2006 Eastern tour, going to Russia. 3rd step: Belarus

Russia ... ... ... a country that has always fascinated us, but we could not and we did not want to go alone this nation, this is unfortunately not yet ready for travel "do tea", there is no stopping areas equipped for camper and even camping, there is still too much bureaucracy on the borders, you lose hours and hours, the signs are in Cyrillic few times we have seen written in English, the police can stop you for nothing and if you do not pay the bribe, sometimes you just need a bottle of wine, it makes you very afflicted with considerable loss of time, very few people speak English, to them, for now, tourism is not interested.
For this trip was already enrolled four years ago at CC La Granda, who was one of the first clubs to campers to organize trips for this destination, unfortunately I found at that my passport had expired and I did not have the time to renew it.
This year after many postponements, we decided: we turned to the agency with which we were in Libya, the Girocamper, spending was fairly high share of € 3460, departure and arrival Tarvisio, duration 30 days.
After sending the reservation and the balance in June, 15 days before departure the agency warns us that not having reached the minimum number of participants, the tour will not be, but hijacking in the corresponding Russian (sanpietroburgo.it) that gathered all the various pieces of other clubs or agencies can complete the required number to make the trip.
Tarvisio Instead, the departure will be at the border Terespol Polish / Byelorussian and will end at the border Narva Russian / Estonian, only in this part we followed and assisted by guides: one Italian and one Russian speaking Belarusian, Russian and Italian speaking, all the price of € 1750, almost half have been accepted, the route before and after the Russia we will do it by yourself by visiting the same sites mentioned in the program Girocamper.

This trip I have broken down by nations, Slovakia, Poland and the outward Cestocova return, Belarus, Moscow in Russia split with the Golden Ring and Sanpietroburgo with residences and finally Estonia

 

10/1659 - Brest - Parking Hotel Intourist

CONTINUE TO "POLAND"

Starting before 8 in the customs entry at 8.30 in Belarus at 14.30, all the time under a scorching sun, I switched on the generator for the air-conditioning for a little more cool for all the cats whose fur was not the maximum , lunch boxes as it had from time to time.
For the customs Hugo asked us all the photocopies of documents, some did not and he promptly managed to make them.
TIP: Do at least 5 copies of all documents, passport, book circulation, international driving license and normal and possibly the health of animals.
After the border we met with Belarusian girl Alessia Hugo in accompanying which will help in this round.
5 km and the first supply of diesel fuel, pays for everything Hugo will make us the cost
A Brest after having parked at the hotel Intourist, a beautiful lady and a waiter gave us bread, salt and a glass of vokda, parking is provided for loading / unloading, water and power, then Hugo has given us the Rubli currency in Belarus, 130,000 equivalent to € 50. The border will make the surplus, and we only charge what we spent.
On foot, we visited the fortress, a place very interesting and important to this nation, a symbol of resistance against the Nazi invasion of the 41st
This evening dinner at the hotel, very simple but good.
Now I am all to see the Italy-Germany game, I prefer to go to bed.

382/2041 - Minsk - Parking church

At night we heard the screams of joy for the 2 to 0, they said I deserved then.
Departure at 8.30 per set, the entire highway is paid twice, we think Hugo, I am still in the lead, many in the street told me to slow down, Hugo had to meet that timetable told me to run, tomorrow I will be happy to go in tail and leave the command at No. 2.
Lunch stop at the Castle of Mir, at the expense of UNESCO will be restored, but, unfortunately, the Belarusians are doing so without complying with the original details, further ruining a beautiful building.
Upon arrival in Minsk to the refueling station agreed Ukoil.
Crossing the city, very beautiful and modern, in time of war has been razed to the ground, parking at the only Catholic church in the city, the pastor is shouting the W Italy, is a nice offers to do a formal Italian, no one has responded and accepted ... .... We are not very religious, we have only the water supply is already late, but you decide to do a tour in the city, nothing special, nothing distinctive, we can not even call the post office, try again

338/2379 - Smolensk - Parking Intourist - sun

Departure 8:30 am quit Minsk on the grand avenue, take the E30 highway to Moscow for a fee, paved with the usual ruts of heavy traffic, you must slow down to 70 hours in villages, in these highways, there are pedestrian crossings, all may also go by bike.
We arrive at the border BY / Russia to 12.30, while Ugo and Alessia working documents we have lunch at 14.30, ahead of planned it out again, not before he had left as a tip because they were fast, a bottle of wine each crew.
Upon arrival in Russia is another door now on the clock (2 + Italy)
A Smolenks you stop for the night in a parking lot of a Motel of Intourist, very shabby alongside several trucks, in the evening with other crews dinner (€ 11 a head) in the restaurant, the 50's style with red curtains and séparé, Then on the terrace downs a couple of bottles of vokda four laughs and then all to bed, tomorrow we expect a tough transfer, not because of the highway, but the entry into Moscow in a chaotic traffic, as we herald Ugo .

CONTINUE IN "Moscow and Golden Ring"

513 / 6298 - ITALY - Majano - CASA

After the first part still under construction in Vienna take the motorway that will lead us home quickly, the interruzzione found there was more to same.
The journey to and from Russia is over, it was a beautiful experience, we visited interesting places and countries, in Russia, a nation so big and wide we have seen only a part, I hope that in future we can easily see it in the long and off without so much bureaucracy and various constraints.




TOTAL COST of JOURNEY

Agency sanpietroburgo.it "€ 1750
Control Mech. Oil, filters 138
Diesel 755
Gas 88
Tires (2 Front) 70
Food 747
Restaurant 124
Maps, guide 68
Newspapers 24
Highway 20
Souvenir 160
Revenue museums. 80
Parkings 48

TOTAL € 4072