Belarus

[Alan Lung]

Has anyone on here ever been to Belarus? Any tips, dos and donts? My cousin has just received an 8 year jail sentence over there so I want to go and see her later this month.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

My tip would be don't go anywhere near the place

[JamesWales]

Nearest I've been is in the old Belarusian theme bar in town - Minskys

[Alan Lung]

My tip would be don't go anywhere near the place

Why not?

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Has anyone on here ever been to Belarus? Any tips, dos and donts? My cousin has just received an 8 year jail sentence over there so I want to go and see her later this month.

Yes, I went there a few years ago via Moldova, Transnistria and Ukraine (and in doing so visited the only remaining countries in Europe I had never been to).
I flew into Minsk and I expected a grey and depressing environment only to be impressed by the very modern airport, free wi-fi on the bus into the city and the sophisticated café society in the centre.
I was less impressed by the couchsurfing host who was less than savoury and stayed near the main square instead - and I can't vouch for the suburbs and countryside, which probably give a different impression.
As the country doesn't abide by international rules and standards, it was possible to purchase bottles of 'шампанское' (champagne) for about £1.25 (although it wasn't quite Moët et Chandon, of course).
In such locations run by despots I just don't risk anything - and even crossing the road when a red man symbol is showing is probably best avoided. And best err on the side of caution when photographic official buildings and any snaps that will include officials of any description.
Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Oh, by the way, learning the Cyrillic alphabet in advance of a trip is helpful as you can get the gist of a few signs here and there.
Otherwise, use the photographic facility on Google translate.

[Alan Lung]

Yes, I went there a few years ago via Moldova, Transnistria and Ukraine (and in doing so visited the only remaining countries in Europe I had never been to).
I flew into Minsk and I expected a grey and depressing environment only to be impressed by the very modern airport, free wi-fi on the bus into the city and the sophisticated café society in the centre.
I was less impressed by the couchsurfing host who was less than savoury and stayed near the main square instead - and I can't vouch for the suburbs and countryside, which probably give a different impression.
As the country doesn't abide by international rules and standards, it was possible to purchase bottles of 'шампанское' (champagne) for about £1.25 (although it wasn't quite Moët et Chandon, of course).
In such locations run by despots I just don't risk anything - and even crossing the road when a red man symbol is showing is probably best avoided. And best err on the side of caution when photographic official buildings and any snaps that will include officials of any description.
Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Oh, by the way, learning the Cyrillic alphabet in advance of a trip is helpful as you can get the gist of a few signs here and there.
Otherwise, use the photographic facility on Google translate.

Nice one TBG, thanks.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Nice one TBG, thanks.

On an evening less helpful note and if my memory serves me correctly:
Belarus means White Russia and, coupled with European Russia and Ukraine, represents to the Russians the triumvirate of states descended from the Rus tribe. Perhaps surprisingly, the Rus people were thought to be Norsemen originally and they supposedly travelled up the relevant river systems. Kiev was the eventual epicentre of their culture and hence the claim on it by Putin etc al.

Happy to be corrected on any of the above if my faulty memory is incorrect in any respect.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

On an evening less helpful note and if my memory serves me correctly:
Belarus means White Russia and, coupled with European Russia and Ukraine, represents to the Russians the triumvirate of states descended from the Rus tribe. Perhaps surprisingly, the Rus people were thought to be Norsemen originally and they supposedly travelled up the relevant river systems. Kiev was the eventual epicentre of their culture and hence the claim on it by Putin etc al.

Happy to be corrected on any of the above if my faulty memory is incorrect in any respect.

'an evening less' should read 'an even less'

[JamesWales]

On an evening less helpful note and if my memory serves me correctly:
Belarus means White Russia and, coupled with European Russia and Ukraine, represents to the Russians the triumvirate of states descended from the Rus tribe. Perhaps surprisingly, the Rus people were thought to be Norsemen originally and they supposedly travelled up the relevant river systems. Kiev was the eventual epicentre of their culture and hence the claim on it by Putin etc al.

Happy to be corrected on any of the above if my faulty memory is incorrect in any respect.

Yeah you see the name "Kievan Rus" on a lot of old European maps, alongside things like the Holy Roman Empire etc. It seems an anomaly knowing the Kiev and Russian relationship now of course.

[Alan Lung]

Just back from there. What a ****ing weird country. I was advised to take a burner phone as it would be inspected at the airport, and it was. Everywhere I went I had a feeling I was being watched. Terrible place.

[Dorcus]

Just back from there. What a ****ing weird country. I was advised to take a burner phone as it would be inspected at the airport, and it was. Everywhere I went I had a feeling I was being watched. Terrible place.

Any nice tarts there?

[Alan Lung]

Any nice tarts there?

The food was shit. The women weren't much cop either.

[William Treseder]

The food was shit. The women weren't much cop either.

How’s your cousin bearing up?

[Taunton Blue Genie]

The food was shit. The women weren't much cop either.

I was booked to couchsurf with a local chap but he was pretty disgusting on the hygiene front and I slung my hook within minutes and stayed at an AirBnB with a nutty hostess instead.

I wouldn't suggest for one moment that they were representative of the people in general, of course!

[Alan Lung]

How’s your cousin bearing up?

Not too well. However she is in court again next week for the appeal against her sentence. Her lawyer reckons he can get her out. Fingers crossed.