Results tagged “Russia”

Having cancelled my plans of an illegal crossing into Abkhazia, I hop on a marshrutka to Poti. I knew that there used to be ferries from Poti to Sochi, though after the war they might be cancelled, my backup plan was to go from Poti to Odessa.

I arrive in Poti in under two hours and make it to the ferry office.

Me: When does the Poti/Sochi ferry arrive?

Woman at the counter: That’s been cancelled since the war. You can go to Odessa on Saturday (in three days) for $195USD.

Me: Bummer, so all the Sochi ferries are cancelled?

Woman: You can go from Batumi, but I don’t know the timetable.

Me: Ok, cheers.

Half an hour after arriving to Poti, I’m on a marshrutka to Batumi. When I get to Batumi, I head to the ferry office.

Me: Is there a ferry to Sochi?

Woman: Yeah, it departs in two hours.

Me: WOOHOO, one ticket please.

I high five the other people in line and go to do the only thing that I have time for, feast on Adjarian Khachapuri.

While eating at the cafe, I start talking to some of the other patrons about my travels. After I tell them about my failed Abkhazia attempt, we start talking about Adjaria (Georgia’s remaining autonomous republic after South Ossetia and Abkhazia declared independence.) They tell me that there were plans for Adjaria to separate also, and that things are still in the works.

One of the guys I’m talking with tells me he has something for me, runs home, grabs an Icon of St. Nino and gives it to me to guide me in my travels.

Two hours later, I’m on the ferry to Sochi.

I get onto the ferry, having bought the cheapest tickets and not bothering to upgrade from a seat to a cabin and quickly take a row of seats to sleep on.

The Erke, a ferry ship from Georgia to Russia, registered in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and owned and operated by Turks.

I walk around the ship and start talking with some of the passengers about my trip in Cambodia (the ship is registered in Cambodia). As others overhear my stories, a crowd forms. Everyone is enthralled especially when I tell them about my Abkhazia attempt.

One of the guys listening, Koba, a Georgian by ethnicity, born and raised in Russia starts telling me about his businesses and his travels, we become friends pretty soon and eventually he offers a lift with him to Rostov (half of the way from Sochi to Moscow).

At one point in our conversation, an Azeri man comes up to us.

Azeri: Sorry to interrupt your conversation, but uh, I have six bottles of Georgian wine with me, do you think they’ll let me into Russia or will I have to pay a fine?

Koba: My friend, I have with me 130 litres of Cha Cha (Georgian grape moonshine) and a case of wine, I think you’ll be fine.

*the man leaves satisfied*

Me: Was that true?

Koba: Yeah, I’ve also got an antique painting that you can’t export form Georgia, good luck finding it though.

Me: How do you plan on getting past the customs in Russia?

Koba: I know a Georgian guy at the customs, pay him a bit of money and there’s no problems.

The sun rises as we arrive at Sochi.

I pass through immigration, am told that there’s no way I’ll be let out of Russia with my passport in the state it’s in (the photo page cover has almost completely come off). After being let out, I go for a much overdue swim in the Black Sea and wait for my friend Koba to have his car cleared by customs.