Amazing story of ingenuity and perseverance of a man who loves his family.
Background:
conceived with his wife to take your Christmas and New Year holidays.Tired of homemade Christmas feast.Considered in principle several options.A trip to tropical countries fell away just as our child was not yet two years old, and the sudden change of climate with frost on our St. Petersburg's sultry heat is not good for acclimatization would affect the child.
So we decided to visit the Scandinavian countries.Initially going by car with friends in northern Finland, were previously at Buckingham hotel booking, but in early December during the first heavy snowfall on my oncoming flew an old Skoda, which spun a failed maneuver, and received minor damage in the form of split bumper and a small dentwing drive your own car turned out to be unworkable.
Therefore Poryskav on the internet and stumbled on an interesting proposal, we decided to go on the ferry Tallink Silja Line «Victoria 1" Christmas Cruise "five capitals of the Baltic Sea" with a visit to Tallinn, Riga, Stockholm and Helsinki.Pay at the end of December minute to study the program, began to collect things.Ferry was scheduled for 02.01.13, the
I want to add that in addition to his wife and small daughter we decided to go with my two daughters-twins from his first marriage.They have 20 years, so we have issued two cabins class "A" that would feel comfortable and free.Cabin Class "A" located on the upper deck, have a shower, toilet and a window overlooking the sea.The difference between our cabin and cabin elder daughters were only in bed - we have a large double bed, the older twin daughters.
Insurance and visas have been issued in advance, the money was put on the card VISA, part was exchanged for euros, suitcases packed, in general, for the trip we were ready.Ordered on the eve of the taxi arrived a half hour before the designated time, the ferry landing.
Arriving at the Sea Port of St. Petersburg to the terminal "Marine Facade" passed registration in organizing trip travel company, traded vouchers stickers in passports giving the right of way on the ferry, as well as electronic keys to the cabins, we moved the passage of border passport control.And here is the beginning of "unforeseen difficulties".
were several checkpoints, standing in two lines, we are almost in parallel with the older children came to the windows passport control, one daughter, my wife and I in another.It so happened that I went to the window last, my family, in full, has proved to be outside the boundaries of the Russian Federation, and I just gave the passport to verify an employee of our valiant Border Service.
Anxiety I visited when the border guard looked my passport and comparing data from the electronic database began to call somewhere on the phone.I'm not a criminal, criminal and administrative cases for me no not a number, a passport and a Schengen visa is issued legally by the Federal Migration Service and the Consulate of Spain, so I was initially convinced that this is a small formality.
However, after five minutes of waiting, when the stupid "Nothing happened," I asked the border guard: "What's all the same thing?".He received a spatial response, saying that is a mark Marshals Service, and you are forbidden to leave the territory of the Russian Federation may be unpaid traffic police fines, taxes can - sort it out themselves they say.Now comes the shift supervisor, and if nothing changes after verifying their information, it will return the passport to you.It took another two or three minutes, and the border guard with epaulets of lieutenant came to me with an expression of "deep regret" told me officially that my trip was covered with a copper basin.No arguments about that and I have no idea about any kind of judicial decisions and the presence of any debts to our wonderful state does not.The answer was one - is forbidden to travel abroad, to deal with bailiffs.
On behalf of my wife and children was painful to watch.The planned pre-trip, on which there were so many plans, was in jeopardy.With difficulty persuading his wife and older children to climb on to the ferry landing, passing them all the money and credit cards, I made a promise to them by any means to join them on the road.Frankly, I had no idea at the time, I'll do it.
time was around 18:00 02.01.13 was rushed out in his pocket 5.000 rubles.and passport (all things were in one large suitcase and went with my family on board the ferry), I caught a taxi and rushed home.From the port to the house I was 40 minutes away, turned on the computer and began to scour the Internet, looking for options for "illegally" crossing the border.
Way, in principle, there was only one - through Belarus.Russia has no passport with Belarus.Calling friends who confirmed that Belarus can be reached by the Civil Russian passport, I was on the site of one of the airlines saw a flight to Minsk from Pulkovo at 20:40.Before departure was less than 1:30.
think it was actually once rummaged in the backstreets of cupboards and shelves, I found the latter was still home to 12,000 rubles.Jumping out of the home, on the phone to call a taxi from the landing site to the nearest public transport.
After 10 minutes, I went to the airport Pulkovo.30 minutes before departure, before reaching the box office, probably bought the last ticket to Minsk.Registration is now over, and the ticket clerk calls the front desk that I would be missed.Once running, stand up, passport, boarding pass, and here I am on board the Boeing 737 Belarusian airlines.Plane jam, empty seats there, I could see were lucky to grab the last ticket, but can someone and passed before the departure.Instruction in three languages, Russian, Belarusian and English with a slight accent Belarusian, off, drinks and after 1:30 landing in Minsk.I National Airport Belarus, with 10,000 rubles in his pocket, and unclear prospects of the route to the Baltic countries.
The ticket office manages to learn about nature in the absence of flights from Minsk to Tallinn to Riga flight there, but only the next day and only in Business Class.Money is not enough.I turn roaming and call my friend, classmate, with whom I studied in St. Petersburg in the distant 90th.After a brief explanation, and attempts to find travel options intercity bus or train, I understand that the chance to get to the Baltic states, only one - on the machine.While my friend ring up friends and relatives who want to get out after the holiday table, and take me to Tallinn (theoretically there is still time, Minsk time 22:00 ride almost 800 km., And before the arrival of the ferry in Tallinn for more than 12 hours, prior to departurefrom Tallinn to Riga even more, as much as 20 hours), I go to the local taxi drivers can find out who will take me.
However, my enthusiasm for the upcoming route they have not caused, especially in the first few who have had a visa, and secondly the presence of even only 10,000 Russian rubles (Br 2.850.000) and assurances that in TallinnI finally calculate their not very inspired.Hope was only friend and his friends.
And lo and behold there was one, who wants to earn.And after a few minutes of phone conversation with him I was able to agree on the 1000 American rubles, provided that all that I have, I give to him immediately, and the rest on arrival in Tallinn.
mild anxiety came when Nicholas was the name of the owner called me take Toyota Yaris, come with me to the airport just in the morning, although in his words get to the airport he had 20-30 minutes.Explain such a long delay, and I counted every hour, in fact depended on time to I in Tallinn, or should be considered after all Riga end point of my route, forgetfulness of the passport and the need to return to the halfway him home, Nicholas took me 10,000 rubleswe are drinking coffee, we hit the road.
Navigator and map it did not have.Periodically sozvanivayas with his wife, he refined the route, how to ride, but has repeatedly insisted that he knows the way, not just in the Baltic States went.I do not know what the motives of my driver Nicholas were to decide to go in the direction of Orsha, just know that until I insisted on buying a gas station Lukoil map Belarus and surrounding areas, we have continued to drive a couple of hours would reach the border with Russia in the areaSmolensk, which is absolutely not part of my plans.Obmateril Belarusian negligent driver Nicholas and looked at the map, we went in the direction of Vitebsk and further to Novopolotsk.Having extra total of 400 km.I said goodbye to the hope to have time to get to Tallinn.
And then I waited for the next disappointment.Driver Nikolai suddenly began to moan and complain about the bad state of health, telling me how he went through for New Year's table and complaining about their greed, which forced him to go on this trip.On the road to Vitebsk, he begged me to sit behind the wheel, stopping just 10, after every 20-30 km., He came out and scared his roar roadside ditches, as well as those who are in hibernation small rodents.
At about 9:00 01.03.13, we got to the Latvian border.The driver was still me.To win the red-green barrier was less than 100 meters.My ferry had been to stay in Tallinn.And then Nikolai surprised me even more.Like in his desire to get behind the wheel was not surprising, however, exchanging places with me, he said that he was very ill, and he would not go further.He gave me 2,000 rubles and said that I would come out of the car and get on as I please.And my problem in general it is no longer interested.My indignation knew no bounds, but all the exhortations of the fact that the agreement to take me to Tallinn or Riga on his part not carried out, and accordingly the payment of such amount, and can be no question, the results were not given, and besides, if I mymove on and go to Riga, it is 300 km., and even overnight in Riga, as my ferry to Riga resides only in the morning of 01/04/13 I need at least 7-8 thousand.I offered to take Nicholas 3,000, give me 7000 and promised to smuggle through his friend 500 American rubles for delivery to the border with Latvia as soon as I get back to St. Petersburg.However, my Belarusian driver Nicholas was adamant, suggested that I would always "throw" and threw his words and his life so often and rudely suggested that I leave it is already tired of the presence of my car.
What was I to do with 2,000 rubles on the border of Belarus and Latvia for 300 kilometers.to Riga, and with the prospect of spending the night in one of the most beautiful cities in the Baltic?The decision came like lightning.As I sat in the passenger seat next to Nicholas and design features of the vehicle Toyota Yaris (thanks to the Japanese designers) the ignition key was in my hand, I just took it out and slamming the door, walking toward the border post.Behind came a groan of whether, or the howling of Nicholas: "Hey, podozhdiiiiii ...".And then I felt master of the situation.Writing out the prospect of Nikolai search keys from the car in nearby snowdrifts, and possibly waiting spring flood, I offered to go back to my scheme of calculation.Leaving himself 3,000 rubles, with an expression of unspeakable suffering Nikolai words gave me the rest of the money in exchange for his keys.The more I did not see him and moved on without looking back.
remaining path does not make sense to paint the details.After border control with the Belarusian and Latvian side, I turned to couples in right-hand drive Toyota with Moscow numbers.They went to Jurmala and kindly agreed to drop me off in Riga.Almost free, put yourself in my position and asked only 500 rubles for a bottle of cognac.My suggestions then send them money or transfer to their mobile phone, they politely refused.
We arrived to Riga in the afternoon, in the region of 14:00.By changing the remaining rubles for lats, I found a cheap hotel near the scene of the arrival of my ferry, bought food and waking up the next morning, a hearty breakfast at the hotel (continental breakfast) by 09:00 of 01/04/13 met his family on the dock port of Riga.Further, all of the previously scheduled program.Riga - steam - Stockholm - ferry - Helsinki - Ferry - St. Petersburg.In general, everything was cool.
main thing I took away from this trip - there are no hopeless situations, and the desire to be close to my family can overcome any obstacles.And yet - check before you travel abroad in any way their movement restrictions, it can save you from you from unexpected problems.Good luck to all!
Rushik
Articles Source: yaplakal.com
