Having just returned from 5 consecutive weekends on the west coast thanks to the United $10 fare sale, I was ready to be home. Seriously I was. Especially since I had 7 visas to sort for my New Years trip to Africa coming up. Work, however, had other plans for me.
No Thanksgiving this year, but rest assured I was going to have Turkey. As in the country, not the bird.
It actually started as a week-long trip to Tajikistan...and the easiest way there was through Istanbul. Then, a week in Moscow got added on. Now, mind you, last time I was in Moscow was 1988 when it was still part of the Soviet Union, and it was my 3rd country visited after Canada and the UK. I'm going to guess Moscow is a bit different 25 years later.
I'd planned on taking a few days of vacation after that, to visit 2 of my 3 remaining countries in Europe, when fate intervened I was needed in Montenegro. Score! This would also mean an overnight in Vienna. ...and business would finish on Friday, allowing me a weekend connection in Serbia at no charge. That will leave poor little Andorra as my last country to visit in Europe.
I'm going to try and keep up with this in real time. Just managed to secure 10 visas in a little over 3 weeks, which is some sort of personal record, and especially impressive giving they included DR Congo, Angola, Russia, and several other places in West Africa where I'm headed in just five weeks!
Also, any recommendations on things to see/do are more than welcome. I've had short visits to Istanbul and Vienna before, and I'm sure I won't recognize Moscow, so feel free to share. Also, still trying to figure out a good hotel in Montenegro. I'll probably end up choosing something near the office.
Hopefully, I'll be able to keep up in real time. The flight routing is:
...first post coming in a couple of days!
Part I: Washington, DC to Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Lufthansa and Turkish
--->
Part I-A: Washington Dulles to Frankfurt in Lufthansa First
--->
Part I-B: Frankfurt to Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines
Part II: Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Part III: Dushanbe to Istanbul on Turkish in business, and the W Istanbul
Part IV: overnight visit to Istanbul
Part V: Istanbul to Moscow Vnukovo on Turkish in business, and the Sheraton Moscow
Part VI: Moscow, Russia...25 years later
Part VII: Moscow to Vienna on Austrian in Business, Hotel Bristol, and overnight in Vienna
Part VIII: Vienna to Podgorica, Montenegro on Austrian in "business" and visiting Podgorica
Part IX: Podgorica to Belgrade, Serbia on JAT, Metropole hotel
Part X: Belgrade, Serbia
Part XI: Belgrade to Washington, DC on Lufthansa
If you'd like to see my other trip reports:
I. London to Iran and Afghanistan in a mix of C, F, and LCCs
II. Above the Arctic Circle with UA/CO/LH and SK in whY, C, and F
III. Around the World in 40 Days for 40 Years
IV. 8 Places People Who Are Right in the Head Do Not Spend New Years
V. 12 Countries, 10 Airlines, 4 Islands, 27,080 miles, 11 Days
VI. 6 Countries in 6 Days - Caribbean Island Hopping and first AA Experience
VII. Guyana, Suriname, and French Guyana with an unexpected sidetrip to Caracas!
VIII. To Haïti - for vacation and a milage run!
IX. Around Senegal and West Africa
X. 4th Annual New Years in Dangerous Places - Libya Edition
XI. Kosovo and FYR Macedonia - Milage Run in United Business + TK/LH
XII. To Johannesburg...for 36 hours!
XIII. Here a Stan, there a Stan, everwhere a Stan Stan....
XIV. Air Burkina, Air Cote d'Ivoire and 7 countries in West Africa
More trip reports and posts as well on my blog at
Jason Around the World