Chișinău To Odessa
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Cheers, snabbu.
Thanks, enviroian. 3am seems to be rush hour for DXB. As redct said above, it seems to be due to optimal scheduling for connections and to avoid the hottest part of the day with the desert climate here. I like to travel at night too, to maximise my trip time and minimise how much leave I need to take.
Thank you, tennislover9. With no real 'winter' weather here in Dubai its great to indulge in some cold weather if only for a few days.
Many thanks, Tocsin. I like to peruse other peoples TR's too for holiday tips and ideas.
Thanks, lb8001. Yes, the lighthouse at the end of the jetty in the early morning was quite a sight, especially with the calm over the Black Sea.
Thank you, farbster. 1906 would have been a good time to escape Moldova to the US, before the Russian Revolution and eventual Soviet takeover. Luckily no issues with the drone, although I tried to be discrete and not be too obvious.
Haha! Although I have to work a day job in order to take all these trips.
Many thanks, 757. Yes, the drone is just like a very tall tripod, great for getting the birds-eye perspective on things.
Thanks, frankmu. Yes, the food was pretty tasty, and so very reasonably priced too.
Another advantage for all the EK bus transfers to remote gates too. It wouldn't be very pleasant queuing up to climb the stairs to the plane in the midday heat in summer!
Thank you for an as usual amazing report ^
Question--is Dubai airport open during the day or only night? I've never seen a trip report from you that didn't have a departure in the middle of the night! lol
I love the hound in the pic...it's like he's looking for where to check in
Question--is Dubai airport open during the day or only night? I've never seen a trip report from you that didn't have a departure in the middle of the night! lol
I love the hound in the pic...it's like he's looking for where to check in
Thanks, enviroian. 3am seems to be rush hour for DXB. As redct said above, it seems to be due to optimal scheduling for connections and to avoid the hottest part of the day with the desert climate here. I like to travel at night too, to maximise my trip time and minimise how much leave I need to take.
Thank you, tennislover9. With no real 'winter' weather here in Dubai its great to indulge in some cold weather if only for a few days.
Many thanks, Tocsin. I like to peruse other peoples TR's too for holiday tips and ideas.
Thanks, lb8001. Yes, the lighthouse at the end of the jetty in the early morning was quite a sight, especially with the calm over the Black Sea.
Funny, I was wondering the same thing as Enviroian. All of your trips leave in the middle of the night!
My family was last in Chisinau back when it was Kishinev. There was a pogrom in 1906 and my father's grandfather hauled ... out of there to come to Baltimore!
I have a college friend that now lives in Kiev. He said all of the jokes that we used to tell about people from Mississippi, Alabama, or West Virginia are told by Europeans about Moldova.
Great report as always. Did you have difficulty using the drone? Were the police looking for you?
My family was last in Chisinau back when it was Kishinev. There was a pogrom in 1906 and my father's grandfather hauled ... out of there to come to Baltimore!
I have a college friend that now lives in Kiev. He said all of the jokes that we used to tell about people from Mississippi, Alabama, or West Virginia are told by Europeans about Moldova.
Great report as always. Did you have difficulty using the drone? Were the police looking for you?
Haha! Although I have to work a day job in order to take all these trips.
Many thanks, 757. Yes, the drone is just like a very tall tripod, great for getting the birds-eye perspective on things.
Thanks, frankmu. Yes, the food was pretty tasty, and so very reasonably priced too.
There are flights that leave from DXB at all hours, but there are lots of night/early morning flights for two reasons. First, for locations in GMT-ish timezones, middle of the night departures equal early morning arrivals. For example EK7 from DXB-LHR leaves at 0230 and arrives at 0705 which is good for daytime connections or those arriving. Second, it's really hot in the middle of the day which causes means thinner air. The Emirates stable of A380s shouldn't have a problem if it gets upward of 40şC, but some of the smaller planes (like the E190 in this post) may.
Another advantage for all the EK bus transfers to remote gates too. It wouldn't be very pleasant queuing up to climb the stairs to the plane in the midday heat in summer!
#32
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
That hotel in Chisinau doesn't look bad, I stayed at a grim Best Western for a night before moving into an airbnb on Pushkin Street in the center that was an experience...no time to see the wineries outside of Chisinau and sushi instead of mamaliga and placinta!?
#33
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Yes, I was pleasantly surprised by the hotel, looked and felt brand new and can't have been more than a few months old. I looked at visiting the wineries but figured it would be more of a summer thing to do. I could only spare three days for the trip too so opted to press on to Tirapsol and Odessa instead.
#34
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
Yes, I was pleasantly surprised by the hotel, looked and felt brand new and can't have been more than a few months old. I looked at visiting the wineries but figured it would be more of a summer thing to do. I could only spare three days for the trip too so opted to press on to Tirapsol and Odessa instead.
#36
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
adjust your expectations. The steps are a huge let down and Odessa in general isn't great. The sea is filthy and while there is some interesting architecture it's run down.
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article...uleId=10005472
#39
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 5,518
#40
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Yes, the marshrutki were well sorted. They even have the weekly departure schedule online now too.
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: GM on VX, UA, AA, HA, AS, SY; Budget Fastbreak
Posts: 27,519
It's a nice looking cheese plate!
great TR as always - thank you!
the pear pizza is a bit popular as a white pizza - I'm sure it's also available in Dubai! I was impressed with the Japanese restaurant in Moldova. Are there a lot of Asian businesses and ex-pats there?
years ago I read Tennis with the Moldovans, written by the Irish comic who traveled around Ireland with a fridge. Want to say his name is Tony Hawke.
great TR as always - thank you!
the pear pizza is a bit popular as a white pizza - I'm sure it's also available in Dubai! I was impressed with the Japanese restaurant in Moldova. Are there a lot of Asian businesses and ex-pats there?
years ago I read Tennis with the Moldovans, written by the Irish comic who traveled around Ireland with a fridge. Want to say his name is Tony Hawke.
#42
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
It's a nice looking cheese plate!
great TR as always - thank you!
the pear pizza is a bit popular as a white pizza - I'm sure it's also available in Dubai! I was impressed with the Japanese restaurant in Moldova. Are there a lot of Asian businesses and ex-pats there?
years ago I read Tennis with the Moldovans, written by the Irish comic who traveled around Ireland with a fridge. Want to say his name is Tony Hawke.
great TR as always - thank you!
the pear pizza is a bit popular as a white pizza - I'm sure it's also available in Dubai! I was impressed with the Japanese restaurant in Moldova. Are there a lot of Asian businesses and ex-pats there?
years ago I read Tennis with the Moldovans, written by the Irish comic who traveled around Ireland with a fridge. Want to say his name is Tony Hawke.
#43
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, LT Gold
Posts: 3,145
Fantastic TR, DanielW! I have been to Odessa a few times, but never knew the insights of the city as you so nicely described them all here! UIA really is a decent little airline. I have enjoyed flying them before in E. Europe. Too bad you were not able to visit the Arkadia area outside of downtown. They have really improved that with nice restaurants, shops and beautiful views of the Black Sea.
I had not known of the UNO Design Hotel before. I will have to try it out when I go back to Odessa in August!
I had not known of the UNO Design Hotel before. I will have to try it out when I go back to Odessa in August!
#44
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,301
Fantastic TR, DanielW! I have been to Odessa a few times, but never knew the insights of the city as you so nicely described them all here! UIA really is a decent little airline. I have enjoyed flying them before in E. Europe. Too bad you were not able to visit the Arkadia area outside of downtown. They have really improved that with nice restaurants, shops and beautiful views of the Black Sea.
I had not known of the UNO Design Hotel before. I will have to try it out when I go back to Odessa in August!
I had not known of the UNO Design Hotel before. I will have to try it out when I go back to Odessa in August!