Visa & Travel

We have sent out our applications for Russian Visas today. This time we will be able to get a double entry because the two trips are within 30 days. Saves us a little money but more importantly just saves us from having to fill out the application again.

We also have our flights booked and a hotel for the first trip. Have not booked the hotel for the second trip yet because we need to confirm a crib and that we can be in the same type of room. When I searched for rooms they nearly doubled in price by adding an infant to the search. Seems crazy but we shall see.

Everything Set To Go

We spoke with Adopt A Child, Inc. this afternoon to finalize the itinerary for the trip. Everything is good to go. We bought more toys to bring with us to play with Katerina. Some touch/feel books as well as some other rattle and noise making toys. Bought a train but probably too big to bring with us so will await her arrival home sometime next March or so.

Now I have a better understanding about what to bring for cash too.

Looked at the weather today. It is supposed to be brutally cold during our sightseeing days. That really stinks but we will brave it to see the sites. Should be interesting. We have plenty of clothing, as well as hand and feet warmers which should help. Now I just have to hope my camera survives the cold so I can get tons of pictures of the Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral, the architecture, AND OF COURSE OUR LITTLE GIRL.

Also heard today that our Passports and Visa will be shipped to us for Wednesday delivery. Have the house ready to be house sat and animals ready to be cared for.

As the title says, everything is all set to go. Moscow and the cold here we come.

Reservations Booked

We have hotel and airline tickets booked. The flight has a one stop each way but at this point it made more sense for us to do it this way than spend an astronomical amount on a direct flight. We will take a direct flight home when we have Kat with us but for now, we can do this as it is just the two of us. We are staying at Hotel that is not even a mile from Red Square and the Kremlin.

We are really looking forward to seeing our little girl and then as an after thought seeing some of the things that Moscow has to offer. It is an old city with impressive architecture as well as many other things to see. All of which is an after thought to our little girl. A bonus shall we say.

We also forwarded our documents to a contact in Washington DC in order to get our Russian Visas. Hopefully have those by the end of next week.

Russian Visa Application

Just began completing the Russian Visa Application for the trips to come. We have not received the dates yet but I figured this would be one less thing we needed to do when we did get them. This is a tougher application than the US Passport. Last two employers not including the current one is tough because I have been self employed for seven plus years. My wife had an easy last one but but had to go back to her college days to find the second one. The forms I was provided were also small. I was able to find the application online in PDF format which made it much easier because I am able to type the information in and then print it out. Plus this means only typing it once for each of us rather than writing it out three times.

All worth it in the end though to get our Katerina!!!