Last night it was raining. At 4 p.m. it rained very heavily when I got up due to the noise of rain falling on tin shades of houses around. I pushed back to sleep and finally got up at 8 a.m. Then I went for breakfast after a good hot water shower which I missed a lot at Boris Home. Breakfast consisted of rice, boiled milk like thin kheer, one stuffed cheese wrap, one piece of bread with a piece of cheese and piece of salad on it, coffee and a packet of chocolate. I ate it well except the chocolate and returned to the receptionist. Marina came and I asked her to use a computer. She allowed me to use her personal computer and helped me in printing Rail Bookings for tomorrow from Sochi to Balanslar and after one hour to Kiev. These are two different trains. I have to present these one hour before at the ticket counter and proper tickets will be issued from there to me. Mariana asked me to pay 100 US $ instead of 3600 roubles and going for exchange. This is a big relief otherwise I have to go to city and change it which includes extra cost of Taxi. I came back to the room and then had a nap.
1.30 p.m. : It has been raining heavily with loud thunder and lightening since one hour. One cannot go out and I am sitting at the reception writing this diary. Marina is from Armenia. This is a family run hotel. Dining area for eating is a maker lift tents but nicely erected. Reception is small but comfortable.
Yesterday afternoon, the rain stopped at 2.30 p.m. and then I went out. This is a hilly area. Roads are in broken condition. Lots of big buildings for hotels are coming up. They are preparing for 2014 Winter Olympic Games. I saw young persons with Godke and bear bottles and one or two drunk also.Not friendly in behavior. Some shops are there. Road became slushy due to rain water and road with pot holes. I walked to the left counting the land marks. I did not want to lose my way. There is a small veg market run by men only. A big shop like mini market full of Godka bottles displayed outside. I could see from my hotel also but the beach must be far away. I returned to the hotel.
Now is the sunshine and clear sky. I sat on the internet and wrote for an hour but due to all instructions in Russian lost everything. I downloaded railway tickets from Sochi to Balanslar and from there to Kiev. It will reach Kiev in the evening of 30th which is Saturday. It is not a good time to go. There is Euro Football Cup Semi finals in Kiev on 2nd July and all accommodation are booked. One HI hostel showed 69 Euro per day for one bed during next 3 days in a dormitory of 8 or 11 beds. I sent Hostel phone numbers to Himanshu. Later I got a mail from him saying that he could not get connection.
Mariana brought lunch for me in the room. It was consisted of Borch Soup, bread, fried Potatoes with some mushrooms, tomato and onion salad. Borch soup was also veg dish and not any meat. It was more than enough for me. She also brought dinner which was consisted of two sausages with some ketchup, spaghetti, tea and bread. Later I asked her the price. She refused to take any money. In the hotel, there is no restaurant except the breakfast which is cooked and served. Mariana brought lunch and dinner from her home kitchen. I was waiting for Himanshu’s phone call till 11 p.m. when I come back to the room. The weather is cool now.
Mariana told me that taxi has been booked for 7.30 a.m. and it will charge 300 Roubles. I had no roubles and so I requested her to give me change for 20 US $. She checked the rate and gave me 630 roubles.
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