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Information & Chat => Adventure Stories & Travel Reports => Topic started by: sydneyvontrapp on April 21, 2007, 08:46:12 PM

Title: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on April 21, 2007, 08:46:12 PM: Let me start by giving a little history about this relationship. I have a neighbor who spent the first 15 years of her life in the Ukraine and the last 15 years here in the USA. We would bump into each other when I'd take my dog out for a walk. she would be out enjoying the day with her children. She determined from our conversations that I was a good father and genuine nice guy. She mentioned one day that she had a friend who had a sister living in Kiev who wished to meet a NICE man. She also explained at this time that the only way we could meet is if I traveled over to see her. This was in July of 2005. We spent a year emailing back and fourth. She said she enjoyed my letters. found my writing to be quirky and humorous. I was planning for a trip over in 2006
sometime near Thanksgiving. I usually vacation down on Cape Cod in late July or early August. Decided the heck with the Cape this year I have to meet this woman and decide if we are wasting each others time.
I had this picture in my mind of the type of woman she was. Strong, Smart, Maternal, and Beautiful. I've always tried to date women smarter than me. There is just something sexy about it. The problem is usually a smart woman is smart enough to know that she " Can Do Better ".
So here it is deciding to head over one month before departure. I've already booked a small trip to Philly and will be leaving from there instead of Boston. The Philly trip was the first time I had traveled there.
I was taking in a baseball game, a Kim Richey Concert, and doing the Historical tour. I got a little burnt at the baseball game. The Phillies beat the Diamondbacks. The next night July 28th I see Kim. I'm at a table next to the the stage; she finishes her first song and gives me a little wave. She knows I'm from Boston. I've seen Kim many times over the past 10 years. She might not know my name but she always recognizes me. We talk after the show. She is heading to Boston the next week; will she see me? Sorry but I'll be away in the Ukraine and won't catch your shows near Boston. This is not the first time she has played around town when I'm traveling. So here I am in Philly at a Bed & Breakfast. I have two alarms set to be sure I get up for my flight. I'm flying Northwest and KLM over. Philly-Detroit-Amsterdam-Kiev. My return flight is Kiev-Amsterdam-Detroit -Manchester. ( my car is in Manchester, NH )
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on April 21, 2007, 08:47:12 PM: So I make my flight out of Philadelphia on time. It is July 29, 2006.
It is also the 25th Anniversary of Prince Charles and Lady Diana's wedding. Has it really been that long? My last an only trip to Europe was when I was 19 years old. The summer of 1981. Two years before I became a Father. My first time in an airplane! JFK-Montreal-Helsinki Finland on Finnair. I spent two weeks in Finland with my buddy Erkka.
Then we traveled for 6 weeks by rail. After an overnight ferry ride to Sweden, we travel by rail to Denmark, Germany, France, and another ferry to England. I was actually in Paris the day of the above mentioned wedding. We did not want to add to the 4 million plus visitors expected for the wedding.
So it took my desire to meet this women to get me back to Europe. I had to pay for express passport service to have my passport on time. It is good you NO longer need a visa to travel to the Ukraine. I would have never been able to pull it off. I have trouble sleeping in moving vehicles.
Planes included. I have dream/nightmare that I'm snoring. Everyone on the plane gets a vote. They decide to toss me out. I wake up falling; hoping they at least gave me a parachute. That's when I usually find myself sitting up in bed; not knowing if they gave me the "chute" or NOT.
so even though these are my only two trips to Europe, I have traveled alot in the US and Canada. Been dissecting the country by traveling to see NHL hockey games. Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago,St. Louis, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Phoenix, L.A., and Anaheim. Plenty of more stops to go.
So I arrive in Amsterdam. I only have an hour before my flight leaves for Kiev. There are not display screens near my gate to show me what gate I'm looking for. I head towards the main terminal watching for a screen. I'm almost where all the terminals intersect when I finally see the display screen. I find my gate in moments. Plenty of time to freshen up before the final leg. From here to Kiev I'm flying on KLM. I always fly coach so I'm used to bare to the bones service. There is nothing special about these planes. I prefer the larger more updated planes Northwest uses. I do have to add the attendants ( stewards and stewardesses ) were pleasant and informative. Never saw the selling of perfumes and other gifts on any other airlines. The guy next to me keeps asking the stewardess for Vodka. ( it is only 8 a.m. in the morning ) She keeps telling him juice or water or coffee or tea....no hard liquor this early.
We land in Kiev and I'm surprised at how small the terminal is. I get behind some guys in customs who are in Ukraine to compete in a strong man competition. I need to borrow a pen to fill out my entry/exit immigration for. These guys only fill in there entry information. I explain to them they need to fill out both. I get through customs easily. They are ahead of me looking around. I direct them to the correct turnstile to pick up their luggage. They head to the RED line while I head straight to the GREEN. ( nothing to declare and less than $1000 in cash on me )
I've been schooled about this from T. who I am visiting and my neighbor M. Now comes the fun part. Recognizing each other in the mass of people crowded around the walkway from the secured area to the common area in the terminal.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on April 21, 2007, 08:48:04 PM: Day 1 July 30, 2006 .

Everyone is crowded around this ramp that you have to walk up from the secured area. Barely room to pass through. I'm thinking to myself is this how you are greeted into the country? A few pickpocks working the crowd because everyone is so crammed into this area? I move away from the crowd. I am approached by two taxi drivers. Both want to drive me into town. I shake my head and say NO in Russian. Moments later I have three other drivers offering their services. No..Thank you.
The agreed upon meeting time has passed. No sign of T. Another half hour goes by. I still have to fend off the taxi drivers. Finally one of these driver just grabs my bag and starts heading to his cab. In English I scream STOP!!! Stay the F&*@ away from me! If you come near me again I'll F&*@ You UP!! That was the last Taxi driver to bother me.
I guess they all understood my English. I move over near the doors that exit out into the parking lot. I'm here about ten minutes when T. walks in.
She saw me from outside and was looking for my reaction. I see her smile and just melt there on the spot. I forget that she is 45 minutes late meeting me. The thoughts that I'm here in a foreign country, on my own, don't speak the language and my woman is a NO SHOW quickly fade away. She has enlisted a coworker who owns a car to drive her to the airport and now back to my hotel. I'm staying at the Hotel Obolon.
It is not far from metro stop Mins'ka on the Blue line. There is a Italian restaurant connected to the hotel. I ate there a number of times. So she drops me off to freshen up. Her driver is taking her home to grab her daughter D. D. is 4 and doesn't seem to travel well. Car sickness or motion sickness, I can't really understand. I give her coworker $40 for the ride. He is bringing T. and D. back before he heads back home. ( it is Sunday so neither of them needs to be at work today. ) She is only one subway stop away from where I'm staying. I shower and change my clothes. I've been awake for about 28 hours now and make sure I don't sit down. ( get too comfortable and I'd fall asleep ) . She and her daughter arrive. Fifteen minutes after the time she tells me they'd return.
We head next door to the Italian restaurant. She and her daughter get pizza while I get Veal in a dark gravy dish. I don't understand the menu even though I am given the English one. Later I figure out the weights and volume when ordering food or drinks. D. picks all the black olives off her mother's slices of pizza. Funny my daughter used to do that with mushrooms. I had to start ordering my pizza pepperoni and double mushrooms. The owner of the restaurant would joke about it everytime.
I watch T. and D. and see they have a special bond. One I always thought my daughter Nicole and I shared. After the meal we head back to my room. I have coloring books crayons, and stickers for D. Now I'm really yawning. I've been up almost 31 hours. When I asked T. what she would like for a gift she said my visit was a bigger gift than anything I could buy her. She also commented " I was so brave to travel to meet her and it was so romantic that I would travel that far to do so ". So she is leaving to go home. I offer cab fare. No thanks...it is a short walk to the subway and it is only 10 cents each. I never made it to her apartment so I don't know how far from the station they live. So day one is over. she hasn't try to rake me over the coals. I can't take my eyes off her smile and I love to hear her laugh. Her English like my Russian is almost nonexistent. Tomorrow we meet the translator Oksana at a restaurant in downtown Kiev.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on April 21, 2007, 08:50:40 PM: Day 2 07/31/06 .

Tetiana has to work in the mornings. She had used her vacation time at the beginning of the year to head out to " the village". It sounds like a country retreat that is near some mineral springs. The hotel supplies a breakfast they call " Swedish plate" free in their cafe for hotel guests.
After picking up my breakfast ticket at the check in desk I head down the hall to the cafe. A plate of coldcuts ham, cheese, salami, a sliced up tomato and cucumbers. Also a piece of toast with melted cheese. ( I'll order differently on days 4 and 5 ) The girls at check-in are all young and have some understanding of English. The waitresses in the cafe I needed the electronic translator to get my point across to them. Even though the meal was free I managed to talk the girls into taking a tip for their service. They thought I was NUTS!!! Tetiana plans on meeting me in the lobby of the hotel at 12:30. We will take the subway downtown and meet the translator Oksana at a restaurant she and Tetiana know. I'm told translation service will cost me $12 per hour. Tetiana also tells me Oksana is someone she trusts. Oksana had been translating my longer emails for Tetiana. I head out to the local market to buy spring water, soda
, juice and snacks for my room. much cheaper than paying for items in the mini bar. Tetiana show up at 12:50. I think....late again. This is starting to bother me. I'm rarely late and pride myself on being punctual.
Maybe she needed to wait for her ride to show up on sunday. Maybe she needed to finish something at work before she was allowed to leave. I'm just over reacting. So I get my first ride on the Kiev metro. I pay attention to how we enter the subway. I count the stops until we get off and head back above ground. We get to the restaurant and Oksana is not here yet. We are not there long when she arrives. The restaurant serves sushi and Ukrainian food. The women only order tea and dessert.
I have a meal. Cooked sliced turkey and rice. I'm waiting for a better Ukrainian restaurant to try traditional food. Oksana has a few photo albums Tetiana gave to her earlier in the day. I see her pictures from her trips to Italy, Turkey, and Croatia. Italy is the country she has been to the most. She is fluent and has worked as a translator. I notice that the waitress put a box of different sugars on the table for the women to have in their tea. It looks like this is a treat. They are eating the sugar like it is candy. Many seaside photos. Some of the photos show her with dark hair. She is a natural blond. She said coloring her hair dark was an experiment and a failed one at that. I thought she looked gorgeous either way! After two hours in the restaurant with Oksana we decide we are off for a walking tour of the city. Oksana will take the photo books with her and return them to Tetiana at a later time. So we walk back by the the subway stop L'va Tolstoho. I'm looking for postcards to send home and we find a basement gift shop just before the Premier Palace Hotel. I had a hard time explaining to the woman at the giftshop..postcard. Finally I made the motion of taking a picture, looking at the picture, then licking a stamp and putting it on the picture. She got it right away. They only had one style you bought as a set. It was pictures of the churches they have in town. I'm thinking to myself I want to send my little brother something sexy , something silly. Maybe a beautiful Ukrainian girl in a bikini but she is wearing a winter cap. ( funny and sexy!! ) No such luck. We cover a lot of ground and she is amazed I'm able to keep up. We enter a small restaurant after visiting Mykhailvskyy Cathedral. We both need a drink. She orders a small pot of tea. I ask for Iced tea. The only thing they have is Lipton peach tea.
I'll take it!! At this point I haven't noticed you don't get drinks with ice cubes or that juices are served warm. The cafe at the hotel left the juices out on a table so you could walk up and help yourself. So we are enjoying our drinks when it just lets loose and starts pouring out. I notice an English couple a few tables away. This is the first of very few English speakers I see while on this trip. As we finish our drinks the rain stops. That is perfect timing. We have been on our own for 5 hours and I am really enjoying my time with Tetiana. sometimes we really need to dig to get our point across. She took many photos that day of me. Some near the Golden Gate. Others near the cathedrals we visited. We even asked some strangers to take some pictures of us together. It is getting late and Tetiana needs to pick her daughter up at the nanny's apartment.
I other words she needs to get home. She is trying to decide where the nearest metro stop is when I offer to splurge for a taxi. It takes her 3 discussion with drivers before she finds one that is charging a fair price.
She tells me how much to give him. I forget now how much. I only know my thought was...Thats all! It seemed pretty cheap to me. So I was having a good time and she was taking good care of me. I'm not looking forward to a night alone, but Tetiana is what I'm here for. I wouldn't feel right about heading out to paint the town. We agree to meet at the restaurant at 1:00 p.m. the next day. She was going to meet me at the hotel; but I told her I paid attention and can find my way there.
I even have a few subway tokens in my pockets so I won't need to talk to anyone to board the train. The end of Day 2 and this women is everything I imagined and more. I can't wait for tomorrow!
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on April 21, 2007, 08:52:32 PM: Day 3 08/01/06 .

I'm up by 7:00. Showered and down to breakfast by 8:00. I have the Swedish plate again. It is the same waitress working. The hotel seems to be only a few years old. Tetiana wanted to keep me close.
Cheapest room was $115 per night. I'm thinking next time I'll rent an apartment and save money. however I'll loose that free breakfast.
So I have breakfast and realize I have over 4 hours to kill before meeting Tetiana and Oksana at the restaurant. I noticed across the street from the subway station I'm near is a indoor flea market. I'll venture down and take a look. I need to pass a McDonald's restaurant on my way to the subway station. The drive through is called " Mc Drive".
I look around the flea market and there are grocery, makeup, clothes, videos/dvds, and anything else you would expect to find at a flea market.
I walked around and looked. It seemed I was the only male stopping and making way for the women that were walking/shopping. It was like they weren't even looking where they were going. I get back to the hotel and I have a message to call Oksana back. Tetiana's daughter was not feeling well so I was asked to meet them at the restaurant at 3p.m. instead of 1p.m. Not what I wanted, more free time on my hands. Back up to my room to watch some television. One show on the French channel with an attractive young cast became a favorite. It seemed to play a few times everyday. I also watched a scavenger hunt show in Russian language that looked like nobody could ever win. Even if you figured it out at the end they had young , fast , gymnastic men running away from the contestants with the final prize. It then became a relay race for the young team while the contests became exhausted. Sponsored by Nestle Lion candy bar!
I arrive at the restaurant at 2p.m. Not being sure of the frequency of the metro and wanting to be sure if I made a wrong turn I could back track and find my way there. No wrong turns. I notice all the cars parked up on the sidewalks. I guess their are few parking garages. They have parking police making sure the cars have up to date permits to park on the sidewalk. Today the women are on time. Tetiana's daughter is with them. She is an amazing cute 4 year old. I discovered she also had a sense of humor. Not what I would expect from a 4 year old dealing with adults. Today I decide to try the Borscht. ( hot ) I know you can get is chilled or cold as well. The women get tea and dessert again. This time the waitress removes the sugar when she notices the women eating it. After two hours at the restaurant Tetiana, Daryna, and I are off to explore Kiev on foot. Seeing Daryna had not been feeling well I scoop her up and hold her on my hip. We are off to Khreshchatyk street and Independence Square. After a while I moved Daryna up to my shoulders. I held her hands so I could keep her balanced. Later Tetiana explained that Daryna had never been held by a man. She was laughing and smiling mostly when I made sounds like a horse. After 3 hours of walking and carrying Daryna around, I am spent. Tetiana wants to get Daryna home and to bed so she will feel better tomorrow. Before Oksana left us she explained that the nanny had to take one of her own children to the hospital. Her availability( the nanny ) was going to be day to day. Another taxi ride back to the hotel and I was alone again. I went next door to the Italian restaurant and ordered from their English menu. I thought I had ordered a pepperoni pizza but instead got orange peppers and garlic. Not what I asked for , but still tasty. I notice a sign for a club that is downstairs. From the noise I hear in my room the music starts at 11p.m. and goes to 4 a.m. I may have to gag the DJ so I can sleep tonight. Another day done and the only problem I have is I'm not getting enough time with this women. Her smile is the last thing I see before I drift off tonight.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on April 21, 2007, 08:53:42 PM: We did get up to an area overlooking the river that had a small plaza. Some owners had their horses there and were selling rides to the children. They also had bumper cars. The guy that operated it must of thought I was a taxi driver the way I was weaving in and out of openings.
During our walk we went through a park where a guy operated his own moonwalk. I paid for her daughter to do all these things. This was fine and planned. Before my visit I had explained that my visiting her was not going to cost her anything in money. I knew life was tough over there and all expenses for our time spent together, I would cover. I enjoyed to see her haggle with the taxi drivers and even saw her check the bills at the restaurants for added charges. As I said she was looking out for me. I never did get used to seeing people with horses or ponies near the subway where I stayed. How do you list that job on your tax return? This post should be squeezed into the middle of my last trip post before my going to sleep and seeing Tetiana's smile.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on April 21, 2007, 08:54:32 PM: Day 4 08/02/06 .

This morning I asked for tea instead of coffee. Scrambled Eggs and Bacon instead of the Swedish plate. Same thing for tomorrow. We were meeting at 12:30 today at the subway station near my hotel. I was there by noon. At 1p.m. I hear Tetiana calling me from a taxi parked in the street. I left the hotel to early to get the message Oksana was going to be late. We would meet her at our final destination the Kiev Zoo. Daryna was feeling a little better and she was excited to be going to see the animals. The Zoo held a spot in Tetiana's heart. Her mother would take her there every year when she was younger. ( Tetiana was 13 when her father past away. Her mother went first but I haven't asked how long before the father. I would hate to stir up any painful memories ). We were at the zoo for 4 hours and Oksana was with us the whole time. We had her take many photos of the three of us together. Tetiana, Daryna, and I. We took a taxi back to the subway station near my hotel. Oksana
stayed with us for 5 minutes to make sure we finished anything that we needed her to translate. This would be the last time I saw her. While she was talking to us I noticed a few young men noticing us. Oksana and I were speaking english. So she left for the subway to head home and we started walking towards the hotel. I went from walking next to Tetiana to walking behind her. I told her to keep going as I slowed down; I was prepared for a sneak attack. I turned around expecting to see these 3 men behind me. They hadn't moved from the spots they were standing at. I was ready to protect my women and her daughter from harm. So we continued back to the Italian restaurant for our last meal there. then back to my hotel room. I had another gift for Daryna. an anamatronic cat from the " Barbie Princess and the Pauper " story. I also had a supply of new batteries to be used in it. This happens to be her favorite movie and I earned tons of brownie points with this.
Tomorrow is my last full day here. That was the problem with taking the vacation now. I had only been at my new job since December 5th. I did not have more than a week off for vacation. I had thought about skipping out on the trip to Philadelphia once I decided to go to Kiev. Leaving on the day I was heading for Philadelphia was going to cost me $600 more for the round trip. I can never figure out how the airlines figure their pricing. I just know I search and search until I find a price I like. I try to have funds available so I can purchase these cheap tickets because next time you look their gone.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on April 21, 2007, 08:56:18 PM: Day 5 08/03/06 .

We are spending the day at Kyjevo-Pecherska Lavra. Oksana has another translator from our office meeting us there. From how it is described to me this is the BIG church as in head or main church. We get there and the translator explains the cost and relays that Daryna again isn't feeling good. I'm going on this tour alone while Tetiana and Daryna wait for me. I'm torn because spending much of the day apart isn't how I pictured my last full day. Tetiana has a scarf over her hair and is heading inside the church to say her prayers. Even without seeing her golden flowing hair I think " She is just so perfect, pinch me and wake me up"! So I'm off to view the churches around this square and the bell tower. We want to get into one of the churches that doesn't seem to be open. My guide gets a priest inside attention. We must make a donation. I offer up 20 gr. and his is just about skipping as he leads us into the church. I am impressed with the detail and workmanship. We head over to a parking lot and look into the valley over to the river. The guide points out to where the caves are where the bishops and saints are buried. Would I like to go? No it is to far and I want to get back to Tetiana. We go into a building that has this miniature artwork. You need to look through microscope lenses to see the fine detail. I guess this display has been here for many years. It is popular and only 5 gr per person. We exit the building and Tetiana and Daryna are waiting for us.
We spend ten more minutes with the guide/translator. I want to get across to Tetiana how I am feeling about her. I take and kiss her hand.
I wish I could bring her and Daryna home with me when I leave tomorrow
. The guide leaves and we are off to an Ukrainian restaurant not far. It is not very full. We order our food and the waitress brings us back our drinks. I never get what the drink is only that it is a traditional drink served for holidays. Seems to be apple juice with many spices added.
Daryna proposes a toast. We all drink. Tetiana can not translate to me what Daryna has said. She is however smiling. I can feel myself falling.
So we have her 4 year old daughter toasting us with the same toast. I must end up drinking 4 or 5 glasses of this stuff. I find out a week later when I call over for her birthday that the toast was " To a happy life; to a happy marriage". So it looks like I have her daughter's approval to marry Tetiana. Before any food arrives the power goes out and stays out the whole time we are there. We end up having to choice from items already prepared. I do get my cold borscht. I end up with chicken salad while the girls go with a shrimp salad. Then they bring out pork with crushed garlic that has been stuffed in the middle. The meal is good even though I didn't get what I wanted. Let me mention here my grandmother on my mother's side is Polish off the boat. So I am used to stuffed cabbage, and perogies. I was hoping to try the Ukrainian version of these meals. This is the most expensive meal of the trip. $65-70 after the tip. I hostess was sweet. Tried her best to converse with me in her broken English. I loved the tradition clothing all the waitresses were wearing
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on April 21, 2007, 08:57:53 PM: So we leave the restaurant and head over to the war museum. It is not far. There is a huge statue of a female warrior holding a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. The shield has the Ukrainian coat of arms on it. We head off down this set of stairs that brings us down to the river.
We walk along the river for a few miles. Daryn is starting to get fussy.
I don't remember every having my parents take me on a 4 mile hike when I was younger. We have to wait for Daryn to catch up to us as she had been hanging back complaining about her feet. Tatiana reaches out her hand and they hook pinkie fingers. Then they start singing this song. I don't understand it ; but I see the result. Suddenly Daryna is happy and skipping around us. Again I am amazed by these two. I find it comforting to know they have this kind of relationship to each other. I feel honored to be allowed to see it. We step out to the street to hail a ride. I've noticed that people other than official taxis will stop and haggle over a price to drive you. The first car is a van with 3 guys inside. She passes thinking only of our safety of being out numbered and possibly being robbed. The next car that stops is also a van; just the driver. He offers her a fair price. We head a short way down the road. ( short by car not if you were walking ) We are going to take a boat ride on the river. There is a hotel here that is on a boat moored on the dock. From what I see it is an expensive place to stay. so the boat ride is $4 apiece for her and I; Daryna is free. We get a table on the top deck. She asks for the receipts for boarding and disappears. She returns with a beer for each of us. So $4 gets us a boat ride and a beer. What a DEAL!!! She pulls a juice box out of her purse for Daryna. She has planned well and has saved me the cost of buying her daughter a drink. Before boarding the boat she asks me if I want to go for boat ride or if I want to head back to my hotel. Easy answer. I want to spend every minute I have left with her....boat ride. After the boat ride we step to the street and again flag down a ride. I have noticed that every taxi we get in is always a hairline away from empty. I get worried we will need to push the car to a gas station when he runs out of gas. Again it takes a few cars before she gets a price she'll accept. She and her coworker will pick me up at 8:30. I still have US dollars on me. I give her $200 I want her to use for future translations. Our email conversations should not put her into hardship. I want to continue this relationship. My last night sleeping at the Obolon hotel on this rock hard mattress with the booming music coming from the club next door.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on April 21, 2007, 08:58:46 PM: I wake up shower and pack. Back to the " Swedish Plate" for my final breakfast. I bring a tomato juice bought at market down with me to breakfast. I like my juice, water and beer as cold as I can get them.
Tetiana has told me cold drinks are not good for you. Ukrainian superstition? She is on time to pick me up. The same coworker is driving me to the airport. Then they must both head to work; it is Friday.
Oksana mentioned he would be the one picking me up. She wanted me to know that he and Tetiana were only friends. She wanted someone she knew getting the fare to the airport than just some random taxi driver.
Never crossed my mind. Should it have? I still have some Ukrainian currency on me. About 350 gr. after I pay for the ride to the airport.
I ask her if that would cover her buying herself roses for her birthday next week. She tries NOT to take the cash. I explain I can't be here and for me to order her flowers from the US would be more costly. She finally agrees to take the money and buy herself roses. I also tell her if there is extra cash for her and Daryna to have dinner away from the apartment. We reach that moment where I can pass through the turnstile at the airport and she can't. I see the US team from the strong man competition again. They took third. One of the guys tore his ankle up pretty bad. The English team is there as well; they are flying 1st class but did not medal! Tetiana is watching while I wait to check my bag. After 1/2 hour in line and having a number of little old ladies cut in front of me; I'm free of my checked in luggage. ( returning with a bag for her sister and brother in law. His favorite beer, her favorite herbal teas, caviar and other food items I should not be bringing through customs) It's about two weeks before the incident in England when liquids start to be banned.
I walk back to see her one last time before passing into customs and then beyond security. Both of these being far out of sight from where she is standing. We both have tears in our eyes. I get back home in Massachusetts. Only been up 24 hours this time. I have to work in 20 hours. I call her cell phone for the 1st time to let her know I arrived safely. She gets the point and asks me if I'm home. Da Da Da!!!
So here ends my trip to Kiev. I have given my heart to this women.
We are engaged and are planning on her and her daughter joining me here. I only met her sister and brother-in-law twice before my trip. We are now good friends. Why not! Soon we will be family. We finally have all our paperwork together. My lawyer is getting this and his payment this week to start our K1 & k2. ( this time frame is early January )

.....Dave M.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on April 21, 2007, 09:01:44 PM: It is now the middle of April 2007. The U.S. Embassy in Kiev has my paperwork. I am waiting for them to send Tetiana her packet #3. Looks like I'll need to push our wedding back. I had a date of June 9th planned for the service. Right now I'm expecting to have her and her daughter her by mid June!

Thanks for taking the time to read this report.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: captmonk1 on April 22, 2007, 08:49:22 PM: Whoa Whoa Whoa....great trip report...BUT...where is the engagement part?

Also...were are the pictures!?!?! I have proved the site works well with pictures.

Let's see them VonTrapp! ;)
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on April 22, 2007, 09:09:41 PM: Quote from: captmonk1 on April 22, 2007, 08:49:22 PM
Whoa Whoa Whoa....great trip report...BUT...where is the engagement part?

Hello Captmonk1 :
I had heard some things about FSU women before my trip. One was they don't like talking about the future.
They think if they do they will bring bad luck into their lives. Another is they'd rather not talk about something if it would hurt someone's feelings. If she were to tell me " thanks for the visit but never come back" that would have destroyed me. Especially with how I was feeling about her after meeting. In the next few emails after returning home we both proclaimed our feelings for each other. Her birthday was 6 days after my return. I called over to wish her a Happy birthday and to talk. We have continued to talk once sometimes twice a week since. It wasn't until I was back three weeks that my neighbor who introduced us interprated my request for her to marry me. I got a "yes" reply in the same phone conversation. I had planned to go back to visit her around Thanksgiving. Instead she has requested I do some repairs to where we will live. she and her daughter both have allergies to dust. I'm pulling up my rugs and putting down hardwood floors. I'm also painting the whole place from top to bottom. I had thought the paperwork process to bring her over would be shorter. Her sister lives near me and was here 3 months after her husband turned in their paperwork. I guess these are different times and they do deeper checks on the women coming here.

.....Dave M.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: Evilferret on April 23, 2007, 04:16:52 AM: Great trip report thank you for sharing it :)
I am getting ready to go to Ukraine Kiev to meet my woman for the first time face to face in July. she has already planed a lot of stuff for us to do and is also excitedly awaiting. I hope I will be posting some good photos and a good trip report as well.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: captmonk1 on April 23, 2007, 07:31:11 PM: That's cool Dave M. It DOES take a long time. I recommend talking on the phone as MUCH as you can. Katerina and I talked on the phone every single day for 6 months until she was here.

Now that may be a bit much for some, it does help form a bond for sure. I missed the part about her sister living near you. That's going to help for sure with the transition.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on April 24, 2007, 01:41:51 AM: Quote from: Evilferret on April 23, 2007, 04:16:52 AM
Great trip report thank you for sharing it :)
I am getting ready to go to Ukraine Kiev to meet my woman for the first time face to face in July. she has already planed a lot of stuff for us to do and is also excitedly awaiting. I hope I will be posting some good photos and a good trip report as well.

As mentioned in my trip report there is an upscale Ukrainian restaurant not far from the war museum. I really wish they didn't lose power minutes after our arrival. It was the most expensive meal I had while in Kiev. But getting to try the local food is part of the traveling experience. Also the waitresses in traditional Ukrainian dress gave it a special feel to the experience. I look forward to reading YOUR trip report ; if your willing to share it with us. :)
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on July 15, 2007, 07:03:27 PM: Hello Everyone:
We are entering the home stretch. Tanya has her medical exam and embassy appointment this week.
I can hardly sleep these days. I'll post the news next weekend!

...Dave M.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on July 21, 2007, 07:28:58 PM: Hello Everyone :
I promised an update ; so here it is. We had to have her interview rescheduled. we have a new date of August 2nd. Sometime before this they need to get to their medical exams. Her daughter has been sick so they didn't have their exams yet.

Dave M.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on August 11, 2007, 06:44:26 PM: I'm walking on air. Tanya passed her interview. I bought the airfare for her and Daryna the same day. They will be arriving on August 25th. We are planning a very small ceremony with a JP on August 30th. It seemed like it took forever to get here. Once she gets here I'll be AWOL for a while. I'm taking lots of time off work so she will get all my attention.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: DonA on August 11, 2007, 11:26:41 PM: Quote from: sydneyvontrapp on August 11, 2007, 06:44:26 PM
I'm walking on air. Tanya passed her interview. I bought the airfare for her and Daryna the same day. They will be arriving on August 25th. We are planning a very small ceremony with a JP on August 30th. It seemed like it took forever to get here. Once she gets here I'll be AWOL for a while. I'm taking lots of time off work so she will get all my attention.

Howdy Dave,

Well that is wonderful news!

Well wish you all the Best!

DonAz
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on August 12, 2007, 12:57:07 AM: Hello Don :
Thanks! I have 6 comp days to take and a week of vacation time. I'm also NOT driving for the Limousine service for three weeks. She should be tired of me by the time I return to work. LOL! They should have a chance to meet some of my family right away. Then on Sept 9th we have my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary party to attend. She'll meet everyone then. I told her we could head up to New Hampshire a few days early. I could take her shopping at the outlet malls in North Conway. She was worried that this was going to be our first shopping trip.
We need to buy wedding rings before the wedding. I've got some catching up to do since this past Friday was her birthday. I called over to wish her a good day. She told me NOT to pay to send something.

Dave M.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: Chris on August 13, 2007, 06:56:59 AM: Congratulations Dave........great news for you all :)
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: sydneyvontrapp on August 25, 2007, 05:05:45 AM: Good Morning Everyone. I will be absent from the board for most of 3 weeks. Today is the day Tanya and her daughter Daryna arrive in Boston. The next time I post, I should be a married man. ;D ;D ;D 8) 8) ;D ;D ;D

Dave M.
Title: Re: My trip to Kiev to see if destiny awaits!
Post by: DonA on August 25, 2007, 11:49:54 AM: Hi Dave,
I know from our conversations this has been along road for you. Well that road has ended with Tanya and Daryna when you see them come through the magic doors at the airport.

WE wish you all the very Best :saint:

DonAz