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On Wednesday, August 1, after 11 days of vacation in Europe, we were leaving the hotel Pension Storch in Cologne. As it is written on the label information in the room - just left the keys on the table and slammed the door. Having met in the lobby of the hotel employee, said goodbye and told of his departure - along with us on that day from the hotel left a young man, whom we have not seen. He wished us a good day, even though we were not at all familiar with, a trifle - but nice! Politeness - a distinctive feature of European citizens.
Since we're going to Dusseldorf, we have to buy a ticket at the full rate. And if a few days ago, when we first arrived in Germany and drove from the airport, the controllers did not disturb passengers, but this time they got on the train a few stations after Cologne. True moved on the car slowly and gradually, so checked our tickets when we almost reached the destination - Düsseldorf International Airport.
Arriving with time to spare, we could walk around the building of the international terminal and the rest before the flight. However, the early arrival at the airport pursued another goal - a tax refund Tax Free. If last year, flying out of Tegel Airport in Berlin, we did not have time to address this issue, but now the time was enough. The first step is looking for automatic check-in - bright orange terminals Lufthansa seen from afar, again with no problems, and checking in on the first try and choose the right places on the board. Computer quickly scans the passport and visa and print boarding passes (Boarding Pass).
Then, in order to get a tax refund, we went to look for the customs. It appears this is not very easy, although in the end it turned out that we are long in around half of the building a huge airport, well, we are a little confused by security from whom we ask for help. In Düsseldorf Airport customs department is next to Global Blue, where he was responsible tax refund. A walk with huge suitcases, we finally went back and saw the coveted window - amazing, but standing next to only two people. In the past year, we saw a huge waiting list to get back their honestly earned, acquired by overwork money, this time had to wait no more than 5 minutes.
Customs officers checked the passports and visas, boarding passes, and then put the print in a document issued in the store C & A, when we make purchases. Some forums write that customs officers ask to see things, compare labels, etc. We are nobody will ask, although we specifically luggage still did not pass. After that we go into the next room Global Blue, where affable young man asks to write e-mail address on the form, checks the documents and in the end gives us € 10 in cash. A trifle, but nice. So tourists can return from 7 to 19% of the purchases in the Eurozone.
Having handed over the luggage, we decide to eat stockpiled sandwiches - before the flight about 2 hours and lunch will not be soon. Walking through the international terminal, I found a cafe with delicious ice cream cone costs about 2 €, but still melts in your mouth - perhaps it was one of the most delicious ice cream in Germany.
After passing the pre-trip inspection, we go to the store Duty-Free. Due to the low prices here besposhlinnhy always full of buyers - a few price tags hanging on empty shelves - someone already snatched up good spirits. We purchased three bottles of Hennessy VSOP and a small bottle of whiskey, all purchases cost about 100 €, the seller asked to show your boarding pass - apparently they're watching the tourists to not purchase alcohol more than the norm.
Then go to the border zone, where our passports are stamped departure. Expect a flight and a half hour bus arrives, which delivers all of the aircraft. This time it's the same place without incident and on schedule, we will fly from Düsseldorf. In flight, we were well fed and offered a choice of a lot of drinks, and then the flight attendant walked through the cabin and offered to those who did not buy the goods in the Duty-Free, do it. He was in a wireless terminal to pay for bank cards, so everyone bought cosmetics, alcohol and sweets.
After arrival at the Vnukovo airport, we had to deal with the slow work of the Russian border guards - all lined up in two windows and we have more than 40! minutes, waited until they saw slowly and passports stamped arrival. For this reason, missed the train Aeroexpress at 20:00, the next was only an hour. Received a portion of the rudeness of taxi drivers and somehow know the price for travel to Moscow (official requested more than 2,000 rubles), back to the terminal to get a ticket for 21-hour train. Sandwiched bill in my hand almost touched the device, when we were approached by a middle aged man perky and said that take you to the nearest metro station for 350 rubles (the train was worth 320, but had to wait another hour.) An ordinary fish is it did not look like the windshield car had a pass airport "Vnukovo", but did not work in the taxi firm. He quickly found two more people, and boot into Daewoo Nexia, we went there. 20 minutes of fear, and we at the station on the red line Southwest. In Dzerzhinsk already arrived by 22:00, where to dine and share with family members first impressions, come to rest.
The next evening we went to the Paveletsky Station home in Volga. Endless repairs square before the passenger terminal as usual in full swing throughout the section of the fence, timber, building materials and workers - immigrants from the former CIS. Company they are gypsy beggars that can a long time to stick to you, until you get a handful of little things, or do not understand what to look for another victim.
Passing through central Russia, could not help think of Europe - why they do so, and we have a different way? The answer is no and it will vryat. We get home on Aug. 3, the entire trip took so 15 days.
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