Tag: security

Returning home

SDSpivey

I awoke on Wednesday morning, about 8am, that would be 1am at home. I quickly showered and dressed, loaded the remaining items and left.

My checkout was easy, I had asked the day before, just leave. They don’t issue any keys, so nothing to return. They collect the money at check in, so nothing left to pay.

A quick metro to the train station and walk out to the platform. I realize that the platform was brand new, the tracks had the granite stone holding everything in place, but there was still a gap between the tracks where you can see the dirt. Also, the rock isn’t covered in brake dust yet and no trash was present.

Russians have very few benches, for some reason, so I stand and wait. Not long, the train pulls up and I enter.

The AeroExpress was just as long as before, slow. I had done a Google map test, it was faster to drive a car to the airport, than to take this train, even though the train doesn’t have red lights. It would have also been faster to take the metro to the end of Line #2 and then the airport bus. But since I had already paid, and I have no car here, this is the route I must make.

Besides, I have many hours prior to boarding, so I really am in no hurry.

SVO artwork

We arrive at the SVO airport platform and must enter a security checkpoint. Just a quick x-ray and metal detector. Apparently normal at Russian airports.

I enter the large “common” area. There is a extremely large wall display of the upcoming flights. When I say extremely, I mean it. It must have been 50 feet tall and 300 feet long.

Despite the size, my flight was still not showing. I was that much early.

After browsing around a bit, checking all the restaurants, I see my flight listed, but check in isn’t for another 4 hours. I told you I was early.

I decided on a “bar” that had a clearly posted menu, with English. The prices were reasonable. I ordered a pork hamburger and fries, 840₽. I handed her 850₽, she gave me 10₽ in change, but it was all 1₽ coins.

The pork was good, but had no sauce. The fries were a bit soggy and had no salt. I see no salt anywhere and the clerk had disappeared. This is breakfast, so I eat anyway.

I was going to order a salad, not only for nutrition, but to use the all of the last of my coins. I already know that probably no exchange in the world will take coins, the bastards. But the food is lackluster and I don’t see her any where, so screw it.

Finally, check in time arrived. It was a quick and painless process. I enter the door for customs, nothing to declare. The guard asked me if I had more than $10k equivalent, I denied, I’m not rich after all. He allows me to pass.

Another door and security checkpoint. Again, simple, put everything on the conveyor and walk through metal detector. No shoe removal, no electronics separation, no BS, no problems. TSA PreCheck is easy, but not as easy as going through Russian checkpoints (but there are a lot more of them).

Last door, then passport check. The officer asked for my continuation documentation, I handed over my flight printout from Orbitz, not really proof, but accepted. Passed.

I then have to walk down the hall to the end, because of course my gate is all the way down there. Every store in this area is “duty free.” There is Beluga caviar, wines, perfumes, hand bags, expensive electronics, etc. All the duty free shops accepted rubles or Euros, I guess in case you had already exchanged your money.

I see a PS5 for €699, about $750. But after a quick check of Amazon, I could buy one for only $500. No savings, no thanks.

I verify the display at the gate is right, then sit at a seat with power. And wait. I still have over five hours until boarding.

I pull out my iPad and watch some TV episodes. (After I arrived home I find I watched 14 hours of video, probably about 17-18 if there had been commercials, just from sitting at airports.)

At some point a plane docked and unloaded at the gate, good my plane is here. Later I see a mechanic covering the engine cowls, odd if they are going to be leaving soon.

Flight is at 9:15pm, boarding is about 8:50, so I watch one last video that will end at 8:30. That will ensure I can go ahead and hit the toilet and re-fill my water. But as I finish the episode and stow everything back in my bag, I notice the gate has gotten much emptier. I recheck the display, the next flight is showing, not mine. I then have to go down the hall to find a master display, they’ve changed my gate to the other end of the hall. Seems oddly familiar, as if this happened recently.

The hall is quite long, maybe 200 yards and I had to go down an escalator. arriving at the new gate, they were boarding.

This was the first time anyone had ever separated my boarding pass. I had just been wondering why the boarding passes have a perforation, if no one ever separates. Well I guess some do.

Stepping passed and walking down the small hallway, we all step out side, another bus to the plane. Geez, does no one in Russia get to step directly in or out of a plane to the terminal?

My approximate flight path.

I had looked at my flights recent paths. I see it stays well away from the Ukraine border. Originally I was going to take Turkish Air from Moscow all the way home, but I had Aeroflot credits so I opted to use them for this flight.

There is no way Ukraine would fire upon a Turkish airliner, but I didn’t think about how I wasn’t going to be in a Turkish plane for this flight. I didn’t think about it, until now. Oh crap.

Needless to say, I did not die in a fiery explosion. We landed smoothly and parked at the gate in Istanbul.

I am on an international flight and leaving on another international fight, not entering the country proper, just the customs territory, no security needed.

Oh, things are not that simple.

I had to walk down about a mile to change terminals.

I had to check in with Lufthansa to get my next boarding pass. Then passport control and security. WHY?????

I had just exited a plane and had no access to check baggage. What could I possibly have done to require a new check of my stuff?

While at the gate, I see that I haven’t worn my coat since I arrived in Russia, so I jam it into my suitcase. I also determine that I don’t want my backpack at my feet. My foot had gone numb on the latest flight, the bag took all the space, so I couldn’t move.

You are supposed to place the case in the overhead bin and your personal item is to go under the seat. Nope, I immediately placed both in the overhead. If I need something, I can get it later after takeoff.

Oh, so much better.

I have a one hour, fifty five minute layover at Frankfurt, great. If things ran smoothly.

We load onto the plane and the plane pulls out from the gate, but then captain makes an announcement that Frankfurt airport has a landing strip closed for repairs, so we have a tight window to land. OK, sounds simple. We had to sit 37 minutes waiting for the right time to leave. Why didn’t they just have everyone wait in the terminal? Why sit there burning fuel for no reason?

I did crash out before we took off though.

I realize there is a bad side to using foreign airliners, the safety briefing is in the native language and then again in English, twice the boredom.

The landing and take off in Frankfurt is at the same terminal and both flights are on Lufthansa, maybe this will be easy.

Nope, arrivals and departures are on different levels and to access the other you must go through security.

Because of the change of gate at SVO, I didn’t get a chance to refill the bottle of water. At security, I still had the bottle, which was confiscated and disposed of. No problem, I have another bottle. I can just fill it at Frankfurt.

Because of the take off delay and security, (and another gate change) I arrived after they started boarding. I am way back, but I was able to get both bags stowed. The doors closed very shortly after I sat. So close to being left behind.

Okay, I have a 10 hour flight, no water and I didn’t get to go to the toilet. Great.

Plus side, I had no neighbor, so I could stretch out a little more and I had double pillow and blankets. I had tried laying down, but the seats have just enough contour, that they have a hump as you lay across two. No good. I could move over and stretch my legs into my seat’s leg area though.

I did sleep a bit, but not enough.

The meal was quite good, but small. I’m glad I ate at SVO.

An hour before landing, I need to go, but I’ve never used an airplane toilet. I don’t really want to, it doesn’t seem like something to yearn for, but if I am delayed, I might not get the van to Warner Robins.

We land at ATL. Hurray!

Goodbye Russia, hello real toilet paper.

Even though I am in the section of passport control exclusively for US citizens and permanent residents, there seems to be several people who are not.

The officer at passport control asks where I’m coming from, I answer and he gives me a quizzical look.

“Is this the best time to be visiting Russia?” he asks, like he’s my mother. I explain the need to go now versus loosing my flight credits and my visa expiring soon. He returns my passport and welcomes me home.

I’m not out of the woods yet, I have to find the shuttle to domestic terminal, so I can get the van back to Warner Robins. My email from the transport company stated, “A quick 10 minute ride.” BS, it was over 25 minutes, but I arrived at the van right on time.

I spoke briefly to the lady next to me, who was also on my flight. She lives in Frankfurt and has family in Warner Robins. Coincidence.

I get to Ari’s house, but when I try to put my bags in the car it is locked. Everyone knows I never lock my car. I go in to get the key and press the unlock button, nothing. I get closer and retry, still nothing. Ari says she had just moved the car a few days ago to mow, but now I have nothing.

A jump start attempt latter, still nothing. The battery is on the trunk and I can’t open the trunk without power. But an internet search later, I find out there is a key slot on the trunk, completely filled in with grunge, I had seen it before, but thought it was nothing.

We are able to jump directly on the battery, but as I run around the neighborhood charging the battery, I notice a little bit of a thump. Checking the tires, I see one has exposed steel. It is almost 8pm, very few places are open. The one I check, is open, but is booked with appointments.

I am able to buy a new battery, just in case, and they loan me tools to change it. Cool.

I decide, I have a spare, if it does go flat, then I can fix it then. Didn’t blow out, so no problem.

It is a long way home, we arrive right at 1am. I arose at 1am on Wednesday, it is now Friday. I’ve spent 48 hours on a plane, in a terminal, or in a car. I’m really to go party!

By “party” I of course mean sleep.

I grab my phone and iPad out of the car, but leave everything else, it can wait.

I do a quick check of the house, all seems normal. I go to bed and fall asleep almost right away. I haven’t done that in years.

Goodbye Saint Petersburg

SDSpivey

My time here is up, I set my alarm too freakin’ early, but didn’t want to have to pay for subway tickets. My pass expired ~7:30, so I checkout of my room, caught the metro to the bus stop.

Oh, good, I get directed to the side for extra screening at the metro station. Could be because of my baggage or maybe just random.

There is an express bus to the airport. I did not think there would be that many people, but it was packed.

We’re dropped off right at departures and I go check in at the desk. There is a quick x-ray of baggage as you enter. The desk lady pointed out that I needed gate 2. I’ve done this a few times, I look for the big number next to the word “gate.” But I guess not everyone has flown before.

Then I went through a boarding pass checkpoint, then regular security. Man, this was a breeze. No shoe removal, no electronics removal, no sanity removal. The only downside was that I had throw out a yogurt drink that I was going to drink while waiting for the bus, but they’re too quick.

I went down the hall and found gate 2. Crap, this place is small and packed. There are only 50 seats for an entire 737’s worth of passengers. Yes, I did count them, I am a weirdo like that.

I listen to some of the intercom messages, they’re in Russian and then English. I notice, a lot of flights getting shifted to other gates. I presumed it was because of delays in some other airline, but I’m going Aeroflot, the kingpin.

After the first plane loaded, I managed to grab a seat by the wall, so I could put my stuff in front of me. Still got about 4 hours to wait, so I nod off.

At some point, I decide to check my flight trackers. Just to see if where the plane was at the time, was the flight already having small delays, etc. Wait, WTF this says my flight is at gate 18, no that can’t be right. I check another, and another. Crap.

I get up, knowing I’m losing my prime seat, and go to find a display board. Yep, it says now at gate 18. Maybe they did have an announcement, but I was asleep, therefore it doesn’t count.

Also, there are 18 gates at LED, that means I am literally at the opposite end of the terminal. No big deal, still an hour at least.

I happen to see the boarding pass of a lady sitting next to me. She is clearly Russian, but her name on the pass is only Romanised. My name is also, but that’s my name, I would have thought that a Russian airline at a Russian airport would have the original names printed, at least for domestic.

Boarding pass states loading is at 11:20, doors close at 11:40. OK, why are we still sitting here at 11:29?

Finally, someone comes and unlocks the gangway doors and we all start going in. A couple of personnel run metal wands over us, despite already having gone through security, plus I didn’t even remove by backpack, so how good a job were they doing?

We pass on down and into the plane, no one checked boarding passes. I could be going almost any where in Russia.

I do have to say, with 4 “checks” this was still the easiest boarding yet, even easier than PreCheck.

It is only an hour flight, so we got a couple chocolate cookies and choice of coffee, tea, or water. Really surprised we got that much.

I go to get off the plane and… whoa… there are stairs. Good thing I was looking. We exit the plane and have to get onto a bus, we are way out from the terminal. I was near the front so I was able to get on the bus, many had to wait for another.

When mom and I flew from Inverness, Scotland to Manchester, our plane also did not pull to a gate, but there they had a series of cones marking out a path we were required to follow, but that was maybe 50 feet. This was several minutes on the shuttle.

Airport main area

It is domestic, so no more checks, just head for the exit or your next flight.

The main area of the airport was huge. Seriously, you could have a couple full football fields in there, lots of shops and things to do. I wanted to look around, but I need to find the AeroExpress train ticket office.

I followed the signs, taking about a thousand turns, before getting there. 950 rubles for a standard 2-way ticket. Hope I don’t loose it.

Then I have to follow a few hundred more signs to the platform. There’s only a few people ahead of me, so I probably just missed one.

The display says the next is at 14:14, only 20ish minutes to wait. Only, the Russians don’t believe in sitting, there are no benches. Other than parks, I have seen very few places to sit and wait.

AeroExpress train

Finally, the big red train pulls in and we board.

“Express” is in the name, but this train was anything but fast. First we made about 4 stops. Second, I checked my speedometer app, we didn’t get above 20mph. So slow that I again began to nod off.

We reached the final stop, train station right next to the Metro. Or so I thought, it is right next, but you basically have to circle halfway around one, then halfway around the other.

Butterfly apartment building

I wait at the ticket window, of course there’s only one, and use the translator I need a 7-day pass. Guess what wikipedia lied to me about? The don’t have 7-day, only single and three day. So I get a 3, I’ll just have get another later.

The route is simple enough, down 2 stations, switch and then one more. That’s the easy part, then I have to walk up the street, cross another busy street and find the place.

In  Saint Petersburg, the hostel’s name was actually different than what the booking site had, a translation error, so I could not find it on street view. Here the problem was, street view didn’t cover areas that couldn’t be driven, like alleys with barricades.

Through the translator, I ask a lady nearby, surprising she has good English, but doesn’t know the hostel. She asks a man walking by and he points around back. I give thanks to both and head around back. No signs. Fortunately, an Indian on the phone pauses his conversation to direct me to a specific door. Very helpful people here.

I get buzzed in and climb 8 flights to the hostel, still no sign, I only found it because the door started to buzz as I approached.

I entered, cautiously. It looked like someone home. I’m going to get arrested.

The hostess come in and starts to take my info and check me in. She does not know English, so we converse through the translator. I swear this must be the most used app in this country after TicTok.

At some point, she makes a call, then informs me that I can’t stay the whole week, foreigners can only stay 3 days. I can assure you it did not say any of that on the booking site.

She says she will try to find me another to move to in 3 days. OK, that’s probably the best I’m going to get.

She wants to know if I have slippers, no I don’t. Great, its one of those places. Again, not mentioned on the site. She has a box of miscellaneous ones, I grab a pair and swap for my shoes.

She takes me to the desk and I pay for three days, then she leads me to the room.

Very small room with bunk bed. That’s ok, I’ve booked the whole room, so no roommate or top bunk.

I spread out the sheets on the bed and put on the pillow case and start to organize my stuff, when she knocks on the door.

Apparently, my “registration” is expiring today and I wouldn’t be able to stay there. I got the registration from the first hostel and never looked at it. I just thought it was a receipt or something, luckily I put it in my folder with the other confirmations.

The first hostel had no way of knowing I would be staying in Moscow, or anywhere else. They didn’t ask and I didn’t know to tell.

I never did find out why she couldn’t just give me a new registration, after all, that’s what the first one did.

She is on the phone with someone and I’m looking for another place nearby, maybe they can make me a new registration. Then she states that she found me a place that can take me and gives me an address, on the other side of town.

I picked this place because it was the closest place to a metro station that I could find. The new one was nearly a mile. That’s 2 miles every time I leave and come back. In the rain, if so.

I go back down the stairs and head out towards the station, but then I have a thought, I have no idea what this new place is going to cost. This could be a bait and switch, or a murder the tourist scenario. If I don’t like the service, I have no recourse with the booking company, I didn’t book this place through them.

I had been looking at a site, right as she told me about the new location. So I stepped to the side of the walkway and took a better look at the site. They had no 2-bed rooms available, but had a 3, so I booked it. It was a bit of meandering to get to it from where I was, but it was actually mostly a straight shot from the station.

I figured if this place and any other I tried wouldn’t work, then the other place was still available.

Some army contraption

Third floor, I’m getting a work out. Plus they have signs, both outside and in the stairway, so you actually know you’re going the right way.

I check in, the lady took my registration, had me sign in and that was it. (So far.)

They have an odd set up, the toilets and baths are segregated men/women, which is normal, but the toilet rooms have 2 toilets, divided by a wall, but open otherwise. The showers are also 2 per room, but at least then there is a curtain across the front.

There are 2 other beds in my room, but only one is occupied, so far. Oddly, there are no keys. You get buzzed in at the front door, but that’s it.

I was quite sweaty after my climb up the stairs, check in, check out, down the stairs, walk down the road, up more stairs aggravation. I took a shower right away.

Other than cookies on the plane and some of my yogurt drink, I hadn’t eaten yet, so I headed out to find something.

One street over, a major pedestrian thoroughfare, were lots of shops, artists, and restaurants. Down side, they were all “fast” food. Screw it, I got me a stuffed pita at the doner place.

I found some steps and I sat to eat, dropping a good amount on my clean shirt. Then headed to the supermarket and got some juice and milk, for my muesli.

I am so tired, but I have to stay up until a proper bedtime, otherwise I’ll be awake at the wrong time and disturb my roommate. Also, I didn’t come here to sleep.

Bus to Russia

SDSpivey

As the bus arrived, the bus had windows all the way to the back, no sign of onboard toilet.

We all gather around shoving our bags at the driver to put underneath.

There was an old lady (a babushka) in front of me and the steps were high, so I tried to offer a hand up, but I think she thought I wanted to cut in front of her. I was trying to be a good Samaritan, but I should act like a normal Russian.

I was in the second row, but I was in seat #1. WTF were the seats in front of me called?

I had the pillow and blanket, still in the bag, from the flight. So I placed them against the window and tried to sleep. Mostly successfully, I didn’t see much of the Estonian country side.

About midnight, as we neared Narva, on the border, we made a few quick stops and some people got off.

Then we entered a heavily fenced area, with multiple swing gates, and parked. The driver got off, spoke to the border police and opened the luggage compartments. An officer came on board, took our passports, examining each against our photos.

After about 45 minutes, the officer returned and handed back our documentation.

The bus departed, and stopped again about 1000ft later, another swing gate. The driver got out and showed some paper, the guard made a phone call, then let us proceed.

I thought we were through, but that was just the Estonian side.

After crossing the river, we went through another swing gate. OK, now we’re good.

Nope.

We drove a bit further and then stopped at a building. We all exited the bus and took everything inside. Oh, I see metal detectors and baggage x-rays. Great, more dis-robing.

Once I reached the window where the guard was checking documents, she did not know English, but scanned my passport and visa, then directed me to go back and wait a few minutes. I guessed she need to get an English speaker to come out.

Another guard comes over and takes me to a back room. Oh, great, secondary screening. The bus is going to leave me, I just know it.

He didn’t know English, either, but used Google translate on his phone. Super sophisticated. I presume that there would be someone in the daytime or weekends that knew English, just not now.

He asked me “Do you have metal in your pockets?” Then had me pass through a metal detector and back again.

He asked for my phone which I provided and he wanted my password. I indicated I had none and just swiped up to open it to show him. I asked if he also wanted my iPad, but nyet, he didn’t. I was then told to go back through the metal detector and sit down, and I waited a while.

I had to remove my watch for the security check in the frantic run to catch my plane. I had not replaced it yet, so no idea how long it was, much I’m sure it was shorter than it felt. The only consolation was there was another man there sitting before I went in.

Finnally, he called me back in (before the other guy) and gave me back my phone and escorted me back out. Phew, no rejection. I presume he swabbed the phones for explosive or drug residue.

The scanners were simple, just place everything on the belt. Nothing to remove, not even my jacket. But I had all empty pockets already.

I rejoined the rest of the passengers and a few minutes latter we all re-boarded the bus and departed.

After one last swing gate, we really were in Russia. Time, just under two hours.

We stopped a mile further up, at a gas station. Where some of the passengers got off and departed.

Many more were getting off and going into the store. So I decided to follow.

The restroom was bright and clean, but good bye to comfortable toilet paper, we’re in Russia now.

Yes, this is the first chance I had to go since I was on the plane to Warsaw, about 10 hours ago. It felt so good. I know, TMI, but true never-the-less.

Still a long way to go still, I tried to go back to sleep, but couldn’t. So I finished a TV episode on my iPad before trying again.

At about 3:30, I notice the light is starting to show on the horizon. It also did not get dark until 10pm in St Petersburg, which I think has something to do with the latitude and upcoming solstice.

The bus has a clock and a temperature display. It gets down to 5C (27F), but rises again as the sun comes up.

More Hassles

SDSpivey

In Atlanta, all 3 boarding passes printed out. But I had no boarding zone on the Polish Air ones. I asked the lady checking as people boarded and was told I had to check in with the desk, where they issued me new ones. WTF were the boarding passes that I had good for?

I had managed to charge everything beforehand, but the bottle filler was too slow to stand and wait for, so I only had a bit.

They served meals, drinks, and snacks, so I didn’t dehydrate or starve.

Surprising me was the fact that I had metal fork, spoon, and butter knife. Actual metal, not plastic or bamboo.

I won’t comment on the meal. Airline meals are to give you something to do and maybe some nourishment, they have no need for flavor or quality. Even so, you are so grateful to get it.

I couldn’t figure out how to recline, so I did the same as my neighbor and laid forward on the tray table. Not comfortable at all, but got a few hours. That’s about what I’d get at home, so that’s OK.

I had noticed during the flight, that the Orbitz app had a gate listed for my flight out of Warsaw, but never for the flight in.

While boarding and then as people were getting off, I noticed they were playing music on the PA. I thought I recognized the latter music as Chopin. Then it hit me, we were at Warsaw Chopin Airport. Duh.

I had a aisle seat, near the front, so I exited quickly. I had to use the toilet, but we were about to land, so I figured I would just wait and use a real toilet.

A man was asking people their destination and directed them accordingly (well, at least mine was right).

There was a long hallway, with signs pointing towards my gate. However, there was a crowd down near the end. There was a security ribbon splitting the hall in 2, one side for EU/Shengen citizens and the other for every one else.

I could see ahead a passport control. OK, no problem, except I notice that my flight boarded in 30 minutes and I still didn’t know how far down the gate was.

I moved through quickly enough, but I was sweating a bit with worry.

And then…

ANOTHER SECURITY CHECKPOINT!!!!!!

I was arriving at the checkpoint right as the boarding was beginning. So I quickly kicked off my shoes (I just bought velcro shoes specifically for this) and unloaded my electronics onto the belt.

And of course, the woman before me still had her shoes on and was made to return and put them on the belt, along with her jewelry, before she could re-try. They made me wait for her to finish that. Then the guard waved the wand all over her, despite never triggering the metal detector.

I had to throw my stuff back in the bags and ran down the hall holding my shoes, because I didn’t have time to stop and put them on.

I haven’t checked, but I think the flight might have arrived late. There should have been 90 minutes for me to change over, minus the 20-25 minutes where the close the doors to begin departure.

Fortunately, they had just begun loading. I felt bad for the guy next to me, as I had run all the way from security, wearing my flannel jacket and backpack, so I was sweaty. I turned on the air vent, for the first time ever, so I should have blown most away from him.

Needless to say, but I didn’t have a chance for the toilet.

Three flights, three security screenings. Crap.

I know that the next 2 are going to also, but I am really hoping the last 2 don’t. I can’t take it.