Sunday Day 8 July 5th
Well – don’t read on if disasters happening put you off travelling! This has not put us off travelling, or going back to Russia.

Mark and I had an early transfer to the airport around 7.30am so we had breakfast at 6.30am when the restaurant opened. Originally another couple were going with us but they decided to go later themselves. We were to be taken to the airport in the bus, dropped off and then Andrey was to drive the bus all the way back to St Petersburg
We enjoyed a more peaceful breakfast at 6.30. There were very few in – just us, one other couple and Andrey and Monica. I watched out the window at the front of the hotel while sipping coffee. All of a sudden I noticed our bags being loaded into the back of a black car. Our bags are a distinctive combination – one brown and one olive green duffle – so easy to tell they were ours. I told Mark that this was odd, wondering whether as there were only two of us we were now going by taxi.
We went to ask Monica who for a moment thought we were joking, but immediately realising that we weren’t rushed to the front reception to ask the main guy on duty what was happening.
Mark and I went outside and got through the revolving doors just as the car was driving out through the gates and off. We went back in and told Monica so that a slight panic settled in now with conversations between staff and Monica and now Andrey as well.
It transpired that the bellboy had been told by a strange woman that the bags were hers and to load them into her car. The bags had been sitting on one of the metal trolleys near the front desk. The bellboy believed her and didn’t ask for her room number as he should have as obviously the bags had their Insight tags clearly displayed. I think he is in Siberia now!
Anyway we continued to try not to panic as the conversations went back and forth with Monica saying that we would need to start making a list of what was in the suitcases and to be prepared to still catch the flight to Copenhagen.
Soon the man behind the desk told Monica that the woman had been registered (they must be) and the car she took was booked through a travel agent. They were in contact with the agent and he was ringing the car directly to ask the driver to return to the hotel.
Another 10 mins went by and no return – the car couldn’t have gone too far by then. Back in to reception and more directions by Monica to get them to do something about it.
It was even stranger because the calls were happening behind the wall and in an office so it looked as if the hotel was very casual about the situation even though they were actually doing something. They managed to get the driver’s mobile number and called to tell him to return with the bags immediately.
We went to have another coffee and watch out the window.
Another 20 or so minutes went by. No car.
Luckily, the cases only contained clothes and we had valuables in the carry on luggage.
Finally the car returned, the cases were off loaded fast and the driver sped off without waiting to be questioned properly by staff. He is also now in Siberia!!
Cases checked – all in order – huge sighs of relief.
They had found out while the driver was there for that moment that his passenger had persuaded him to take her all the way to the airport before he came back. So she was long gone and he knew he was in trouble for not coming back with her. Money probably changed hands.
SO, we were on the bus and off to the airport. We still had plenty of time. Monica and Andrey were furious about the events and very apologetic. It was the hotel’s fault.
HOWEVER, if I hadn’t looked out the window at breakfast and noticed the bags being loaded we would NEVER HAVE KNOWN WHERE THEY HAD GONE. Luckily we did.

As if this wasn’t enough we were to have a hiccup at the airport too. I would like to say we have travelled quite a bit between us and have never had these problems.
OK, so we found the line to attach ourselves to and went through the bag checks and stood in queue for ages as many flights were using the same queue.

We finally got to the counter and the lady looked at the Electronic ticket. Fiddled with her machine, tried a few ploys, shook her head and tried to talk to us in Russian. We got the idea that something wasn’t right with the tickets! She pointed back outside and signalled that we had to go to the main ticketing office and to leave our suitcases behind her on a ledge. Hmm.
We were assured they would be fine. Se we found a way out of the crowd against the tide and to the ticket office.
The girl fiddled about and then wrote some instructions on the page in Russian and signalled for us to go back to counter. We did – back through bag checks and security and then I spoke to a girl and tried to explain that we needed to get to the front of the line because our bags were already there and we had to return to counter. She didn’t know English but sensed the gist and signalled us through another way. We were signalled a lot!
We finally arrived back to our lady and hopped in front of the next person in the line to their annoyance. She read the notes, fiddled (again) and shook her head when nothing happened. We really wanted to know what the problem was by this stage.

She then got up and left us there and disappeared behind a door in the distance. Another 10mins went by and she finally returned and fiddled with the machine again!! No! No good! Off she went AGAIN! Another eternity later she came back, fiddled (!!) with the machine and produced tow boarding passes. PHEW! Then we tried to get her to let us put our cases on the belt to be loaded – but no, she signalled (!) that they were fine and should stay there.

We queued up for passport check constantly looking back in the distance at our 2 bags sitting behind the girl and making plans for clothes shopping when we got to Copenhagen!
More security and shoes etc off and one had to stand on a marked spot with arms in the air while a machine checked one out.
Through! What about the luggage? Was that the end of it? No!

We went down the stairs to board the bus for a tarmac departure half an hour later. The man there looked at our passes and told us to stand to one side. Oh no! What was wrong now? We waited again and then he tried to explain (I think since my Russian is non existent!) that the boarding passes were invalid! Why did we get given them then?
The girl with him kept fiddling (!) and punching info into the computer and looking at our electronic ticket. Finally he signalled (!) we could go onto the bus but wanted to keep the paper work. I had to argue with and show him that the page he insisted in keeping was attached to other tickets on other airlines for the flight home.
(Actually I had a million copies of everything but wasn’t going to tell him that as wanted to make a point) He got the idea and ripped the page off and handed the rest back to me.
We went onto the bus, still none the wiser about what was wrong with the ticket. The travel agent had organised it. It was fully paid. All receipts etc there. Weird!
Also it was strange that in a country where now many of the young Russians speak English and where we spoke in English to many people over the 8 days, there seemed to be a shortage of English speaking staff at the airport.
Anyway – the seats on the new Aeroflot plane were beautiful blue leather and we had a short and very comfortable flight with them. No problems at all once on the plane.

The trip through the customs once at Copenhagen was a breeze.
Oh, and the LUGGAGE came through at the other end NO PROBLEM EITHER! PHEW!
Moral of the Story? I am not really sure! But it was an exhausting morning stress wise; luckily we are both fairly easy going and not prone to panic readily.
We are still happy to travel and not put off at all and since everything turned out well finally it will become one of those tales ones can laugh about afterwards.
Overall:
We loved this Tour. It is very busy and very fascinating. Go. You will enjoy it immensely, just watch out for the bags in the foyer and learn Russian for the airport!!!!

Apologies for all the faces!!

An extra pic: The train compartment - no travel hiccups there!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Eve777,

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Eve, fantastic tour tale so far. I love all the detail.

Thank you!
You are always so supportive. I appreciate it.
I am writing a lot I know and am annoyed with myself for not jotting down some of the meeting times. Thought I had, oh well.
Eve
One more entry tonight.

I am enjoying reading your journal Eve. Isn't Russia a fantastic place to see and I am so pleased that you were able to have 5 hours at the Hermitage as we only had 30 minutes of free time and about 90 minutes with the local guide. We too had Ellena as our local guide in St Petersburg.

Tupps

Thanks girls!!

Yes Tupps - we were really lucky to have so long in the Hermitage. Loved every second of it.

Both Elena and Vera were stunning as the guides to their cities. So much enthusiasm and knowledge.
Monica kept everything else chugging along.

Still debating over Scandinavian Tour - some great ones already. Think about it and leave until the next school holidays perhaps.
Cheers

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Eve777,

Great Tour Tale Eve. It looks like the order of sights on your tour was a little different than ours. It also looks like you had a better selection of optionals. Some of our optionals didn't go (Such as Peter and Paul Fortress) due to a lack of interest.

I believe we were really fortunate in the optionals offered. I did think the Fortress should be included - it wasn't that long, nor out of the way to have it placed at the end of the city tour. We very much enjoyed Zagorsk which wasn't offered to you but there was obviously a lot we didnt see in Moscow choosing this.

Also, I now appreciate your bedtime posts from Russia as the time frame was very tight. I will buy a small handbag size laptop next time to take advantage of the wi fi in hotels.

The travel bag saga was amazing, but luckily ended well.
Cheers
Eve

This is an absolutely wonderful trip report, thank you so much.

Thank you Eve for posting the tour tales with accompanying pics. After reading your description, I wanted to visit the same places for next year. I am hoping that you can help me with some questions that I have.
Do you think that it is safe for a non-Caucasian, solo traveler to visit these places on my own ? I am planning to book the same tour and explore the places on my own.
Moscow and St Petersburg have interesting architecture and art, were you given enough time to take pics and absorb the beauty?

Thanks,
Sistine

Sistine,
Sorry I have been slow to answer your query but have been flat out with work and not really looking too deeply at the BB for a change.
I am glad that the tale was helpful to you. I have noticed with the next Insight book that they have changed the name of this tour to Select Russia on page 166 of the new brochure. It looks almost the same although you begin in Moscow and the train is not overnight. You might want to read through the blurb to see if this type suits you rather than one of their longer ones.
We certainly loved it - the tours always have their ups and downs where time to view things is concerned. Some are happy for a quick view of things and others are not. There is a mixture of down time with tour and optional time. It would be up to you to weigh the parts you wish to see more.
We took longer in the Hermitage rather than do an optional because that was something I always wanted to do. The architecture is fabulous and lots and lots of amazing phoito opportunities for onion domes!! The buildings in St Petersburg are visually pleasing.
I investigated doing Russia by ourselves originally but felt we made the right decision due to language barrier although more younger people speak English these days.
As for your particular solo question? I think having the tour and support with that is a good thing - you can wander around yourself safely - many people did - just watch the wallet - usual safety precautions. The non-caucasion should not be a problem - it will depend on your own level of self confidence.
The places are fabulous - do the Kremlin with the tour - better access into the areas. I could have spent days there! So one sometimes never has enough time!
Keep asking if you have other questions as well as looking at the tour tales visiting Northern Capitals and Russia.
Cheers Eve