Day 36 : 27th June, 2012- Yerevan to Sochi in Russia

8.00 a.m. :  It has just rained a bit and still cloudy. I will go for breakfast at 9.00 a.m. after getting ready.  Boris and his grandma said, I can stay till evening and no need to go out. I am not going out except to Pankaj’s house for lunch. Boris also told me that it would cost 2000 dram (5$) for a taxi to go to the Airport and its just at 20 minutes away.
I will work on the internet and should complete all write ups till today.

7.35 p.m.:  I am sitting at gate No.2 of the Yerevan Airport waiting for flight to Sochi. As per the schedule the flight should board at 7.40 p.m. I was feeling hungry and was left with some money.  I ate a muffin and bought a small packet of Juice for 1200 dram. Taxi charged 2000 dram and I exchanged 5 US $ at the Super market before coming.

Airport, Yerevan

I packed my big Rucksack and left a few things. 450 gm bottle of tomato Sauce which I did use till now, dry sweet Amala (may be of 250 gms), the sheet sleeping bag, yellow cotton T-Shirt, Sweater.  May be 1 kg less weight. Now the weight is 12 kg (at the airport counter). I was invited for lunch at Pankaj Saxena’s house. I did write some diary but no internet work. Breakfast today was beans and potatoes, veg curry, bread, cheese, butter, fried circular pieces of another veg. with lots of coriander on it.  It was good and filling also.

In the day time Himanshu phoned. He’d booked another day in the hotel and tried to book train to Kiev on 29th but it is full. The agency will give another route to him. He will also try to get accommodation in Kiev Hostel.  Probably there is one Semi Final match of Euro Football Cup at Kiev and that’s why  all trains and accommodation is booked. I reached Pankaj’s house and he phoned me. He was on his way to house.  Mrs. Richa Saxena has cooked Kari and Rice, veg. Beans and potatoes, chapatti, lougi of tomato. I ate well and then we chatted in the drawing room. He had to go at 2.15 p.m. His driver and car had come. They dropped me at Boris home. Pankaj will find out who is at Ukraine Indian Embassy. Later he phoned me and told the name of Khan as CDA and one Amit Verma. Nishi phoned me twice. She is on bus today but told Vikas to phone me.  Later Vikas phoned me and told that he is in touch with Ajay Bisaria’s Office and he has advised to send a mail to Ukraine Indian Embassy to help in getting transit visa to Moldova.

The flight is supposed to leave at 8.20 p.m. May be late by few minutes.

I started working on the internet and sent one day (29th day’s) write up.

30th Day I write partly and sent a mail.  I will complete it tomorrow.  I don’t know if some food will be given in the flight or not.I have completed successfully the 3rd part of my travel to Azerbaizan, Georgia and Armenia. Now three countries segment of Russia (South), Ukraine and Moldova. I spoke to Bayastan in Bishkek. He was happy. I also said hello to Moret in Ashgabat but there was not enough money left in the sim card. I spoke to Hamo, my Armenian friend and thanked him for all the help.

Taxi came at 6.15 p.m. Boris grandmother Juneja and other lady who also stays there, affectionately bade me goodbye.  They kept on saying something in Russian may be come back again and I said Dassadoiva.

Taxi stopped at the supermarket and I changed 5 US $ into dram to pay to the driver. Yerevan Airport is newly built. It is small but good. I paid 2000 dram to the taxi driver. The airport is quite far from the city. Check in was quick and easy. There were few shops. Then immigration control.  At the check in counter my right and left index finger prints were taken.  Immigration was also quick. There was no rush.  1-4 gates sitting were in a big hall. I was still left over by 1400 dram. The flight left at 9.00 p.m., 40 minutes late.  It was a normal flight. Cheese burger, tomato juice and tea were served to me.

Sochi airport is also small. It was dark and could not see much.  We got down and came to the main building by Bus. Immigration took time as there were few counters and everyone has to go through them. I collected my bag. A young school girl was sitting by my side in the plane. She knew English. She was keen to come to India when she grows up. I was happy to know that. Her father was also teacher of Chemistry in Russia.

Baggage was X-rayed and I came out side. There was no Exchange Counter. One person told me that it would cost me 60 US $ to reach the hotel. I went up the stairs on the departure side to see any exchange counter was there. Everything was closed.  It was 11 p.m. After that one person told me that 30 US $ will be amount for taxi. I agreed to that considering the circumstances. This person guided me to a nearby place where many private taxis were parked. One driver agreed to come.  

I drove through the Sochi. The airport is very far from the Sochi Town. Driver stopped after 40 minutes drive and told me that this was your hotel Moritz Spa but I compared it with Russian words for my hotel on the print out. It was different. I told him this is not the place. Now he took this paper and went to a taxi driver to ask. He came back. He drove another 5-7 minutes and found the hotel within a number of buildings around. It was past 12 night.

There was a woman at the counter. She saw my booking and noted passport details and gave me R.No.05 on 1st floor. I asked her if I can get coffee. After sometime she brought a big cup of coffee and two wraps. It was filling. This room is good.  A large and cushioned bed, T.V., a sofa, wardrobes, a big balcony. Seems perfect. I ate and then went to sleep.

I could feel the sea water on my left side while dining on the road. There was good illumination at different stretches of road.  I told that I will pay tomorrow after getting the exchange done.