[Rhodes22-list] Russia

Slim Chance slimsails at gmail.com
Tue Jul 19 14:50:09 EDT 2011 

Tom, that's a terrible story.  I experienced some intestinal problems too
but nothing like you. The food inspection policies are no where near as
stringent as they are here and nobody ever drinks water from the tap
anywhere.  Re pick-pockets, it's the single biggest petty crime in Russia.
It seems everyone has had their pocket picked at least once.  The thieves
work in teams and they have it down to a science. I was taught to never make
eye contact or smile or talk to strangers ever.  Either they'll think you're
about to play them for something or they'll immediately know you're a
foreigner and play you for something.  You have to be pretty careful but it
can be the same in any big city anywhere.  Much worse in Rio De Janeiro for
example.  Better in China however. Very low crime rate because everything's
a capital offence. They just shoot you and then send your family the bill
for the bullet. But the food is good.

Fortunately, my wife speaks fluent Russian and has been visiting St. P.
since the 70s and even lived there for a couple years back then so she's
very Russia-savvy.  My favorite story I like to tell about her is back in
the 70s, during the Soviet era.  She used to smuggle contraband poetry into
the country.  She had a false bottom in her suitcase like a real spy!  It's
funny now, but she could have been imprisoned in Siberia if caught.

But when you say that we never know what tomorrow will bring, I couldn't
agree more.

Slim

On Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 12:56 PM, Tom Hogarty <tjhogarty at gmail.com> wrote:

>
> Last August I had a not so good trip to St. Petersburg. My stepson and his
> wife studied there and when my wife visited them she loved the place. So
> when we were in Sweden she arranged a three day tour with a guide and a 5
> star hotel. Arrived on Sunday evening. Monday got antibiotic resistant
> salmonella from my breakfast eggs; that could happened anywhere. Tuesday
> midday started to feel ill. Went to convenience  store near hotel to get
> some ginger ale and crackers, and had my wallet picked from my zippered
> pocket. Vomiting, diarrhea started a few hours later. Thought I could make
> it to my departing flight 5 pm Wednesday. I could not trust Russian health
> care to provide clean needles or authentic antibiotic so I waited to make
> my
> flight. Don't really know how I made it. Had to wear a diaper. Could barely
> sit upright at the airport. Bless the Swedish purser who allowed me to
> board. I went into shock during the one hour flight to Stockholm. I
> remember
> watching the circulation leave my fingers. Paramedics met the plane, and
> the
> wonderful team at the airport had an IV going in my leg as soon as they
> could find a vein. Then ambulance to the University Hospital in Uppsala for
> 5 days. The care was wonderful. My kidneys did not shutdown and I had a
> terrific recovery.
> My first reason for relating this, is that everyone I asked at the hospital
> in Uppsala, and I did ask everyone, said that I made the right choice in
> taking the risk to get to Sweden versus seeking care in Russia. Russia at
> this time is a failed state. You cannot trust anyone. Unless your are a
> personal friend of Putin, don't go.
> My second reason is to say, buy the boat NOW! and have fun, because we
> really don't know what tomorrow will bring.
> Tom
>
>
> Slim Chance wrote:
> >
> > Hi Dave.  This was my second trip to St. Petersburg.  My wife teaches
> > Russian and takes a handful of students there every summer.  She was
> there
> > with them for seven weeks and I joined her for the last two.
> >
> > Petersburg is a cultural Meca with all the best orchestras, opera, art
> > museums, architecture, ethnic music fests, etc., etc.  We went to two
> > operas, two orchestra concerts, two ethnic music fests, the russsian
> > circus,
> > the "White Nights / Red Sails Festival" two canal boat rides--both on our
> > own private 8.5 meter very groovey cuuiser with our captain, Vladimir --
> > visited the summer "cabins" of two friends, mostly ate in like Bohemians,
> > e.g., baguett, cheese, salami, wine, garnishes and of course vodka--lots
> > of
> > vodka!    Speaking of Bohemians, we went to the opera, La Boheme.  We
> have
> > a
> > friend who is well-connected in that world and first told us it's not
> > possible to get tickets --all sold out.  The next thing we know is that
> > not
> > only did she get us tickets, but comp tickets --and not only that but
> > entry
> > through the director's door and VIP box seats!  It's funny that anything
> > you
> > want or anything you ask, the first answer is always no.  Then you "work
> > it"
> > and poof!
> >
> > So, yeah, the trip was magical but the older I get, the harder those long
> > flights are on my system -- standing in long lines for everything,
> lugging
> > bags, jet lag, etc. but still worth it.
> >
> > Now, a little time off until my teaching job starts again first of Aug.
> > Hotter than hell here in Minneapolis this week.  Too hot even to go out
> > sailing.  Maybe next week.
> >
> > Happy to be home,
> >
> > Slim
> >
> > On Fri, Jul 15, 2011 at 10:28 PM, David Bradley <dwbrad at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >> Hey Slim. I guess you're back. How was your trip to Russia?  Did you
> >> play?
> >>
> >> Dave
> >>
> >>
> >> On 7/15/11, Slim Chance <slimsails at gmail.com> wrote:
> >> > Joe, can you simply get a replacement pop top slider from Stan?  I
> >> don't
> >> > exactly remember how it's attached to the mast extrusion, but have you
> >> asked
> >> > Stan?
> >> >
> >> > Slim
> >> >
> >> > On Fri, Jul 15, 2011 at 2:13 PM, Joe Camp <jjcampjr at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Rhodies all:
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks for all of the great (as usual) advice.  I DO feel stupid,
> >> because
> >> >> I
> >> >> rushed the process of setting up the mast hoist.  When a huge wake
> >> came
> >> >> into
> >> >> the marina, my lack of set-up skill proved to be a problem, and down
> >> came
> >> >> the mast. I have reviewed my practices, and hopefully, will not
> repeat
> >> the
> >> >> mistakes.
> >> >>
> >> >> I am confident about fixing the past step.  However, I am only
> >> cautiously
> >> >> reassured about repairs to the pop top slider.  I suppose I will have
> >> to
> >> >> paint the repair, as opposed to mixing a matching color into the
> >> resin.
> >> >> Is
> >> >> that correct?  (Feeling stupid again).
> >> >>
> >> >> I also realized that my bow eye has pulled away from the hull
> (another
> >> >> aspect of this crappy experience). I think I can just slip it back in
> >> with
> >> >> resin all around and retighten the inside bolts.  Ah, sailboat
> >> ownership.
> >> >>  ttfn
> >> >>
> >> >> Joe Camp
> >> >> s/v John Dawson
> >> >> (currently) High Point, NC (for about a month more)
> >> >> (then) Hatboro, PA
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> ________________________________
> >> >> From: elle <watermusic38 at yahoo.com>
> >> >> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >> >> Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 2:26 PM
> >> >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Murphy's Law revisited
> >> >>
> >> >> See? And you thought you were the only graceful one...;^)
> >> >> elle
> >> >>
> >> >> Beer is good....people are crazy
> >> >>
> >> >> 1992 Rhodes 22    Recycled '06"Watermusic"  {Lady in Red}
> >> >>
> >> >> --- On Thu, 7/14/11, Joe Camp <jjcampjr at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> From: Joe Camp <jjcampjr at yahoo.com>
> >> >> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Murphy's Law revisited
> >> >> To: "Rhodes List" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >> >> Date: Thursday, July 14, 2011, 7:34 PM
> >> >>
> >> >> Hi All:
> >> >>
> >> >> The events I am about to recount took place on the July 4th weekend.
> >> I
> >> >> have waited a bit to put them down, partly because I was away from a
> >> >> reliable computer and partly because leaving them alone for a couple
> >> of
> >> >> weeks has allowed them to settle in my realization of the validity of
> >> >> Murphy's Law, an axiom with which I am all too familiar.  OK...
> >> >>
> >> >> I moved my boat from NC to PA. I am now back in NC (a bit lonely in
> >> >> sailing
> >> >> terms).  And I have had time to digest the worst:  Never mind all of
> >> the
> >> >> details, but suffice it to say that, while stepping the mast down, it
> >> came
> >> >> crashing aft without warning and conked me in the head (a glancing
> >> blow,
> >> >> but
> >> >> still an ouch). Naturally, I tore out the step, and when the mast hit
> >> the
> >> >> pop top slide, it crushed a 6 inch hole in the grip-ridge (or
> whatever
> >> >> it's
> >> >> called, used to pull the slide up and back) along the aft edge.
> >> >>
> >> >> Based on what I have read, the mast bracket will be a 1,2,3 fix.
> >> Though
> >> I
> >> >> would still like to hear from anyone who has first hand experience
> >> with
> >> >> this
> >> >> repair.  The pop-top slider will be more difficult.  The ridge is
> >> hollow
> >> >> beneath the surface, and it is broken right through. I don't know if
> >> this
> >> >> is
> >> >> a "resin" sort of fix.  Is there something more substantial I can use
> >> to
> >> >> mold a repair thick enough to take the wear and tear this piece
> >> usually
> >> >> gets?
> >> >>
> >> >> A long time sailboat friend once told me that owning a boat is a
> >> simple
> >> >> mater of waiting for crap to happen.   I have the rest of the season
> >> to
> >> do
> >> >> the repairs.  I also want to repair some scratches in the hull
> >> gelcoat.
> >> >>  They are not deep, but through the paint. Are these something I can
> >> just
> >> >> paint over, or will I need gelcoat for them as well?  I can send out
> >> >> photos,
> >> >> but not till mid August, when I am back in the boat's neighborhood.
> >> >> Thanks.
> >> >>
> >> >> (the hapless)  Joe Camp
> >> >> s/v John Dawson
> >> >> __________________________________________________
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> >> >>
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> >> >>
> >> > __________________________________________________
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> >> >
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> >> >
> >>
> >> --
> >> Sent from my mobile device
> >>
> >> David Bradley
> >> __________________________________________________
> >> To subscribe/unsubscribe go to
> >> http://www.rhodes22.org/mailman/listinfo/rhodes22-list
> >>
> >> For the list Charter and help with using the mailing list and archives
> go
> >> to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
> >> __________________________________________________
> >>
> > __________________________________________________
> > To subscribe/unsubscribe go to
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> >
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> > to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
> > __________________________________________________
> >
> >
>
> --
> View this message in context:
> http://old.nabble.com/Russia-tp32072451p32085162.html
> Sent from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
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