I have crossed the Russian border so many times that I really can not count them. Most of the time I do not say anything as I leave the country of Russia. I come and go from Russia and you never know it. That is because I get a one year multi-entry visa and I can come and go as I please. Being an American I also have to leave once every 90 days and I can come straight back. I just have to cross the border and turn around and get my stamp in my passport. Then go home and register. It makes it nice and easy any more…
I am hearing of reports of issues getting visas to Russia for people living in America and some are telling me that it has to do with the adoption and blacklist issues that is a mini war between Russia and America. Stupid is what I say it is…
So enough of that small talk and lets get on to what I am writing about: Crossing the Russian Border…
It is this simple…
Crossing Russian Border to go to Turkey: Two metal detectors (One at airport entrance and one at International border crossing!) and some grouchy looking Russian women. Shoes stay on feet by the way. The grouchy Russian women are the scariest part for me. I live around them and know all about them… 🙂
Crossing Border into Turkey: Best way to do that after you make sure that you get your visa that costs $20, is to dance for joy. They wave you through and you have to stop dancing long enough to get your passport stamped. They never even looked at my picture in the passport and smiled big, as I danced across the border with no issues. Man that $20 dollars sure paved the way…
Crossing Border back out of Turkey: No dancing now and water bottles not allowed at second metal detector. One metal detector at front entrance and one at border. No bomb sniffing machines at anytime of the border crossings and no one swiped luggage and put chemicals into my drinks as I tried to enjoy a coffee. In fact I only said not to dance, because I was too tired at this point to dance. I could have and they would have been happy…
Crossing Border at Russia from Turkey: Now no dancing even if you are in the mood. This is Russia and now it is time to get serious. Dancing is just not correct at a Russian Border. Once again grouchy Russian women rule the roost and they do not like flirting and for that fact Sveta would get tough with me if I flirted, so better just save flirting for after the border. Bottom line frown and look grouchy and crossing a Russian border is easy to do. The Russian border guards will look at your passport picture and will stare at your face to make sure that it looks like you. (Smiles are not a good thing to do!) I am an expert at both frowning and being grouchy, so I do great. Walk in through the green line and zippy. Back in Russia, no hassle and no issues…
That is the only way to fly and if you have to do anything more than what I just did, well you are in the wrong place and country…
Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…