This entry is more of a rant than a travelogue, just fair warning.
So, I literally shut my laptop from my last blog, when I decided it was time to check in for my flight at the Kiev airport. I went to the check in area, and got in one of the 20 or so lines available. It was 90 minutes until departure, so things were looking good. However, my line was not moving. At all. All other lines were moving. One hour till departure now. I’m closer to the front. A guy is arguing with the check in person about his bags. I have now counted the lines on either side of me had cycled through 4 times apiece. 50 minutes til departure: I finally make it to the counter. “Odessa? That is domestic. This is international only. Domestic downstairs.” Keep in mind there are absolutely no signs (in English OR Russian) explaining this. I guess people are just supposed to know.
Downstairs: 45 minutes until flight departure. There are no check in counters anyplace to be seen. I go to security (leading to the gates). “Bitte? Ja prousta bitte?” I reply “Where do I go to get a ticket?” hoping to get extra help for being a stupid American. “Left. Go left.”
Left: 40 minutes until departure. I find an information booth. The lady there stares open eyed when I tell her the flight I’m on. She leads me through an unlabelled doorway, where there is….tada! One check in counter! Of course, the one lady in front of me is taking forever and arguing with the lady behind the counter. However, I finally get my ticket and the lady at the counter says “Hurry, they are boarding.” Duh.
Once on the plane, there is someone sitting in my seat. It’s a pretty normal looking guy in his early 20’s. I say in Russian “I think you’re sitting in my seat.” He just stares at me. I show him my ticket. I repeat it in English. He just stares at me. So, I take the middle seat, which is vacant, and hope for the best (it is only a 35 minute flight). Throughout the flight, whenever I try to look out the window, this guy turns his head and stairs directly in my face. Every time. What a freak job. I seriously almost slapped him. I counted eight times it happened. Even landing, I thought “Last call for creepy dude to turn and stare at my face! Done! Eight times!” And just when you think this story is over, when we all stood up to get off the plane, he rested his chin on my shoulder to look into the isle! I kid you not. I will use this experience to make a character one day.
I’ve been to Odessa before, even previously this week, so I understand economics a bit. A taxi from the airport a week ago cost around $9. To the airport? $8. So, I exit the airport, and a guy asks if I want a taxi, and I ask him how much, and he says $70. HA! No. So there is a stand outside…I go to them. They say $50. Right. And then they honestly try to tell me that is a fair price, which I argue back (in Russian) that I know that it’s not, etc. Apparently, every single taxi driver at the airport works for this crooked outfit. So, I ended up paying $45 for a freakin’ taxi. That’s like 7 meals at a restaurant here.
Despite the adventures, once I actually got into town everything was great. I ate at Mick’s (slowly becoming one of my favorite hang outs) and got to see both the sunset and the sunrise. Life is now good here in Odessa.
Jeff: Aug 27th, 2016
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