Intriguing blog entry from three staff members of a Travel Company with Russia World Cup packages (I'm not connected with them) and just some good information and perspective: http://www.roadtrips.com/blog/roadtrips-staff-talks-latest-visit-russia/ Amazing if true about shampoo and streets as mentioned in this excerpt: Brian, this was your first visit to Russia. What was your first impression of Moscow when you arrived? Brian: I immediately felt like I was in a sophisticated, modern metropolis with a very interesting history and some amazing architecture. One thing I have to point out is that Moscow is extremely clean. I was told that they wash and shampoo the streets and sidewalks nightly!
"There was an excellent police presence, though it didn’t feel necessary." Lol that's because in non international event time the cops are just their to ummmm.... collect "taxes" And I hope the Ritz was fantastic for what that place costs yikes
http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/07/24...s-about-everything-santa-barbara-trump-putin/ This is a good read for anybody interested a bit in Russian culture.
Attempting to book with miles from JFK. The only option to Moscow on the first weekend lays over in HEL with a 35 minute layover.........For those who have been through HEL, is 35 mins enough time to get through customs (not sure if you have to go through) and get to my next flight?
You do not if the flight originates and leaves from non Schengen countries. So a JFK to HEL to MOS flight would just have you change planes with no customs. The international section only has like one food vendor but since you only have 35 minutes it doesnt matter. Plus if your JFK flight is delayed they'll have to get you to Moscow somehow anyway.
Well I guess I'll just max out my IRA next year instead of going to Russia. I'd still love to go but without us games I can't justify it anymore. Due to the winter schedule for Qatar due to the winter schedule for Qatar I won't be able to do that one so it looks like I won't be able to travel to a world cup till 2030. Very sad.
I’ll definitely be saving my time and money next summer. I had a blast in South Africa and Brazil, but I just can’t justify making a go of it without seeing a US match. One of the many reasons I’m bummed out tonight.
I mean this team was going to suck and go three and out anyway because this generation is an embarrassment but I still wanted to go.
Still in shock over what happened last night. I met with my traveling friends after the match and we planned what tickets we'd go for in the first phase now that we don't have to worry about following the US anywhere. As I have plane tickets and my first hotel in Moscow booked I went to bed last night with every intention of still going. This morning I woke up and am now leaning heavily to cancelling completely. Flights were booked using miles so easy cancelled and the hotel is also easily cancelled. I'm devastated as I was really looking forward to this.
On the positive, the US team saved me $5k in spend next Summer. I assume the "Who's Going to Qatar?" thread will be open soon? One of these years I'm going to make it to an away World Cup.
That was my only consoling thought as well. But, I already have the money saved, so that effort has been made, without the dream being realized. Still depressed. Can’t believe I won’t be going to support the guys. Can’t believe they’re not going. Panama declared a national holiday. http://www.espnfc.com/panama/story/...c-holiday-after-national-team-reach-world-cup
I’ve never had any dislike for the Ticos, as I enjoy their approach to the game. Even after watching them win at RBA, when I accepted that the wheels were falling off the current version of the USMNT clown car. I still thought that we would back into the WC, through other results going our way, but there’s no Zusi on MEX or VAR in Panama, so that didn’t happen. I wanted our confed rivals to do well, in fear that that fourth-place playoff spot would otherwise disappear. We didn’t even avail ourselves of that lifeline. Soon, there will be 48 teams in the WC, and if the USA can’t get one of the 5 or 6 expected slots, we might as well pack it in.
It looks like we are only going to have one meaningful qualifying cycle ever again next go around. We'll probably host 2026 and then at 48 teams as you said.... My hope is we do some combination with CONMEBOL otherwise the next four years will be the last meaningful games the US plays for the forseeable future.
total opposite for me...I end up rooting for all the CONCACAF teams at the World Cup. Mostly because they're underdogs and I get sick of hearing about UEFA superiority. I was a big Ticos supporter at WC14 and will be one again next year. I'll find it easy to pull for Panama and maybe a bit less so for Honduras.
Panama especially I absolutely hate. I can understand the hack a Pulisic strategy but punching him when he doesn't have the ball multiple times during the last game. I hope they book some discount airfare tickets, miss their first game and get disqualified.
It's been close to a week, and I am no closer to accepting this fact then I was on Tuesday. The one thing stopping me from cancelling my hotels is the lax visa laws next summer. Russia is a country I've always wanted to see, and imo, there won't be an easier time to get in then the World Cup.
The only difference is the visa will be free. Otherwise I'm pretty sure you have to fill out the non sense paperwork they have. Now as an American you can get a three year entry visa. It just costs money and you fill out an online form
think im still likely to go and im trying to look at it as an opportunity to be more proactive in choosing WHERE and WHEN i go rather than letting the fixtures dictate
I would go to St Petersburg-Novogorod-Moscow-Vladimir/Suzdal - Kazan. Then either fly to Nalchik and do the Caucasus or Irkutsk and Baikal or Solovetsky islands.
I'm in a similar situation now. My first thought when the USMNT collapsed last week was to cancel everything. But as I thought about it more I came to the same conclusion. I want to visit Russia to see things there and meet the people. And I don't know if I'd go there otherwise anytime soon as there other places I haven't been that are probably higher on my list. So this is a chance to both see some of Russia and experience the World Cup again. It won't be the same with the US out, as that prospect of looking forward to your team's upcoming match was a big part of things. But, there is still incredible excitement with the other teams and their supporters. And with less US fans around, it'll be a chance to meet more people from other countries and less hanging out with Americans. Some of my best memories from WC14 were meeting and hanging out with non-Americans from all over the world. This gives me an even better chance of doing that next year. And as you point out, now instead of waiting for the draw and plotting my trip around when and where the ping pong ball sends my team, I can arrange my trip to see the cities I want to see while somewhat based on what tickets I can get. ...which leads me to this. I land in Moscow 2 days before the tournament starts and applied for Match 1 and Match 7 two days later in Moscow. After that I have a clean slate. I know I want to go to St. Petersburg. @Real Corona I have some questions on your choices. I realize these are your choices based on your many experiences there, but I'm asking from the viewpoint of someone going to Russia for the first time who has maybe 2-3 weeks total to spend there while trying to work in a handful of games too. Vladimir/Suzdal is in between Moscow and Novogorod (I assume on the train route), but isn't a WC venue. Why is that on your list? Worth a 1-day stop I guess? Nalchik is sort of near Sochi. What makes this region worth visiting as it's sort of a long haul from Moscow? The other places you mention, Solovetsky islands way up north and especially Irkutsk/Baikal in Siberia are also pretty far. I realize seeing Irkutsk would be a totally different experience from European Russia, but it's really out of the way. Google shows it's a 9 hour flight east from the easternmost WC venue (Yekaterinburg). Just to spend 2 days there would cut 4 days out of my whole trip. My thinking right now is more of a central itinerary based around Moscow-St. Pete-Novgorod. Then add one other WC venue city. Maybe Kazan?