, where they not only install units they custom make evaporators and condensers, as his expetise was in piping, both SS and Copper. His business as done nothing but grow. Not rich like the elite but well to do by middle class standards. Alex the younger is in Univerity and a computer wiz and Eugene is in Grad school and working in the business. Both speaking a good English were very much help and we are tight. Uncle Joe the Kozak Cowboy. Attachment: Marrying Luba Love 010.jpg (Downloaded 86 times)
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dwfunk
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Posted: Tuesday June 6th, 2006 05:01 pm |
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JPjr wrote: ... I knew right away a 30 day visa was not enough, but could not find the right connection to get it extended. I will always get the multiple entry visa now.
Have her go to the local visa and registration department (OVIR) and get a personal invitation issued on your behalf. Have her request the complete 3 months allowed by this particular invitation.
Attached is my first invitation. I don't have the current one digitized, and it is issued for the full 3 months. Upon arrival, you will have to go to the local OVIR office with her and register. Be prepared to be "in the spot light". My Natalia's local OVIR office had never processed an invitation for an American before, and is really curious because they've now processed a second invitation and for the same American. The people at the OVIR had asked Natalia just how "special" this American was, and she has informed them that "he is VERY Special!" She has indicated that the process may take a little longer than necessary just because of my presence. As I've learned from her, "We shall see". (gosh, I wish I could replay how that sounds when she says it!!!!! I LOVE that accent!!!!)
On my first trip, I arrived just before a holiday weekend and ended up registering at the hotel. So this trip, our first day there will be "in queue" at the local OVIR.
--
David & Natalia
Republic of Texas/Moscow, Russia
http://www.davidandnataliafunk.org/
http://www.russianwomanwiki.net/
16th World Spacemodeling Championships
Attachment: Invitation01-F_reduced-1.jpg (Downloaded 79 times)
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dwfunk
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Posted: Tuesday June 6th, 2006 05:03 pm |
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Back side:
Attachment: Invitation01-B_reduced-1.jpg (Downloaded 77 times)
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JPjr
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Posted: Tuesday June 6th, 2006 05:33 pm |
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| Hi David, we spent the day in an Ovir Office to register my visa to Arkady's flat when they invited me. We had to visit 5 other offices of various Bureas, 1 of which was the police station for finger printing and another to what appeared to me to me a military office where they did a viual check and a casual, "why do you want to" which Luba replied I was her Fiance. The Delta force type Guy had acctually held off his lunch break to interview us intead of making us wait the 2 hrs. The real Hottie middle aged Bureacrat office manager acctually started smiling when Luba made her statement and then got friendly. They were the friendliest of the lot that day. At the Ovir Office we were told there is no way to extend the visa, more than once. We just kept asking to see if some one would break down and say no with their hand out palm up, no one did. Later Arkady, who had to make a special trip down to the office to sign and affidavid saying he was resposible and permissive of my stay, called everywhere and to Moscow and back to the Ovir Office to hear the same thing, no way. Last edited on Tuesday June 6th, 2006 05:42 pm by JPjr
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JPjr
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Posted: Tuesday June 6th, 2006 06:00 pm |
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| For the rest of that first week we went to a shashlyk party in Mari El across the Volga and in the forrest, and a Chicken BarBQ at a yacht club also in Mari El. I like the way the Russians Picnic and I met more people that were doing well after adjustment to Perastroyka. We moved to the loaner flat during this time and desided to marry that next Friday the 19th of May. We spent much time walking talking and preparing for the wedding. Luba would not let it get out of hand expensive as she was already conserving my money for the future. She let me buy rings and a Blouse and material for a special head covering for the rites. Enough silk material she said that later she would make a matchin blouse to go with the scarf. We did the deed That Friday at High Noon. Many of the pics I have are to big for the forum upload so I have put many more on the photobucket site and will do so as I tell the story for visual effect. From the left, Irinna, Ella, Katya, Inna, Vlad, Joe, Igor, Tanya and Vera Attachment: Marrying Luba Love 046.jpg (Downloaded 77 times) Last edited on Tuesday June 6th, 2006 06:13 pm by JPjr
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JPjr
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Posted: Tuesday June 6th, 2006 06:09 pm |
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| Yacht club party, Sergai not pictured here races and had done well in the Pacific Cup at Vladivavstock at the end of the previous season. Ina and Kyusha, his wife and daughter, were met here. Kayta and Andrei were playing down on the warf, one minute they were 2 and they next we saw Andrei hanging in the water. It was a scare for a moment, but no harm done and we dried him off, reclothed him and they acctually gave him a shot of vodka as a warmer, and the BarBQ went on. Attachment: Marrying Luba Love 100.jpg (Downloaded 74 times) Last edited on Tuesday June 6th, 2006 06:15 pm by JPjr
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JPjr
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Posted: Tuesday June 6th, 2006 06:20 pm |
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| One more of the Yacht Club Attachment: Marrying Luba Love 099.jpg (Downloaded 76 times)
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JPjr
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Posted: Tuesday June 6th, 2006 06:38 pm |
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| We spent a lot of time in the flat talking and being very domestic. We cooked, and cleaned together. We spent hours using the translator to go deeper into one anothers thought, then we could with her English alone and not without some frustration and misunderstanding. When not at home we walked the streets or the paths through the Villages. These are the areas that most intrigued me. Through out the city were areas where the small Rivers, streams and creeks were the earliest home stead sites. From maps I aquired, I am a map freak and have to know the lay of the land where ever I am, I found the original early settlements went back to late 1500s, that is Russian settlements, after Ivan broke the hold of what was left of the Golden Horde, The Kazan Khanate. Kazan is about another 400K down river and was taken by Ivan in 1585,?? I think. There are about 7 main river valley areas leading down to the Volga. The Housing only dates back to the late 19th century as The Russians built with wood as pioneers and later brick and the old is replaced regularly by the new. These home steads though had passed down heraditarily since the earliest time. These photos are too big and some are on the album site already. This is the right size and much prettier. Luba in our flat Attachment: Marrying Luba Love 119.jpg (Downloaded 76 times) Last edited on Tuesday June 6th, 2006 06:42 pm by JPjr
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dwfunk
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Posted: Tuesday June 6th, 2006 09:04 pm |
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ahhhh, Yes, you got the "treatment". I'm finding that the Russian people are very helpful and very friendly when given a chance.
Not sure what the fingerprinting was all about, but the rest is related to background checks that the Russians run. The personal invitation Natalia gets for me involve clearance granted by "Special Security Police" I'm not sure if this is the FSB or not.
JPjr wrote: called everywhere and to Moscow and back to the Ovir Office to hear the same thing, no way.
Unfortunately it seems that only the embassy's/consulates can change visa's. Sometimes the locals can "ignore" an overstay if they have immediate control of your departure.
--
David & Natalia
Republic of Texas/Moscow, Russia
http://www.davidandnataliafunk.org/
http://www.russianwomanwiki.net/
16th World Spacemodeling Championships
Last edited on Tuesday June 6th, 2006 09:07 pm by dwfunk
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ronin1
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Posted: Wednesday June 7th, 2006 02:09 am |
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JPjr,
I'm not familiar with the writings of Robert Heinlein, however I grok that he had authored a book that maybe applicable in this situation.
From iron-maker to iron-builder... the connections you have with this new family are uncanny. What are the odds. To go to ther other side of the world to find your other half... then again it stands to reason.
I see that you are now post pics. If you have any problems resizing them to insert in a post, send it to my email addy and I will resize them for you. It is good to have more color in the forums.
Ronin
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JPjr
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Posted: Wednesday June 7th, 2006 02:24 am |
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| Hi Ron well I started out with the photobucket, because that is what it took to post the pics at Antidate. Then I realized I should save bandwidth anywhere and desided to expand the album in conjunction with the TR. Some are under 100k and are good for the TR. I will only do a TR here and direct others this way from the other forums. I am not a fan of redundancy. "Stranger In a Strange Land" is the name of the first Heinlein book I ever read, and Leon Russell did a song with the same title about the stranger. I think that is where the saying came from, worth the read.
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