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Post new topic   Reply to topic    Way to Russia Talk Lounge Forum Index -> Russian People
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Ivan Ivanovich
Just Starting


Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Michigan, USA
PostPosted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 5:42 pm    Post subject: New and Old Reply with quote
I'm new here and 62 years old. I read some of the other threads and I was discouraged the polemic disagreements. I don't want to talk or hear about who hates Americans. I want to make some friends who can help me learn and understand more about the land of my grandparents and my wife. My dream is to cross Russia from Vilnius to Sakhalin and complete my circumnavigation of the world. If anyone would like to share then I will be happy to respond.
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surfguy
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 13 Apr 2006
Posts: 6996
PostPosted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
that's a good dream...hope you complete it. There is a lot of good info on this site and more healthy conversations than those in the "not relevant"
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mediashark
Moderator


Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1601
PostPosted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well you've come to the right place. Smile Just stick to the travel-related folders and you'll be fine. You might find the Trans-sib section very useful.
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3436
PostPosted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:43 pm    Post subject: Re: New and Old Reply with quote
Ivan Ivanovich wrote:
I'm new here and 62 years old. I read some of the other threads and I was discouraged the polemic disagreements. I don't want to talk or hear about who hates Americans. I want to make some friends who can help me learn and understand more about the land of my grandparents and my wife. My dream is to cross Russia from Vilnius to Sakhalin and complete my circumnavigation of the world. If anyone would like to share then I will be happy to respond.


If I were you, I would start by travelling to Moscow and St Petersburg. There are the largest and most developed of Russia's cities. St Petersburg is gorgeous, especially in the summer and is called "Northern Venice" for a reason. Moscow has become one of the world's wealthiest cities. People from all over Russian dream of living there and that makes it interesting as it's sort of a city that many other cities hope to become. And it would be easier for you to find a hotel and find people who speak English in those large cities - they are more tourist-friendly than smaller cities.
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Ivan Ivanovich
Just Starting


Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Michigan, USA
PostPosted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:00 pm    Post subject: Russian Travel Reply with quote
Yes, I'll be going to Moscow. My mother-in-law lives there and she spent last summer with us here in Michigan, so she owes me one. We took her to Paradise and Hell. Maybe you heard about the big party in Hell on 6/6/06? My wife was born in Perm, so I expect we will go there also. I met her in Vilnius in 99 when I went to find my grandmothers birthplace. I enjoyed Lithuania very much. The country side is much like Michigan with rolling hills, lakes and marshes. I still smile when I think of cows on ropes.
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3436
PostPosted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:52 pm    Post subject: Re: Russian Travel Reply with quote
Ivan Ivanovich wrote:
Yes, I'll be going to Moscow. My mother-in-law lives there and she spent last summer with us here in Michigan, so she owes me one. We took her to Paradise and Hell. Maybe you heard about the big party in Hell on 6/6/06? My wife was born in Perm, so I expect we will go there also. I met her in Vilnius in 99 when I went to find my grandmothers birthplace. I enjoyed Lithuania very much. The country side is much like Michigan with rolling hills, lakes and marshes. I still smile when I think of cows on ropes.


Lithuania since then has become of the fastest growing economies in Europe. Unlike Russia, you don't even need a visa to visit it, I think.
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Ivan Ivanovich
Just Starting


Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Michigan, USA
PostPosted: Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:02 pm    Post subject: Lithuania Reply with quote
Yes, I went without a visa in 99. Since then they have joined NATO and the EU. My wife has been back 8 times as her kids are still there. I may go again at Christmas time this year. I wish that Belorus would open up a little more. Thier reputation as being unfriendly to outsiders is self-defeating.
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5_Zvehzda
Moderator


Joined: 08 Oct 2004
Posts: 347
Location: Arizona
PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 12:41 am    Post subject: Re: Lithuania Reply with quote
Ivan Ivanovich wrote:
I wish that Belorus would open up a little more. Thier reputation as being unfriendly to outsiders is self-defeating.

I plan to visit Belarus around late summer or autumn. I'll report my findings and encounters when the time will come. Wink
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vitalsigns
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 2784
PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 4:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Can US green card holders travel to Lithuania without a visa? Does anyone know?
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Ivan Ivanovich
Just Starting


Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Michigan, USA
PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 4:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'll be looking forward to hearing about your visit. Maybe it's not as bad as I've heard. I'd like to visit my grandfathers hometown, Vilejka, which is about half way between Minsk and Vilnius. He told me that he woke up one morning in 1903, looked around, and said "This place sucks, I'm going to America" He was 13 at the time and he came over all by himself. Looking around at 13 year olds today it's hard to imagine. I guess they grew up fast and tough back then.
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Ivan Ivanovich
Just Starting


Joined: 28 Jul 2006
Posts: 5
Location: Michigan, USA
PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 5:04 am    Post subject: Visa Reply with quote
Vitalsigns
I suppose it would depend on your country of origin and what kind of passport you hold. If you are going to Vilnius, my step daughter is there and she speaks English, Russian, German, and some Spanish/Italian. Depending on your timing and her schedule she might be able to help.
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vitalsigns
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 2784
PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 5:11 am    Post subject: Re: Visa Reply with quote
Ivan Ivanovich wrote:
Vitalsigns
I suppose it would depend on your country of origin and what kind of passport you hold. If you are going to Vilnius, my step daughter is there and she speaks English, Russian, German, and some Spanish/Italian. Depending on your timing and her schedule she might be able to help.


Thank you. I was just asking in case I ever go there. I visited that great country while I lived in the Soviet Union and even back then it was just great.

I will send you a PM if I ever decide to go there.

Last edited by vitalsigns on Sat Jul 29, 2006 2:58 pm; edited 1 time in total
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5_Zvehzda
Moderator


Joined: 08 Oct 2004
Posts: 347
Location: Arizona
PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 7:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
vitalsigns wrote:
Can US green card holders travel to Lithuania without a visa? Does anyone know?
Vitali,
I searched around for a while, but here's all I could find regarding traveling to Lithuania with a U.S green card . . .
http://www.traveldocs.com/lt/vr.htm
It shouldn't be too difficult, but good luck if you plan to go . . .

Ivan Ivanovich wrote:
He told me that he woke up one morning in 1903, looked around, and said "This place sucks, I'm going to America" He was 13 at the time and he came over all by himself. Looking around at 13 year olds today it's hard to imagine. I guess they grew up fast and tough back then.

This last statement is absolute truth . . . I believe it.
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vitalsigns
Lounge Wizard


Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 2784
PostPosted: Sat Jul 29, 2006 3:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
5_Zvehzda wrote:
Vitali,
I searched around for a while, but here's all I could find regarding traveling to Lithuania with a U.S green card . . .
http://www.traveldocs.com/lt/vr.htm
It shouldn't be too difficult, but good luck if you plan to go . . .


I guess I will wait till I get my citizenship. Sounds awful complicated to travel to Lithuania for me as of now.
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