Hello from Russia!

[peacetraveler22]

It's so nice to finally be in the same time zone as most of my readers! Now I'm sitting in a very warm and sunny Moscow, much warmer than the temperatures I left behind in my beloved home State of Virginia. I don't know what happened to my favorite snowy, freezing Russian winters, but the last two times I've visited in February the winter wonderland has been absent. Early tomorrow morning, I'll stumble out of bed and head out on the route depicted in the map. The cities have changed since I first announced the road journey, and the trip was carefully planned by my dedicated and trusted travel companion Alexander macos. I'm especially pleased that we will have a stop in Yaroslavl, to meet my favorite LJ blogger lovigin! :)

I'm happy to be back in Russia. The flight on Aeroflot was okay, not as good as the first time I flew from Moscow to JFK. This time, the flight attendants had poor service and unfriendly attitudes. The plane was older and almost half empty, so it was easy to stretch out and have plenty of comfort during the long journey from Washington, DC. The food on Aeroflot is 1,000 times better than any U.S. carrier on which I've traveled. No problems clearing passport control or Customs, I don't think many of the agents speak English, and I've never been asked any questions on arrival or departure. Not a single word comes out of their mouths. No hello, no "welcome to Russia," nothing. I don't know how foreigners are treated when entering the U.S., but as a native, I'm always asked several questions - "where are you coming from?, "purpose of your visit," etc. and lastly, the agent usually says "welcome home." I like it, and am happy to hear the words.

The true adventure begins tomorrow! Stay tuned...

P.S.: Why do Russians always clap when the plane lands? I've never seen passengers do this on any other foreign airline. Something unique to Russian travel culture. Always makes me laugh. :)) 

Comments

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

"
This time, the flight attendants had poor service and unfriendly attitudes
"
I always wonder what service some people demand from them apart from bringing food on time ...

"
I don't know how foreigners are treated when entering the U.S.
"
Not very friendly.
Those fat negroes with big guns look at you as if you are an illegal immigrant and they are ready to shot you.
In London and Germany immigration officers are much more neutral and correct.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I do not like expressionless service, where people just stare at you like your supposed to read their mind. Or, food being shoved on my already cramped airline table. First flight on Aeroflot, the service was much friendlier and better. I don't think many of the attendants on this one spoke English, and even the ones that did, it was very broken. It's a bit strange, given that the flight left from the USA. When I worked for United, you always had to have at least one flight attendant fluent in the language of the departing country. "Fat negroes" - hello 1950! :)) I haven't heard that word used in a very long time. I don't remember fat black guys greeting me with guns at any U.S. airport. Probably they put them on the foreign passport control line for intimidation. :))

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

You should try one of the compaines from the Gulf: Emirates or Qatar...
There the service is really high.

We used Quatar once in our travel to Bali and I really liked them.

In the States air travel is so common that local lines look and feel like bus lines :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

How about Saudi Airlines? Can women fly on that airline without wearing a burqa? I always wondered that.

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

:))
Their flight attendants wear something like that.
A scarf on one side of the head which reminds burqa.

Also they all have carpets for customers at their stands in aiports.
If the stand assignment is tempopary they have to lay it every time!
I saw that in Moscow.