Russia Day 1
This could be about to get interesting. I’m at the airport – no problems getting out of the hotel or to the terminal via the shuttle. After I’m checked in and my bag is going up the conveyor belt, I ask about the Houston folks. Turns out their flight is late and they’ve all been moved to the later Moscow flight (which is operated by Aeroflot) at 11:45. After lots of trying and hand-wringing (got to give props to the Air France ticket agent here), they weren’t able to get me on the late flight. So with all of my weird travel gyrations, I’m on schedule and will get to Moscow 2:15 before the rest of the crew. It’s on that side that I’m a little curious. Don’t know if the Pilgrim Tour people will be there for the earlier flight, or just for the later one. I’m planning to wait outside of immigration for the 2+ hours they should be behind me. Kind of funny, and assuming no real problems waiting in the Moscow airport, not a really big deal (I’d kind of like to fly Aeroflot, actually). It means, I presume, that the optional subway tour won’t happen tonight, which is the real bummer.
Okay, so I get to the airport and start the long process of going through immigration. Pretty much exactly the same as I remember it – long lines that move very slow. No real problems, for me or anyone else that I saw, though. I was about 8 or 9 back in line when I saw a porter walk by on the other side with the “Pilgrim Tours” sign. Couldn’t signal him, though. Then I saw a guy walking with my bag (I had the green tag on the bag). Turns out it was Karel, the tour director. Finally got through and explained the situation to them. Karel was obviously surprised (said he’d seen bags get lost before, but not whole tour groups) and had to run around checking on things. Past customs was Sergei, our “local guide” with all the history knowledge and stuff. I didn’t really expect to have the bus drive just me, and a cab would have been way expensive – distance and rush hour – so I just hung at the airport. 3 double vodka tonics later and I was feeling quite superior. All of my worries about missing the trip, and my ass is sitting in Moscow while everyone else missed the connecting flight. J
Flight arrived, but took forever for people to come through customs. Turns out that a) Lorelei’s bag got misplaced and they had to file a claim, and b) some of the Americans let them get pushed aside in the immigration lines by more pushy Asian tourists coming through. I could see a few familiar faces on the plasma screens showing video from baggage claim – a cool feature more airports should add.
Finally saw everybody and hopped on the bus to the hotel - good old Cosmos. Same as I remember it physically, but much more crowded, whether due to the time of year or just improvements in tourism. Made it to the little grocery store across the street and grabbed some water, vodka, and a box of wine. :J Quick drink or two, and the newly arrived needed to get some sleep.
Okay, so I get to the airport and start the long process of going through immigration. Pretty much exactly the same as I remember it – long lines that move very slow. No real problems, for me or anyone else that I saw, though. I was about 8 or 9 back in line when I saw a porter walk by on the other side with the “Pilgrim Tours” sign. Couldn’t signal him, though. Then I saw a guy walking with my bag (I had the green tag on the bag). Turns out it was Karel, the tour director. Finally got through and explained the situation to them. Karel was obviously surprised (said he’d seen bags get lost before, but not whole tour groups) and had to run around checking on things. Past customs was Sergei, our “local guide” with all the history knowledge and stuff. I didn’t really expect to have the bus drive just me, and a cab would have been way expensive – distance and rush hour – so I just hung at the airport. 3 double vodka tonics later and I was feeling quite superior. All of my worries about missing the trip, and my ass is sitting in Moscow while everyone else missed the connecting flight. J
Flight arrived, but took forever for people to come through customs. Turns out that a) Lorelei’s bag got misplaced and they had to file a claim, and b) some of the Americans let them get pushed aside in the immigration lines by more pushy Asian tourists coming through. I could see a few familiar faces on the plasma screens showing video from baggage claim – a cool feature more airports should add.
Finally saw everybody and hopped on the bus to the hotel - good old Cosmos. Same as I remember it physically, but much more crowded, whether due to the time of year or just improvements in tourism. Made it to the little grocery store across the street and grabbed some water, vodka, and a box of wine. :J Quick drink or two, and the newly arrived needed to get some sleep.
posted by pantherman at 10:54 PM
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