The joys of driving in Russia! What should have taken 2 ½ hours took 7 ½ hours. THAT’S RIGHT. It took me almost three times as long!

I left at 6:30 hoping the early departure and the rain would lesson people’s motivation to travel. I was right about part of it and wrong on the other part. What was I wrong about? The rain. We saw so many fender benders and flat tires. We saw a tractor trailer after it hit the cable median. We saw a five car accident where the only action was a driver videotaping the scene but no officer on site. Russians DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN. Instead of slowing down, they drive the same.

And then there were the times where the lanes went from two to one. Those I wish to never replay. Being sandwiched between tractor trailers. Watching cars pass by driving on the “shoulder”. They seemed so effortless. At one point, I was soooo frustrated I drove on the “shoulder” only to stop at a parked tractor trailer. The pot holes didn’t help. This is a country where 4X4 will be used and abused. All the while, I moved inches where I could walk faster. Minutes turned into hours turned into many hours. We were supposed to arrive at 10 am. We arrived at 3 pm. Talk about exhausted. I was that and more! Did I enjoy the drive? NO! Will I take a long drive like that again? Someone would have to pay me!

There were a few funny parts of the drive though. One was the tractor trailer behind me who went to the right lane only to try to cut in front of me. It was going to have to “T” me first. No way! I waited that long. As I drove on one of the single lane sections I noticed a bridge being rehabilitated. Obvious signs warned travelers NOT to use the bridge. Did people listen? NO! They took the bridge anyway. A hilarious scene played before me of a broken down tractor trailer in the middle of the bridge with NO shoulders with a small car stuck behind it because the vehicles behind it wouldn’t move. What silliness in an already unsafe position. Only in Russian have I seen such a blatant disregard for safety. All the while, my mother kept saying Russia has so many Birch trees. That’s our tourist experience. Congestion and birch trees!

We finally made it to Suzdal for what would be a short visit. We braved the stiff winds to enter a well-known monastery. Oh, they charged Russians 30 rubles per visit inside the monastery BUT they charged foreigners 70 rubles for the same visit. My full ticket of 350 rubles far outpaced the Russian’s ticket. Then, she gave me change in 50 rubles. I didn’t need 6 50 rubles. I motioned I wanted 3 100 ruble bills. Someone tried to help me but they said they had no change. I strongly refuted their claim only to see they gave me that small change hoping I would place money into the various tip jars on the monastery grounds. No Way! We trudged along as much as we could.

Returning to the “town center”, we walked along the outdoor covered shopping center. People huddled in the partially covered “market” across the way selling honey, strawberry, and other stuff. I felt sorry for their cold faces and wet feet. We headed into a restaurant for some warmth only to feel the room full of “Harley” people. That’s right. They have “biker” gangs here too; mostly people who want to be but will never be. They settled for bottles of American liquor and small snacks. We settled for “homemade” pizza and pasta. Well the pizza was obviously frozen from the supermarket with no additions whatsoever. The pasta was basic with cheese trying to cover the lack of other ingredients. Mom liked so that was all that matter. Me…I was happy the meal cost less than $20 b/c it was worth less than that.

All the while, we thought about the drive home. We were NOT going back that way. I found another route estimated to take us 4 hours. Far better than 7 ½. The road started good then went to ok then went to good then went to ok then went awful beyond belief. I mean awful! I drove no more than 10 mph for at least ½ hour. The deep, rain soaked pot holes took ALL my concentration. I veered from one side of the road to the other. I longed to be the speeding SUV passing me nonchalantly. I saw the good road sighing in supreme happiness. YAH! Time sped by and so did the gas tank. I needed gas but didn’t know the gas stations I passed. I needed something reputable. At less than a ¼ tank I hit the jack pot. BP.

How did I make it home after almost 13 hours on the road? By the skin of my pants! I think everyone who lives in Russia needs to experience this. I have. I WILL NEVER AGAIN! PS. photos are of my visit to Suzdal in 2011.