[it's been a grievously long time since my last post. Life hit hard. By life I mean work + bidding + work and more work. I see an end in sight now, at least I see a vacation soon enough. But it turns out this gem never got posted so here you are]
A few weeks ago [more than a month now] we went, with a whole passel of folks from the embassy, on an overnight trip to Borovoe. We have been to Borovoe a couple of times and it is a treat. However, this trip was a disaster from the start.
First the hotel that had been booked cancelled all reservations with a week's notice and for no reason.
The second hotel apparently tried to cancel the reservations the night before. The poor coordinator of the trip nearly pulled all her hair out.
We are always early to everything, so between being early and the people who were late we ended up waiting 45 minutes in the embassy parking lot to caravan with the group. We're idiots. And because we waited so long, rather than scooting up there in just over 2 hours as we know we can, we had to do a pit stop on the way for a bathroom break. Except the bathroom was an outhouse and everything was all frozen. Alex is not cut out for third world life and let's just say it was a tough decision for her, attempting the frozen squatter or peeing her pants. (Let's just say I am happy with the decision she made).
When we arrived lunch was waiting. Except it was all full of dairy. And it was "impossible" to have anything else (nevermind the vegetarian in the group did manage to score a different meal) The only saving grace was that, being all Russian-y, the meal started with soup - that was safe for Alex to eat - and she was full by the end of it. After having just spent 3.5 hours in the car we planned to stick close to the hotel and find something hill-like for sledding for the afternoon.
Somehow we ended up agreeing to join the group heading to the "ski resort" that had "good hills for sledding" and was "only 15 minutes away". Adding in getting lost time, it was more like 30 minutes. Given we were already frustrated and car-ed out, every extra minute was a minute too much. And then we got there. It was the saddest little place, one run that was barely downhill and a rope tow that made the rope tows of my youth look fancy. The kids could sled if we gave a good push and had a relay of adults giving an extra nudge on the way "down". There was a group who had planned to go snowmobiling, as this "resort" advertised it. There was one snowmobile. They took turns going on 10 minute rides.
At the hotel we were on the 4th floor, walk up, so we got some much needed exercise during the trip. The room was large, I'll give that to them, but felt like it was crumbling under our feet. The shower didn't drain. They had to come back twice to bring extra towels for Alex and Zoltan. They said they would bring a folding cot for one of the kids to sleep on - the other would have the couch - and that never happened. When we tried to use the pool it took half an hour to find someone to take our money and bring towels (yes, again with the towels!).
At breakfast the next morning Zoltan threw the most monstrous mighty fit. I tremble for his teenage years. That certainly wasn't anyone's fault, but it was in keeping with the tenor of the weekend. At that point we were mostly just done. Knowing we needed to eat before getting on the road, we stopped at a cafe that looked open. After unsuccessfully trying to order about half a dozen different things only to be told each time they were out we finally got one of each item they did have, and it was surprisingly good. Additionally surprising was the fact that the kids tried all the unfamiliar dishes without complaint and even each chose a favorite.
Lest it sound too complain-y, there were some highlights and fun times. Conveniently located right next to our hotel room door was a comfortable couch, where Terry and I retreated when the kids went to sleep. He had brought some bourbon and I had a brought some wine. It was lovely.
A few weeks ago [more than a month now] we went, with a whole passel of folks from the embassy, on an overnight trip to Borovoe. We have been to Borovoe a couple of times and it is a treat. However, this trip was a disaster from the start.
First the hotel that had been booked cancelled all reservations with a week's notice and for no reason.
The second hotel apparently tried to cancel the reservations the night before. The poor coordinator of the trip nearly pulled all her hair out.
We are always early to everything, so between being early and the people who were late we ended up waiting 45 minutes in the embassy parking lot to caravan with the group. We're idiots. And because we waited so long, rather than scooting up there in just over 2 hours as we know we can, we had to do a pit stop on the way for a bathroom break. Except the bathroom was an outhouse and everything was all frozen. Alex is not cut out for third world life and let's just say it was a tough decision for her, attempting the frozen squatter or peeing her pants. (Let's just say I am happy with the decision she made).
When we arrived lunch was waiting. Except it was all full of dairy. And it was "impossible" to have anything else (nevermind the vegetarian in the group did manage to score a different meal) The only saving grace was that, being all Russian-y, the meal started with soup - that was safe for Alex to eat - and she was full by the end of it. After having just spent 3.5 hours in the car we planned to stick close to the hotel and find something hill-like for sledding for the afternoon.
Somehow we ended up agreeing to join the group heading to the "ski resort" that had "good hills for sledding" and was "only 15 minutes away". Adding in getting lost time, it was more like 30 minutes. Given we were already frustrated and car-ed out, every extra minute was a minute too much. And then we got there. It was the saddest little place, one run that was barely downhill and a rope tow that made the rope tows of my youth look fancy. The kids could sled if we gave a good push and had a relay of adults giving an extra nudge on the way "down". There was a group who had planned to go snowmobiling, as this "resort" advertised it. There was one snowmobile. They took turns going on 10 minute rides.
At the hotel we were on the 4th floor, walk up, so we got some much needed exercise during the trip. The room was large, I'll give that to them, but felt like it was crumbling under our feet. The shower didn't drain. They had to come back twice to bring extra towels for Alex and Zoltan. They said they would bring a folding cot for one of the kids to sleep on - the other would have the couch - and that never happened. When we tried to use the pool it took half an hour to find someone to take our money and bring towels (yes, again with the towels!).
At breakfast the next morning Zoltan threw the most monstrous mighty fit. I tremble for his teenage years. That certainly wasn't anyone's fault, but it was in keeping with the tenor of the weekend. At that point we were mostly just done. Knowing we needed to eat before getting on the road, we stopped at a cafe that looked open. After unsuccessfully trying to order about half a dozen different things only to be told each time they were out we finally got one of each item they did have, and it was surprisingly good. Additionally surprising was the fact that the kids tried all the unfamiliar dishes without complaint and even each chose a favorite.
Lest it sound too complain-y, there were some highlights and fun times. Conveniently located right next to our hotel room door was a comfortable couch, where Terry and I retreated when the kids went to sleep. He had brought some bourbon and I had a brought some wine. It was lovely.
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