27th February 2022
What I was not prepared for was the hotel in Vladivostok which was really a shock. Close to the station, it had a super position overlooking the harbour and the bridge but it was in a run-down office block on the 5th floor with similar hotels on the lower and upper floors.
It was really awful but on the positive note, I was given a corner suit with a kitchen, shower, lounge and bedroom packed into the smallest possible space. There was no hotel phone and receptionist had to use their own phones where outside lines went straight into their personal numbers, The reason why I was booked into this hotel was that apparently in Vladivostok there was a strict Covid policy and without a Russian QR code with a Russian vaccine I could not stay in a reasonable hotel.
This was the story but who knows?
There were two redeeming feature of the hotel was the magnificent view which was just super as below with wonderful sunrises and sunsets and also the attitude of the staff who were surprised that a foreigner was staying in the hotel. They really were exceptional in trying to make certain that I was looked after, bearing in mind their limited resources.
What I was not prepared for was the hotel in Vladivostok which was really a shock. Close to the station, it had a super position overlooking the harbour and the bridge but it was in a run-down office block on the 5th floor with similar hotels on the lower and upper floors.
It was really awful but on the positive note, I was given a corner suit with a kitchen, shower, lounge and bedroom packed into the smallest possible space. There was no hotel phone and receptionist had to use their own phones where outside lines went straight into their personal numbers, The reason why I was booked into this hotel was that apparently in Vladivostok there was a strict Covid policy and without a Russian QR code with a Russian vaccine I could not stay in a reasonable hotel.
This was the story but who knows?
There were two redeeming feature of the hotel was the magnificent view which was just super as below with wonderful sunrises and sunsets and also the attitude of the staff who were surprised that a foreigner was staying in the hotel. They really were exceptional in trying to make certain that I was looked after, bearing in mind their limited resources.
Exploring the surroundings was a priority to get some fresh air and also some exercise but given the war situation in Ukraine and the advice from the government and embassy to leave as soon as possible, my mind was not clear and I needed to reflect and think of options.
One thing that was clear was that leaving as fast as possible was now important as every extra day increased the chances of major problems leaving the country (and also the options were reducing quickly).
Having gone this far, at least I made the trip but I would miss the tours that I had booked. On reflection I decided that as our sages say, you should always leave something undone and maybe this was now my destiny and one day I would like to return to visit the Russian Far East one day, revisit Kharkov and Vladivostok and then go up to Sakhalin Island in the future.
Who knows that the future will hold?
The one thing I decided that with Mel making the reservations for me, I would take the opportunity to go into one of the main sea side areas, walk around and have a good meal prior to departure and wait for the call with the options. I still have my flight booked for Moscow if required, so that was my fallback and if necessary, I knew that it would be an easy option for me. The hotel had advised me that the train option to Helsinki would be the best and were ready to assist me and also, I had three invitations to stay with close friends if required. That meant so much to me and was a sign of close valued friendships.
Anyway, Mel was going through the options and the timeliest connections and it is something which I really value and appreciate. It was very stressful for her and the boys under the circumstances.
The weather was +1°C, so no warm clothes required and having identified and booked a recommended Georgian restaurant, I took a taxi to closer into the sea front. People were walking around, wearing lighter clothes than I had seen in the past weeks and evening walking on the partially frozen sea close to the shore. It was overcast and calm, but enjoyable for a few hours at least. One thing was certain , I was one of the very few foreigners in the area . I spent time people watching and taking in the whole atmosphere whilst I was waiting for the table in the restaurant to be free.
One thing that was clear was that leaving as fast as possible was now important as every extra day increased the chances of major problems leaving the country (and also the options were reducing quickly).
Having gone this far, at least I made the trip but I would miss the tours that I had booked. On reflection I decided that as our sages say, you should always leave something undone and maybe this was now my destiny and one day I would like to return to visit the Russian Far East one day, revisit Kharkov and Vladivostok and then go up to Sakhalin Island in the future.
Who knows that the future will hold?
The one thing I decided that with Mel making the reservations for me, I would take the opportunity to go into one of the main sea side areas, walk around and have a good meal prior to departure and wait for the call with the options. I still have my flight booked for Moscow if required, so that was my fallback and if necessary, I knew that it would be an easy option for me. The hotel had advised me that the train option to Helsinki would be the best and were ready to assist me and also, I had three invitations to stay with close friends if required. That meant so much to me and was a sign of close valued friendships.
Anyway, Mel was going through the options and the timeliest connections and it is something which I really value and appreciate. It was very stressful for her and the boys under the circumstances.
The weather was +1°C, so no warm clothes required and having identified and booked a recommended Georgian restaurant, I took a taxi to closer into the sea front. People were walking around, wearing lighter clothes than I had seen in the past weeks and evening walking on the partially frozen sea close to the shore. It was overcast and calm, but enjoyable for a few hours at least. One thing was certain , I was one of the very few foreigners in the area . I spent time people watching and taking in the whole atmosphere whilst I was waiting for the table in the restaurant to be free.
Returning to the hotel, I was feeling uneasy because of the lack of control over the situation I found myself in but had full faith in Mel and the boys research and advice. I was given a range of alternative options to get home but in reality, I had to rely on the family and that is something that I was uncomfortable with myself. If it had been a better hotel (such as the Marriot) hotel, I could have managed with their concierge service, but family were the only realistic choice.
Mel gave great options via Expedia assisted by Ben and Dan (who came up with the best option of all, train to North Korea which made me giggle) Jerry also found a combination of flights via Qatar and the UAE. I knew the family were really trying to get me home in one piece and after a discussion of choices, we decided that the most reliable alternative and relatively shortest choice was a three-flight option
Vladivostok to Novosibirsk (S7), Novosibirsk to Tashkent, Tashkent to Heathrow both on Uzbek airlines over three days which was going to be a small challenge and test all my experience gained over the years. Initially I planned to wait in the airports for the connections but reflecting on this I decided that at least in Novosibirsk I would stay at the airport hotel and then in Tashkent stay in the transfer lounge.
Vladivostok Airport:
Checking in for the flight to Novosibirsk early morning should have been a challenge but the staff and process was really pressured and I decided that I was going to have to revert to my Russian character to sort out issues that were thrown up to me, rejecting the ticket was the catalyst and by the time I finished I was upgraded and also had an apology from the manager.
Mel gave great options via Expedia assisted by Ben and Dan (who came up with the best option of all, train to North Korea which made me giggle) Jerry also found a combination of flights via Qatar and the UAE. I knew the family were really trying to get me home in one piece and after a discussion of choices, we decided that the most reliable alternative and relatively shortest choice was a three-flight option
Vladivostok to Novosibirsk (S7), Novosibirsk to Tashkent, Tashkent to Heathrow both on Uzbek airlines over three days which was going to be a small challenge and test all my experience gained over the years. Initially I planned to wait in the airports for the connections but reflecting on this I decided that at least in Novosibirsk I would stay at the airport hotel and then in Tashkent stay in the transfer lounge.
Vladivostok Airport:
Checking in for the flight to Novosibirsk early morning should have been a challenge but the staff and process was really pressured and I decided that I was going to have to revert to my Russian character to sort out issues that were thrown up to me, rejecting the ticket was the catalyst and by the time I finished I was upgraded and also had an apology from the manager.
Security was very strict and I had a few issues which I put down to my passport and continuous anti-European sentiment on the TV, but I resolved it and then boarded the flight for 7 hours.
We flew eastwards over a number of cities that I had visited and stayed in previously, such as Kemerovo and the Altai Mountain range. The views were really spectacular and the scenery really impressive. I had the chance to sit quietly, reflect on the challenges ahead and just day dream. I rested as much as I could as I knew that arriving in Novosibirsk would present other challenges, but at least I had a hotel reservation at the airport hotel.
We flew eastwards over a number of cities that I had visited and stayed in previously, such as Kemerovo and the Altai Mountain range. The views were really spectacular and the scenery really impressive. I had the chance to sit quietly, reflect on the challenges ahead and just day dream. I rested as much as I could as I knew that arriving in Novosibirsk would present other challenges, but at least I had a hotel reservation at the airport hotel.
