discounted carnival cruises
hello. My name is Anton, I am 25 years old, 5 years of driving experience, originally from St. Petersburg, fellow traveler, as well as my soul mate in one person the name of Light, 25 years old. Decided to write a short story about his journey by car from St. Petersburg
Bulgaria (Sunny Beach), about the various intricacies encountered, as well as for people who are also thinking about a trip, but a little skeptical.
Just admit that it was my first travel outside of Russia.
health insurance (250-300 rubles, if memory serves), further processing of the Bulgarian visa, which we did on the basis of invitation (from relatives have property in Bulgaria).
us 2600 rubles per person (1600 USD .- Visa, 1000. consular fee), as well
( "Green Card" - the same as OSAGO, only for abroad, without her even in Belarus, is
1600 rubles), and sold at the entrance to the border, but we bothered advance. Visa to Romania do not need to transit through Bulgarian visa, with the rest of us visa-free regime.
7400 rub.
Carefully look for documents, names, dates and other data, so you do not have any problem. I have a visa issued to an error in name, said only at home. When called to the visa center, explained to me
that allowed up to 3 errors, but out of harms away trip to the Embassy of Bulgaria and 15 minutes
made a new one. Just before the trip for greater confidence in the road bought a navigator,
already rolled back cards across Europe, USA and Russia - have not regretted, but
just in case, also proved useful. The route looked like this:
Darankulak - Balchik - Varna - Sunny Beach - beer, sea))
So lets begin. Forgot to say, the machine
1.4, 2008, was a bit broken (cracked bumper, crumpled wing), read at the forum that we should take a copy of the certificate of an accident. Just take 20 liter
canister of gasoline. And now lets begin.
2009 at 3 oclock in the morning to avoid the morning gardeners. On Friday after work began to gather on the sea. Before
could not, therefore, left for 1 hours earlier, drove to the store and gas station at the end of 3 hours 00 min. Moscow time, left the city. In the Pskov region run into the first Policemen,
in the countryside at speeds 110kmch,
pay did not, wrote in the report that went 60kmch, as well as that on the radar no control filling (it really was not)
and to send it to AP residence, still is)))
. Where is about 7 am arrived at the city of Nevel, Pskov region (the border town with Belarus), the same effect to the following
refueling of cars, as
Prices for July-August 2009 at a cost of Euro -45 rubles.
After refueling began to keep the path on the Belarusian border on the navigator, but then he let us down (only once), we have
- The horse will lose, right - you will find happiness, forward
... "). Navigator confident we pointed out that our path should be straight, even a sign saying: "Smolensk, toll road, we are not confused, just remember that Belarus is very good reviews on the road, probably because of this they are paid. So we went, but after 50 kilometers. began to worry because the border has already had to be. Passing another 15 km.
saw a booth with a barrier (of thought - thats the border), but riding up close and studied the signs understood that drove up to the paid section of road to Smolensk. In the very same booth we were told
that you can go for 2-3 miles back and not reaching a small bridge, turn left, there is a forest road 50-60 km. and we in Belarus. So they did, the road changed from asphalt poor quality of groomed sand and back, but we will not pay attention, our thoughts were only of Bulgaria, sea and sand. But our thoughts are dispelled abandoned customs post in the woods. Approaching closer, leaned his head out the window of a customs officer with the words: "As you were here? . explained. Gave us a stamp in the passport, and we are already in Belarus.
Later began the asphalt, and soon we left the track. In Belarus, at the wheel, I rested, bright sun, the road quality is very good, better education of drivers, the route is similar to our Scandinavian countries, but also for overtaking I did not even have to go to the oncoming lane,
because all the drivers, seeing the car traveling faster advance took little to the right on the asphalt indentation. From such a monotonous road I pulled into a dream, and if we remember that before the hour the way I do not dozed off, my body could understand, but do not want to stop, especially because of a doping was in the form of energy. It cheered me. Rode bright enough
140 160kmch.
The way I warned that Belarus is a lot of hidden cameras, and the positions prescribed
fines, more than in Russia, and agree not work, they have a good salary but for a place to stay. I was lucky, but better play it safe). Also from Belarus noticed changes in the cost of mobile communication, the cost of SMS was 20 rubles, and 1 minute, almost 100 rubles. Belarus flying in the same breath, after the bosses Gomel (in rubles), as there was a Ukrainian border and petrol will be even more expensive. By the border of Belarus-Ukraine arrived about 15 hours of the day.
away from the border guards asked me a receipt for payment of the fee (buy it at the entrance, is 160 rubles, I was not there as I drove through the woods)), but its not a problem and I paid for it when leaving. After passing 500 meters, reaching the Ukrainian customs.
On entry to Ukraine stood for about an hour, during which time completed the questionnaire, which is the type declaration.
At the exit turn times in 3 was more than we do.
Enter Ukraine and a miracle, we woke up navigator, who in the territory of Belarus did not show any roads, only wrote about the absence of satellites, there
we understand why he sent us on the toll road to Smolensk. The mood has improved, but then spoiled his meeting with Ukrainian traffic policemen on the bypass Chernigov, shape the way they differ, white shirt, light beige trousers, similar to the U.S., why would))? Radar recorded the testimony of the velocity 135kmchas. I read the traffic rules in Ukraine are different from ours and showed the table of penalties. From them I learned: that the settlements allowed speed 60kmch, outside the city
90kmch.,
for excess to 20kmch - no, from 20 to 50kmch - from 700 to 1500 rubles (approximately) over 50kmch --
(do not remember exactly), or 15 days of corrective labor (such as janitor, etc.) by a court. Had to negotiate, to bargain did not, for 1000 rubles agreed. Then I was told that most are in towns, sometimes even at 2 along (we counted in a village just 4!), But are also found on tracks like these. Conclusion: the settlements are going 80kmch, outside the city 110kmch
and then we are not afraid of nobody. In 18 hours
we moved to Kiev (1250 km. from St. Petersburg and you could say half way to Bulgaria), here we rescued the navigator, without him we would wander till dawn, a great city, beautiful motion as Moscow.
Kiev in 19 hours, the street was getting dark (it will not "white nights", we can safely say "black night"). Route Kiev-Odessa, broad bands of 4.5 to one side, stretching 600 km.
movement also bodrenkoe and, consequently, traffic policemen were dark. Somewhere in the middle of the road its time to do regular refueling the car, immediately tell the ruble is not run, the euro, too - just hryvnia (1 hryvnia = 3.5 rubles) or cards (not everywhere). We refueled in rubles, but not a very good rate (for 4 rubles per 1 hryvnia), well, never mind going on. To the border with Moldova remained
400 km.,
about which there is nothing special to tell, because in such darkness, only look at the road to
rotations which I had been prepared by Navigator - is another plus, seeing the way the night on it and understand in advance what will turn some degrees. You probably say, but where I was resting on the road, but unfortunately I have no advice, as
traveled 1500 km. I did not do this and do not going to because I have gotten a second wind (thanks to the second jar power), even my other half had time to take a nap, no time, did not force me to stay, I wanted to stay including the Romanian border pass in the night. About an hour of the night (it was already Sunday) we arrived at the border of Ukraine-Moldova, which I have not been very good memories. What happened was as follows: at the entrance to the checkpoint, queues of cars did not behold, but rather we were the only machine, lighting is very bad, we can say do not exist. I am slowly moving, trying to consider exactly where I need to come round, but then came the customs officer and pointed to the place where
I need to stop the car, I followed his instructions and left the car with the documents for registration of departure. He asked me how Im taking the currency without thinking (thought you might as posited ..) responded, after which I was charged that I was parked in the wrong place (roughly speaking, into the opposite lane), thus violating the rules of entry and exit at the gate. I was told that they could prescribe a penalty for such a daring violation or as an option
I must give "on beer." Did not argue and said that women on beer, and then by the customs officer was a question for clarification of the amount that I was ready to sacrifice this object to quench their thirst, the amount was declared at 100 rubles, he would like 5 times more. We agreed on 100 rubles + detail (60 rubles dozen), put the stamp and said that it is possible to go further. But the barrier I was told that I had not noticed in the border guards, who by this time we are already familiar to the customs official, told me about a guy from St. Petersburg, who gladly offers to beer.
(2nd in civilian clothes, one civil), in civilian decorations for my documents, but at this time, a young man in civilian
tried to persuade them to give our passports to him for further "divorce on beer. Coming out with our instruments, I heard a familiar story about the violation of passage through the checkpoint, and that the guys do not mind, too, have a beer at my expense. On my refusal, and a link to a customs officer who must share with them, I heard that I would have problems with the opposite entry (will arrange the red corridor - the careful checking cars and things). I laughed at him in response, because the borders of Ukraine - Moldova is not the only one.
After one kilometer was the entry to Moldova, where the frontier is much more friendly,
which I immediately warned that in Romania, with canisters of gasoline will not be allowed. Just pay the cashier 100 rubles for the environment as the entrance and on the way back (always leave a check at the exit from Moldova asked him). In Vulcanesti, is the first city after crossing the border, we were unable to refuel, because the ruble and the euro is not taken, referring to the fact that go to the bank
far. They said that in Gurguleshti is filling, where the problem is absent. In Moldova traveled only 35 miles. But they remembered us: bad roads and lightning, which lit their flares empty road (for which often ran wild mice), and at the edges of the field. Until Gurguleshti we ran out of gasoline, had to stop before reaching settlement
and get it from the rear of the canister. Night, the quiet, empty road and only the howling of wolves, and maybe dogs (but we believe it is the least) which seemed approaching nearer and nearer to us. From fear
Formula 1 - very quickly, to fill a maximum of 5 liters, hopped in the car, closed, breath and started. After 10 minutes, entered g.Gurgulesht, immediately drove to a gas station, where they met friendly Moldovan youth, which we also recalled that in Romania, with canisters of gasoline will not be allowed. Cch all in the tank and refueled to full. During refueling took only euro, well, and the local currency (Leu),
which we have not. Since the date of 50 euros was not, had a gas station to buy cartons of cigarettes, two bottles
wine, and every trifle. Until the border remained a few kilometers. You noted departure, hello EU!
By approaching the Romanian border already in the pouring rain, the queues of cars
observed. We met our border phrase in Russian (Good evening), if honestly surprised. Immediately noticed the difference between the crossing points
EU countries and the former Soviet Union.
They opened the trunk, with a canister
do not ask. Have you noticed the dent in the wing, was asked to help on the accident. You noted your documents to us and allowed entry. The whole procedure took 10 minutes.
), Where notice
road signs are slightly different in size, but quickly become accustomed. Also the speed limit in settlements is 50 CPM.
Before entering into that, I succumbed to the entreaties of his beloved little sleep, then it turned out not in vain. The clock was 4 oclock in the morning, while driving, I spent 25 hours and traveled a little over 2000 km., Remained only slightly. We slept in the car, lowering the seat. Alarm clock set for 7 oclock. 3 oclock sleep flying is not noticeable, but felt a surge of strength. Washed, had breakfast and began to move. Unhurriedly moved
The road changed from asphalt paving and back
time to consider the city and signs in an unknown language to us, when he brought us out to the navigator
ferry (which later turned out that over the river Danube). Drove to the cashier in the Romanian language, we explained that the ferry costs 8 lei (1 leu equals about 10 rubles). We have a currency as he wrote earlier rubles and euros, the euro is the smallest denomination of 50. Got it, girl, we
long tried to understand that the delivery will leyyami. When we
is understood
went to look for a bank or exchange office, as leyi we would not be useful in such numbers. In search of us soon began to help local cyclist, to which we addressed the question of the near bank. At first he tried to explain, even drew us a map, but later realized that it will be easier to bring us to the very bank. While riding to the bank, I remembered explaining cyclist and knew that when he said turn left, then he
pointing.
And I was right, in Romania and Bulgaria gestures contradict words, ie speaking to the left - shows the right and vice versa. On reaching the bank,
We came up against the closed doors, signs with the regime of work, we also did not help. Traveled several more banks, we assumed that the local banks on weekends do not work (as it turned out, this idea was correct). They began to look for street ATMs to withdraw from the card (
local currency. It took us quite some time, and we have repeatedly set off to ferry, where we see standing steam scored cars. Before us is a local resident on the jeep is not allowed, because this place was just a small car,
as ours. We are happy to call in this ferry last, which already costs about 50 cars. Close race and untied the ropes and begins a movement of the ferry on the river Danube.
To us fit for travel. Then he ran over the boy, offering to wipe us lights and glass, turning the head in different directions, we made it clear to him that this service was not needed, but he insisted was clean. It turns out that nod and head movements also mean the opposite effect, ie happened that shaking
head in different directions, we agreed with his proposal. Just the reverse actions are gestures back and forth, we realized itll go to the ferry, where specially trained people to help to leave the machines in sequence. In 15 minutes we were on the other side of the Danube and the city
The road was a winding, often met the beautiful villages, so
with overrunning had to take risks, as a caravan to travel at speeds 50kmch
not really wanted. This road continues to the city
. In this city, drew attention to the large number of machines known for our brand
, But the icon and name were different. We though that Romanians simply like this car, but later saw the car plant
to them and produced under the same name. Then the way kept the city
The road was a two-lane (in lane in each direction)
mostly straight with few turns.
two Romanian cars (BMW and Mercedes, with the words: "Russian do not surrender!"), too confident, they drove, the speedo needle at some sites reached 170kmch. In this race I did not notice that entered
Which I was struck by a stopper in the opposite direction (about 12 km.). Such a feeling that in him and in the next coastal town on the weekend came together all of Romania, to luxuriate on the beach and bathe in the Black Sea. Thats where I first saw the Romanian police, who tried together to cope with congestion, but for himself noted that the weekend
to return to Russia on this road is not worth it. Then, the city
, A hamlet with a funny name May 2, and the border town with Bulgaria
. The boundary between the two countries of the European Union was held for 10 minutes, in contrast to the previously passed the borders here was the easiest way with my documents. Documents handed in one window, where I immediately noted the departure from the entry of Romania and Bulgaria (post one-on-two countries, it is very convenient to have someone take an example, I was for ours). A hundred feet up against a barrier, where it was necessary to pay vinetku (as I understood, for the road
precisely for its use), a number of currency exchange and parking.
Parked the car, went to change the euro to the local Lev (1 lev = 22 rubles), took the pass on
Ten days - paid 350 rubles. Washed, and snack on a journey, because we stayed the last shot in the march of 200 km. Up