Articles

Siberia Russia Part Where Are We and What Day Is It

Standing in the airport in San Diego, I began to wonder exactly how long it was going to take to get to the city of Chita in Siberia. The combination of a vodka hangover, three flights, one train ride and a jump over the international date line didn't help. At first glance, it looked like a total of two days, which wasn't bad for going to the other side of the earth.I should have paid more attention in math.

The itinerary for getting from San Diego to Chita read like this:.1. Fly from San Diego to Seattle.2.

Meet charity representative and other professor.3. Fly from Seattle to Anchorage.4. Fly from Anchorage on Aeroflot [gulp] to Khabarovsk, Russia.5.

Take train from Khabarovsk to Chita.How bad could it be? Very, very, very bad. Did I mention "bad"?.Day 1.The flight to Seattle was no problem.

I met Tom Dickinson, the founder of Siberian Intercultural Bridges, but we couldn't find the other teacher. Turns out the flight to Anchorage wasn't till the next morning, so it didn't really appear to be a problem. Around midnight, our attitude changed and we had written off the teacher.Day 2.At 8 a.

m., Grea Waters from Kentucky appears out of the Seattle mist. We have our second professor and he speaks fluent Russian. This is a big relief as I had spent a lot of the previous evening contemplating my Russian skills. That is to say, I had none. I couldn't even pronounce the name of city we would land in, Khabarovsk.

I nearly had a panic attack during the night when I bolted up in bed upon the realization that I would have no way of knowing how to get to the train or when to get off. You see, the Russian language is based on the Cyrillic alphabet. There is no way to wing the Cyrillic alphabet.

For example, the letter "y" is pronounced "ch" as in Charlie. I was in definite trouble. Would the rest of my life be spent riding around aimlessly on trains? The continued grinning of Tom Dickinson didn't make me feel any better.Our flight from Seattle to Anchorage was uneventful.

Yes, we flew Alaska Airlines. While waiting for our connection in Anchorage, two thoughts kept running though my head. First, isn't Aeroflot the airline with all the crashes? Second, how did a man from Kentucky become fluent in Russian? I mean, what about his accent? I was feeling less confident about my translator and decided to investigate. I started rubbing my temples when he told me that he had never been to Russia.Alas, there was no turning back. Trust me, I tried.

But that's a story to be told in Part 3 of this nomad adventure travel series?.

.Rick Chapo is with http://www.

nomadjournals.com - makers of travel journals. Writing journals are the perfect travel accessories. Visit http://www.

nomadjournaltrips.com to read more travel articles and travelogues.

By: Richard Chapo



New York City






Idahos Majestic Landscape Find Adventure Around Every Bend - Travelers visiting Idaho's majestic landscape find plenty of Historic sites and Cultural events to explore.

Vacationers Home CheckList Everything You Should Know BeforeYou Leave - If you are planning on being away from your home for an extended amount of time, it is important that you secure your home.

Looking for Luxury Hotels for Less in Australia - The Commonwealth of Australia is the largest island on earth and the smallest continent.

KANCHANABURI The Perfect Getaway From Bangkok - One of Thailand's premier tourist attractions, Kanchanaburi, lies a mere two hours from the capital.

What to Expect My First Cruise Experience - Some years ago my wife and I decided to take a cruise.

more...


What's UP?

Navigating the Tribeca Film Festival


With more than 200 films and almost as many parties, what to do?
» Read more

Metropolitan Museum of Art

"The Met is a universal museum: every category of art in every known medium from every part of the world during every epoch of recorded time is represented ...
» Read more

YANKEE STADIUM

This 57,545 seat stadium is home to the New York Yankees, baseball's most successful team.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

JFK, in Queens (at the south end of the Van Wyck Expressway), primarily handles international flights.
General Info: 718-244-4444
Parking Info: 718-244-4168

Visitor's centers

Visitor's centers can provide you with free maps and general information about New York.
For information on visiting New York, contact the New York Convention and Visitor's Bureau. You can also call them at 800-NYC-VISIT (U.S. and Canada) or 212/397-8222 (elsewhere). To speak with a multilingual counselor: call 212/484-1222 Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm EST.

© Copyright 2024 York Magazine. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized duplication in part or whole strictly prohibited by international copyright law.