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Published: June 14th 2009
WE ARE OUT OF RUSSIA NO PROBLEMS YOU WILL HEAR MORE AS WE DO THE BLOGS
· The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. - Saint Augustine
May 25, 2009, Monday Riga, Latvia, we go to the Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum. We tried using the GPS to get to the Open Air Museum, and “she” was doing find until I saw an underpass ahead with a clearance of 2.8 meters, we are 3.8 meters!!! “Bob we can’t do this stop, stop!” Monday morning traffic jam…and commuters loved us backing up and Maureen out directing traffic to stop, while Bob turned around, what fun!! Going through the city was the only way to do it, so off we went, following our friends. The GPS can be wonderful, but she doesn’t know how BIG we are.
Dozens of farmhouses, churches and windmills on the grounds of the Open Air Museum, provide a record of bygone country life. It was a lovely sunny day and we meandered along the paths of the pine forest. Each region of Latvia is represented and the homesteads have been re-erected characterizing the past.
The Lutheran Church Kurzeme was certainly a highlight with its wooden structure, lovely painted ceilings, ornate pulpit, even
with a wooden hand reaching out and holding a candle for the reader.
The Dutch Windmill was quite interesting; it powered two grain grinding stones, quite a sophisticated machine for the time.
The Vidzeme Spinning Wheel-makers Homestead was also fascinating. The house included a spindle lave to make spindles for chairs and spinning wheels, and of course, a large heater, and living space.
Tomorrow we leave to meet the group of RV’s going into Russia. So it is time to clean up, do laundry, get water, shop, etc. etc.
May 26, 2009, Tuesday from Riga City, Latvia, to, the border town, Zilupe, Latvia.
It was a long drive as Tom and Judy, Bob and Maureen worked their way out of Riga and east to Zilupe. It was a long drive to Zilupe: and the line of traffic, lots and lots of trucks, and some cars, going into Russia was incredible. Several truckers offered to sell us their spot in line?! We won’t go into Russia until tomorrow.
After 5+hours of driving we went into the small town of Zilupe and found many French RV’s and people. These are the folks we will be
traveling with for the next 16 days. There are 15 RV’s… 1 Italian, 2 American, and the rest French. So the communication is all in French and we are at a loss. We came upon this group by chance, not by plan. We do hope the trip is more organized than this.
So our night was spent in a parking area behind a food store.
May 27, 2009, Wednesday, Zilupe, Latvia to Nelidovo, Russia. “Ugo”, our Italian Leader, of “saintpetersbourgo”, arrived about 7 AM, and began with directions (in French). This is an Italian company, organizing a trip to Russia for mostly French…what is wrong with this picture? We don’t speak French. So the paper work began, all necessary to cross the border into Russia. You wouldn’t believe.
The convoy left the town of Zilupe, and we began our wait in the long line to cross the border. After two hours, we were snagged because of wording on the title, Dodge was understood, Winnebago was not. It was then we realized this was not the Russian Border, but the exit from Latvia?!? It will be a long day.
In line before 8 AM and it
Ancient windmill.
They were way ahead of usis now 12:30 and we are just out of Latvia! That was the easy part… on to Russia. In the US we have 50 states, each with it’s own rules and regulations. “Why no front car plate?” asks the border guard. That’s the way it is done in PA. “All cars must have front car number!” So we sat and waited as everyone reviewed our passports, Russian visa, car insurance, car title, registration, etc. etc. Eventually we got papers stamped, and stamped. Sign here, sign here,… OK (They may own my house by now)
Seven, let me repeat Seven Hours later we crossed into Russia!! It is time to begin our journey to Nelidovo, a stop before Moscow, 350 kilometers.
The roads in Poland now look good, the road to Moscow from Zilupe, (and there is only one, sort of paved) is awful, terrible and should not exist as a road… 360 Kilometers of HELL. Are we having fun yet?
It has been one long stressful day. There are 14 RV’s traveling with us and as we finished a road repair, washboard, pothole stretch … a fellow RV’er had a blow out! Of course, we stopped, got
on our bright green vests and tried to help. Most of our US equipment does not fit the European vehicle, so we just directed traffic on this miserable dirt road.
Entering Russia, we gained another hour, so it is even later than we think… and we think it is late, late. Nelidovo is just a blip on the map, but it is home for tonight. A campground behind the hotel, we ordered a meal but are too tired to enjoy it. We are in Russia!
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Joan Roolf
non-member comment
From England
We just got home from a rugged day on the roads of Southern England complaining. Round abouts, narrow roads, heavy traffic! And the places they expect you to ride bicycles! Hell on wheels! But reading your blog we had to laugh, and it felt good. Now we are anxious to read the rest of your story of Russia. Be safe!