Dalavia Airlines

We left Moscow on Wednesday night for an eight hour flight to Khabravosk Russia. Luba, another translator and our driver took us to the domestic airport here in Moscow to board Dalavia Airlines flight 35. Needless to say, Gail and I were very skeptical of this part of our trip. The plane turned out to be a 1970's model jet, not too bad yet. We boarded the plane, whimpering as we passed thru business class, wishing that was where we were seated, but no, we were in row 23 seats a and b. Me, being the best sister ever, sat in the middle, Gail on the aisle seat. Immediately upon sitting down, we both noticed the most disgusting smell ever! It was like we were seated in the bathroom at Texas Stadium after a Cowboys/Redskins game and it had not been cleaned in weeks! I spent the entire 8 hour flight with my sweater pulled up over my nose with just my eyes showing! Oh, and we were the only Americans on board, I'm sure we made a great impression! The flight was not too bad, tried to sleep, but our fellow passengers felt the need to party all night long with shots of vodka and their picnic lunches!

We finally made it to Khabravosk and were met at the airport by our translator Tanya and our driver Viktor, after a quick trip to the bathroom (refused to use it on the plane) we were off for our 2 1/2 hour drive to Birobidzhan.

Jane