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Turkey for Thanksgiving....with a side of Tajikistan, Serbia, Montenegro, and Moscow

Turkey for Thanksgiving....with a side of Tajikistan, Serbia, Montenegro, and Moscow

Old Nov 23, 2013, 8:37 am
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Turkey for Thanksgiving....with a side of Tajikistan, Serbia, Montenegro, and Moscow

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 Hati - 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

Last edited by ironmanjt; Dec 31, 2013 at 1:01 pm
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Old Nov 23, 2013, 10:04 am
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Another epic ironmanjt country run? Yes please!
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Old Nov 23, 2013, 10:43 am
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Ah, good, something to look forward to during my own Thanskgiving trip to Gdansk.

As I stop being busy and get around to writing my other report...
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Old Nov 23, 2013, 11:05 am
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Originally Posted by FlyIgglesFly
As I stop being busy and get around to writing my other report...
You know, we need to finally arrange to be in the same place at the same time. Love your trip reports and I figure the two of us and hauteboy are on the same mission.
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Old Nov 23, 2013, 12:09 pm
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Assuming that mission is "go everywhere," then yes, we are.

I must confess, I'm way behind the both of you. A stationary desk job doesn't help my cause...
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Old Nov 23, 2013, 4:58 pm
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Originally Posted by gluedtothewindow
Another epic ironmanjt country run? Yes please!
Well it's only three new countries, but 8 more coming over New Years!
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Old Nov 24, 2013, 1:32 am
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Looking forward to another one of your jetsetting adventures, Jason!
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Old Nov 24, 2013, 4:29 pm
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Amazing report, thanks for sharing!
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Old Nov 24, 2013, 4:33 pm
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Looking forward to your report on Serbia, we nearly went there last year. (In the end we went with the rather more conventional Budapest) .
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Old Nov 27, 2013, 2:30 am
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Part I-A: Washington Dulles to Frankfurt in Lufthansa First

Ok, so I lied. I initially intended to make one long post about the travel all the way to Tajikistan, but since I normally post trip reports so late that I forget the details I'm going to do this entry while it's still fresh in my mind. By fresh in my mind, I mean Lufthansa's beverage offerings haven't completely erased my memory So, live from the Lufthansa B-Terminal First Lounge in Frankfurt...

This is mainly going to be a pictures post. If you're not interesting in airline food and drink porn, you might want to stop reading now. So, thanks to Mohammad from ber, the trip to Dulles was completely uneventful, despite the heavy rains in Washington. Check-in at the Lufthansa First counter went smoothly, and the upgrade from business to first was confirmed. A very promising start to the trip! Tried to use pre-check, but Lufthansa doesn't participate, so it was downstairs to security theatre with TSA. Wasn't feeling like a nice dose of radiation today, so decided to opt out since I've never done it before. There appear to be two types of TSA agents: those who get their jollies when they get to do the pat-down, and those who get really uncomfortable with it. Today's lucky TSA winner was somewhere between 100 and 200 years old, and moved slower than most snails. He changed rubber gloves three times before finding a pair he liked (OCD much?) and then the TSA tug and grope could begin. After reading the speech about what he was going to do, he started telling me his life story. I mean, come on, it's awkward enough you're groping me but I don't need your life story. Just because you're getting frisky with me doesn't mean we're gonna date...

Soon enough it was over, and I was on the way to the United Global First lounge. The Lufthansa Senator lounge is usually way too crowded, so I opted to go hang with United for a few glasses of Veuve. Or so I thought. .It appears that the one thing I didn't think United would dare Jeff Up (champers in the first lounge) they did. .The Veuve has disappeared some time in the last month, replaced by Heidseck Monopole Blue Label. .Perfectly drinkable, but another example of United doing the cheap. .At least the shrimps are still there - for now.





After catching up on e-mail, I got back on the train about an hour prior to departure to check out the Senator Lounge. .They've roped off a corner of it now for first class passengers, it it seriously feels like a closet. .The biggest benefit, however, is an improved drink selection in this corner of the lounge.







Spent about 15 minutes there, and then the agents came to grab me for boarding, which was done straight from the lounge - a nice touch. .Upon boarding:





Shortly after takeoff, it was time for an amuse bouche, smoked salmon on a cucumber slice. .Tasty enough...esp when washed down with a glass of Cuve Louise 1999 bubbles. .This is a good time to discuss the drinks menu. .Lufthansa likes to mix up the bubbly, and this was a tasty enough option. .There were also four white and four red options:

2011 Kiedrich Grfenberg - Weingut Robert Weil Riesling

2011 DeLoach Russian River Valley Chardonnay

2012 Salwey Grauburgunder RS

2011 Domaine Long-Depaquit Maison Albert Bichot Chablis Grand Cru

...and for reds:

2006 Chteau Laroze Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Class

2009 Peter Lehmann Barossa Valley "The Futures" Shiraz

2007 Barone Ricasoli Casalferro

2011 Galpin Peak Pinot Noir

...and for dessert:

2010 Reichsrat von Buhl Scheurebe Auslese

The champagne was quite good, and I stuck with it through the meal, so can't really comment on the wines at all. .Back to the amuse bouche:



Soon the table was set for dinner. .Mmmm garlic bread.



Then came the caviar.



After serving it, she made sure to tell me "there's more if you want more." .I suspect Lufthansa is taking notes on passengers, and my name comes with a note of "two caviar courses." .So, yes, I couldn't turn it down. .Round two:



Then, the mixed appetizers:

On the right - citrus cured scallops

In the centre - Beef Ravioli with Balsamic Glaze. .Incredibly tasty, but couldn't taste the beef at all. .Oh wait, looking at the menu again it says BEET ravioli. .It all makes more sense now...no wonder. .I blame the champagne.

On the left - Seared Beef Tataki with Papaya Salad and roasted Peanuts. .Again, incredibly tasty. .Lufthansa was doing very well with the starters on the new menu.



I still had room for more, so it was time for the "Fresh Salad with yellow roasted Tomatoes presented with delicious Dressing." .I'm not sure I'd call it delicious, but it was certainly tasty enough. .Some creamy yogurt concoction.



There were five choices for the main, and one instantly stood out. .In retrospect, I wish it hadn't. .The other four choices:

Tenderloin of Beef with Plum Chutney, roasted Yukon and Leek

Stir-fried Egg Noodles with Eggplant

Roasted Chicken Breast with Sesame Glaze and Bok Choy, Quinoa

Pumpkin Stew with Ginger Chicken (this sounded tasty, and I kind of wish I'd chosen this.)

However, I went with the "Butter poached Lobster with Butternut Squash and Fingerling Potato. .Now, the sides were quite tasty, but the lobster had the texture of an old tire. .Chewy, bland, and rubbery with almost no taste at all. .It was a serious disappointment and gave a bad name to lobsters everywhere.



I did, however, finish it of course, and moved on to the cheese course. ."Sage Derby, Parmesan, Gruyre, Cambozola, Humboldt Fog garnished with Grapes." .Yum, it was tasty, and unusual for me I finished a small sample of each.





I was completely stuffed by this point, but couldn't resist the promise of "Warm Chocolate Cake" with vanilla ice cream. .And another glass of port. .Just to make sure of course.



...and finally, a couple of glasses of Johnny Walker Blue, with one ice cube, and chocolates. .Yum.



It was at this point I completely passed out for more than five hours, waking up about 15 minutes before landing in a very, very foggy Frankfurt. .More to come soon, starting with the First Class Lounge in Frankfurt and the flights to Istanbul and Dushanbe.
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Old Nov 27, 2013, 10:59 am
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Really bummed I probably won't get to experience LH F, I finally have enough UA miles and there actually is/was availability from Houston this weekend... but my passports are still at the Angola and Algeria consulates
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Old Nov 27, 2013, 11:47 am
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nice...

it's the blue that causes the fog...or for that matter, bubbles and scotch.

Probably having drank WAY too much champagne in the last 10 years, Veuve is by no means a expensive house - this is just my 2 cents. so UA dropping it does not mean they are cheap....[some might disagree]....In fact, just my 2 cents, but you are likely paying a premium for the name versus the product. We did a series of blind tastings over a few weeks of many many different houses. You would be surprised at how pretty much every single person had a favorite and none of them were the same, however, none of them were VC. ;-) All were house NV (multi vintage) blends.perhaps they might have tried to get a better quality bubbles? Not defending but I would never defend VC at its silly price. My favorite, the Bruno Paillard Premier Brut.i know I knowits more expensive.

Even on LH, I see the wine is so so even for F. About the only carrier I see some really nice stuff is EK in J and EK in FKE in F seems to have a smoking selection where the gap between the bubbles and wine is not great but seems these days, the bubbles are far better than the red or white choices, although I have seen a very good choice on CX and BA although not all the time.

The best place to be in a quasi still druken state is the LH F lounge...where else can one sample ANY of the top shelf booze they want for free....

I would have had a cold shower, popped two advils on landing, had some greasy fried eggs and then hit the japanese single malts and then on to the scotish ones....
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Old Nov 27, 2013, 12:11 pm
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Originally Posted by hauteboy
Really bummed I probably won't get to experience LH F, I finally have enough UA miles and there actually is/was availability from Houston this weekend... but my passports are still at the Angola and Algeria consulates
Make sure you spend those UA miles soon as F awards on partners will require up to 80% more miles next year.
Question to the OP, how do you stay in shape after all those high-carb foods onboard every plane?
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Old Nov 27, 2013, 7:10 pm
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Originally Posted by dieuwer2
Make sure you spend those UA miles soon as F awards on partners will require up to 80% more miles next year.
Question to the OP, how do you stay in shape after all those high-carb foods onboard every plane?
Yep.. that's why I said I most likely won't get to experience it. And supposedly LH isn't allowing F redemptions after Jan 1st anyway.
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Old Nov 27, 2013, 8:08 pm
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Originally Posted by hauteboy
Yep.. that's why I said I most likely won't get to experience it. And supposedly LH isn't allowing F redemptions after Jan 1st anyway.
it's lx that 's only allowing f redemptions to elites. lh f is still open t-14 to star partners after 1/1.
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