Thursday, 25 March 2010 18:49
Dear Carre,
I hear that your family will soon be taking another long trip across Ukraine. Is this true?
~Muddy in Maine
Dear Muddy,
Why yes it is true. In fact, we leave Krasnodar the 29th of March, the better to cross the border before our visas expire at the end of the month.
Best Regards,
Carre
Dear Carre,
Why Kiev? Is it because you like that city so much?
~Needs-to-Know in New York
Dear Needs,
Oh, absolutely, we just can't get enough of Ukraine. I mean, who can? We especially love the police there, and consider it our special privilege to give them gifts of money every hour or so of the trip, when they stop us to give friendly reminders that something with our vehicle documents is not quite up to code. Second only to the police perhaps, is the state of the roads, which renders night driving an impossibility, due to frequent potholes the size of small lakes, and a complete absence of reflectors or other markers. We will truly be sorry to leave these delights behind us when we reach Kiev, which is a fairly modern city and therefore, in all the respects that count, pretty boring.
On the other hand, we hope to have the chance to check out some local ministries, and to work with them a bit during our month there.
Best Regards,
Carre
Dear Carre,
Tell me, what is the well-dressed traveller packing these days, for a trip to Kiev?
~New England Novice
Dear Novice,
I'm glad you asked that. The truly well-prepared traveller to Ukraine knows that it is prudent to pack light. For example, one wants to be able to see out of the rear window when driving, and to avoid carrying excess baggage on top of the car, if possible. (This attracts our friends, the police, and makes them inclined to pull us over and ask questions.) This is not to mention that one may also pick up a good deal or two at an art or souvenier rinok along the way, and want room to bring it home comfortably.
This time of year, one prepares for mud: winter coats and boots, but not other snow gear, and ideally one brings only what clothes and toiletries he can carry in his own backpack, trusting that there will be a washing machine at his destination. When such a traveller is planning to be in Kiev an entire month, he may also want to pack a variety of family games: Settlers of Catan, Monopoly, Skip-Bo and Set are recommended, as well as a regular deck of playing cards, a cribbage board and a copy of Hoyle's Book of Rules for card games. Please don't neglect to bring your entire collection of movies with you, although you have seen every one of them ten times already. They are apt to look fresh and fascinating to you all over again, around Day 11.
Do not forget the things you will need for the road trip itself. Paramount among these is a supply of purse-sized toilet paper and antibacterial wipes, for restrooms along the way that may be ill-equipped in these areas. Snackage is good for the driver, preferrably low-fat, high-carb options like fruit, crackers and croutons. Be sure to pack several liters of water and a water bottle apiece for the horde in the back seat. iPods with a variety of music and audiobooks are a must-have. If you are riding shotgun, you will want to bring that book of crossword puzzles your aunt sent you a few months ago, your borrowed copy of David Copperfield, and your handheld Tetris game. Perhaps on this trip, you can beat your all-time high of 550 lines.
If you are a homeschooler, you may by now be tired of lugging entire cases of homeschool materials across Europe, and may be ready to consider the following suggestion instead: Scrap the books; take along plenty of pencils, erasers, paper and a laptop, and run a month-long Writing Camp, in which you accomplish all the writing activities your sons have neglected to do heretofore in the school year. Consider it Paying the Piper for them, and a month of No School Worries for yourself.
I truly hope this will be of some use to you. Happy travelling!
Best Regards,
Carre
Dear Carre,
When will you be back in Russia?
~Concerned in Connecticut
Dear Concerned,
Our new visas should take effect on May 1st. In a funny twist of coincidence, Mr. Gardner's good friend Kostya is getting married on May 2nd, and has asked Mr. Gardner to be part of the wedding. As the wedding will be held in a little village about 6 hours from Krasnodar, we will plan to cross the Russian border at 00:10 on May 1st, and make it home by 7 a.m. or so. I and the children will unpack and clean out the car while Mr. Gardner catches a few hours of much-needed sleep before rising to hit the road--wedding bound--that same afternoon. These are the kinds of little details that keep us so amused in our otherwise monotonous day-to-day lives.
Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement as the adventure continues.
Best Regards,
Carre
