Apparently I leave Tuesday.

Okay, I know the last one was brief...

We ventured out with Roman first thing Friday morning. March 9th. It took 45 minutes to get us to the airport from our hotel. Much like other parts of Russia, we felt like we were driving in a scene out of the Simpsons. Exaggerated, but not far off, we drove for a few blocks in one direction and then busted a u-turn in the road and traveled the way we just came. We crossed over three lanes and took a right turn. We drove for a bit and then off on another off ramp. It seemed we did this a few times. So, renting a car and navigating through Moscow should be a piece of cake. To Russians I suppose.

We arrived at the airport and we all had issues getting our tickets. We had all changed our flights and used 3 different methods of doing it. We were all dealt with in 3 different ways and all received different treatment. Not at all stupid or bizarre, but we got through. (Sarcasm intended). "Thank god for Ipod" we relaxed in Moscow's SVO airport for our final hour in Russia.

Flight was short and sweet to Frankfurt and the 3 hour flight wiht the 2 hour time change left us in Frankfurt at 8:00am. Since we left Moscow at 7:00am, we had an extra two hours of drinking time on Friday. And then some...

We sat in the airport and indulged on a Munich breakfast which consisted of beer and sausages. We killed a few hours lounging in the waiting area and recharged our Ipods for our 9.75643 hour flight to Vancouver. Very uneventful really, but we were very tired. PLus, we knew there would be free beer on the plane.

So, we finally got to load up and make our way to the plane and unlike some of the other normal airports I have been to we had to go through a gate, down stairs and load onto a bus. The bus drove us out onto the tarmac and we then got onto the plane. Some massive piece of metal and motors and Lufthansa or something written on the side of it, I didn't care I just wanted to get in. The endless line of people all had to funnel in one door and we eventually dropped our lazy asses down on our seats. Our stopover in Frankfurt lasted 4 hours and change, but felt more like 6 or 7.

In flight I was asleep when they handed out the two pronged headphones to be able to listen to the movie in stereo. So, on went the ipod and on it stayed. I napped with it full blast apparently and awoke in time to order a beer. Food was served shortly after and with that came another Warsteiner. My travelling companions brought sleeping pills with them and I was not about to try mixing my poisons, so I just kept a steady flow of beer coming.

After my beer induced nap, I was again reliving that whole episode again and seemingly a few hours had passed. With one eye open checking for anything interesting on the video and screen and outside ambient temperature reports, I came in and out of consciousness for the rest of the trip.

We arrived in Vancouver at 1:00 local time and gained another 10 hours to our day. We were met by family (not mine) and bosses that entertained me until my connecting flight 5 hours later. We were late getting my ticket to Kelowna, so I had to drink a few more beer to help me pass the time. Just to wash a meal down of course, but considering I had just passed 26 hours in a day, it still wasn't over yet.

I said my goodbyes to my bosses and waited in the waiting area for my flight trying to stay awake enough to protect my belongings. It was another Ipod filled hour and we then began to board the plane. What I did not even notice or realize was that my ticket was first class for the short trip home. Front row, leg room, high back chair and I was clicked in and gonna nap til Kelowna. I was then awoken by big rude man asking me "Would you like to sit over there all by yourself?" "NOT AT ALL." was my reply and back to sleep I went. I think he mumbled something about sitting next to his wife or something all chipper, but I couldn't be bothered. If we were to compare stories, I believe he would bow down to me. For the rest of the flight my shit eating smirk spoke volumes for how he must have felt. Not another word was spoken to me from the man that was left to sit beside me dejected and away from his wife. He was mistaking me for someone who cared I guess.

So I arrived in Kelowna greeted by loved ones and lived happily ever after. The end.

Well, until the phone rang. I am going back to Russia Easter weekend.

To be continued...

So, I figured I should do this before I forget what happened...

We went to Moscow as described. Got there first thing in the morning on Mar.8th. We had planned on Stas take us around and tour us, but with his bad back and plans to meet up with his brother, he invariably bailed on us. So, we went to the Oksana hotel and checked in by 7 something. After a short nap and breakfast we ventured out curbside and flagged down a cab. It was actually pretty easy considering he was just parked there. We got in and just said "Kremlin". "Pit sot" was his reply. So, since I knew my numbers, 500 was his price in rubels. I tried to negotiate a lower price by just saying lower numbers, but no sale. 500 it was.

We got to Red Square and got the cabbie to pull over by St.Basil's Cathedral and we got out and walked from there. The architecture there is second to none. The whole area and city for that matter. It is very elaborate and detailed.


So, we wandered aound and checked out the shopping on Arbat St. looking specifically for hockey jerseys. We stumbled upon some..ummm...souvenirs. Can't say yet cuz pops doesn't have his yet. :)

Anyways, we wound up the day with dinner and crashed early in anticipation of our 4am wakeup call to get ourselves to the airport. Roman would be waiting for us at 4:15...

Well, time for another update...

The last week has been really hectic. Trying to get completed before I have to go. 12 hour days and then dinner and bed has been about it. We worked a shorter day Saturday as we had plans to take out one of the locals for his birthday. We went to a diiferent restaurant and I unfortunately made a spectacle of myself doing a Rob Special dance solo on the dance floor and had the whole place watching me. It was hard to avoid the attention of course. So, the owner dragged me up and got the music going...that was all I needed. All eyes onme for some reason. Clapping and hooting and as I lifted my shirt to show my abdomen, the music quickly changed. Haha. Cheers from all around. It was a send off for my co-worker as he had to leave to get out of Russia before his visa expired. So, after dinner we went to the train station and helped him with his gear onto the train. A few extra rubels and he was upgraded to a VIP car as his ticket was good for a shared coach with 3 others. There wasn't enough locks for his suitcases so, we had to get our friend Sergei weave his magic.

Sunday morning was a continuation of Saturday night. I was entertained to cognac and private Russian lessons. I am well versed in basic Russian language. I can speak Tarzan Russian and communicate somewhat effectively. I actually have most numbers down from 0 to 100. Enough to get by. Most of my job uses numbers, so that is very helpful. Anyhooo... on to Monday...today...

I asked for some assistance as we are down to only 2 and in doing so I ended up with 13 helpers. Two of them spoke some English. The rest just followed me around. Our translators bailed on us today, so that made things very interesting. I was directing a full Russian crew and trying to get them to work independantly. Here is your job and call me when we are ready to test. Five minutes later they would drag me away and say "Okay. Test now". No change. Same issues as before. Wires crossed and backwards function.No, like this...and show them the issue and they were needing direct and constant supervision. So, my day was very interesting. I laughed though it all and actually got a bit done.

So, by Wednesday I am out of here. Start my long trek home. we got our train tickets today. So, we leave in the night and will arrive in Moscow in the early am. We have planned for a day in Red Square and to do some shopping. We have to saty the night as our flight leaves the next morning.

I will keep you all posted. The next few days will be interesting and busy all the same.