A Quick Note from Russia...

[+ tristanbaldwin]

Hey guys!

 

A number of you touched with your concern about my well-being while over here, and told me to check in when it was feasible. Couldn’t do that directly to you guys, as per the advice of ‘friends from DC’ that are on this forum and work for Uncle Sugar, it was a better idea to bring sterile electronic devices over here. No banking information, no ‘work’ information, and no client contacts stored anywhere. It’s hard to gauge whether that was necessary or not, but it’s always best to err on the side of caution.

 

Ok, a couple quick takeaways, let you all get on with your week. One, I honestly think the shroud of ‘secrecy’ / fear of the Russians getting into your shit is completely dependent on who you are, what your purpose is in Russia. If you’re there for one or two days in St Petersburg on a cruise- you don’t even need a VISA but you’ll be accompanied at practically all times by handlers from the ship. If you have a tourist visa on your own, 15-30 days, I can’t comment on how hard they’ll bird dog you. I received a 3 yr visa with a personal guarantee from local Russians I met, while in Bali. Essentially, if I Fuck up here...they are criminally and financially responsible for me..so I didn’t even get a second glance going through their customs / passport control. There’s literally a field on your passport of THE NAME of who or what entity signed for you, as well as the nature of your visa /how often you have to leave in that 3 yr period(I can only stay up to 180 days continuous, which is 173 days more than I need LOL, ready for Greece or Italy.)

 

So, as it turns out, my host flies drones(non military; though all Russians did/do serve at some point) and did freelance work for the city of Moscow as well as a three letter directorate of the Russian Federation, so apparently his word was gold. Also, because I didn’t know he did that work until I met one of his bosses from work at a hockey game, I’m DOUBLE GLAD I followed the advice to bring sterile stuff, because enough of my stuff was unsecured a large portion of the time. With that being said, Russians are ENAMORED to have American friends and want to show you off to EVERYONE. Almost like a status symbol. They were VERY giving- where it doesn’t matter if they live two families to a house that should be single family; they literally want to buy you meals, etc.

 

For a frame of reference, money wise, by the way, here’s the sad part. Russian friend has a friend who is a police officer in Moscow, makes about 800-1000 dollars per month, essentially. Taxes are low here, only 8-13 percent but salaries are very low. Now, the cost for certain given items is many times higher- an iPhone that would cost 699.00 in the States costs 1599 here. I asked my friend how much his apartment would cost / be worth to buy, and he said 125,000 US. For something that would be 30 or 40k at best in most smaller cities in the US. (Even though Moscow is a bigger city 12M people, bigger than NYC population wise unless you include all the suburban boroughs), we are so far from downtown Moscow that I would consider myself in like a Newark or a Stamford CT, kinda. The real estate values are so over inflated it’s not even funny, but the cost of food and drink is comparatively low.

 

The Metro is SUPER FAST, efficient, and CLEAN. Comparable to DC’s in my opinion and set up similar to London’s with outside veins coming in, and two circle rings running wide and then wider around the city’s heart. However, here’s the funny part. Rather than taking metro to a train to get to this air show yesterday(44 Miles away from the apartment; clear across Moscow), which would take 1 hr 30 mins to 2 hrs, instead if you OWN a car it’s a status symbol thing....you drive it, and moscow traffic is HORRENDOUS. Worse than NYC or LA...4 hrs 31 mins to this event. A trial in patience.

 

There are clearly gay bars in Moscow, we’ve walked past them(I’m here with a ‘straight’ couple though I have my wonders about their curiosities, you’d think I’d have a radar for this by now..), and there’s no persecution. I just think the government here frowns on celebrities musicians etc ENCOURAGING IT....because they still have a stalwart rough conservative church system here...and with freedom to choose sexual orientation goes a lot more free thinking PERIOD. Leaving the air show yesterday, there wasn’t any fights....yet the RIOT POLICE with shields and batons came out and stopped the crowd for 10 minutes before heading to their cars. Just so certain people could leave first- oligarchs VIPS etc. It’s one thing to have barriers but another to be looking across a clear plastic shield at a 19 year old army cadet with a club in his hand. And where there VIPs were leaving from this crowd wouldn’t even affect...so it’s kind like they kept us there because they could / to remind you / show of force. Here, you follow the rules. You attack police here, you’re pretty much done.

 

Anyhow....I should probably wrap this one up and get back to it...and maybe actually respond to some of the work emails in the box for other areas....for the other escorts out there; no real volume or pings on Mykonos, I’d skip that / not plan on it for work...and Rome had a decent amount but the hotel / housing situation can be tricky. I’m lucky to have an AIRBNB situation vetted by a client of mine that told me how I could get away with it tactfully...will respond more later.

 

Be well, all!

[+ Gar1eth]

Glad you are ok and having a good time. Travel safely.

 

Gman

[mike carey]

TB, I'm sure you're having a great time, keep enjoying it!

[+ nycman]

Sounds like crazy fun!

 

Thanks for the trip report.

[InterestingGuy]

Like we discussed a week or so ago - Give a shout-out once you make it to Italy at the end of your trip - Then we’ll know you’re not sitting in some Russian holding cell.

[DMICS]

Thanks for checking in TB!