directions to US Emb in Warsaw?

[BrianB68]

Could someone please direct me to site/archive post that gives directions from central train station in Warsaw to American Embassy?  The Embassy website does not impress me, and their link for directions is not there.  Or better yet, just tell me?  Or even better yet, have your wife/fiancee drop me a line in Russian to relay to my wife about how to get there, what line to stand in, what to do, what not to do, etc.?  Ya ponimayu/chitayu ne ploho po russki, russkimi bukvami dazhe luche, shtobi mne ne nado perevodit.  Pomogitye mne pozhaluiste, spasibo vam bolshoe.

I had plans to accompany her to the interview (Oct 30), but since I'm military, and given our war footing, Uncle Sam (or at least my chain of command) said nyet.  She says she is a big girl now, and can take care of it by herself, and can travel alone.  Now I am thinking about the horror stories about Ukrainian girls getting sold into slavery (prostitution)--do any of the wives/fiancees have any opinion on this, i.e. is it an extremely bad idea?  Thanks for you help.

[James B]

... in response to directions to US Emb in Warsaw?, posted by BrianB68 on Oct 21, 2001

BrianB

I read your post and have something in common with you.  I too am military(navy), engaged to a woman from Ukraine and planning on marrying her.  I really don't understand your chain of command not allowing you to travel to Warsaw.  Perhaps you can get a report from the state department or help from the equivalent of our Navy Criminal Investigative Service to help with a recommendation.  I think that travel is just as dangerous for civilians as military since the terrorists only want to target Americans in general.  I hope I don't end up with the same dilemma as you, because I want to go back to Ukraine and accompany my fiancee' back here to Iceland where I am stationed.  Good luck my friend and it's nice to know another servicemember who has found his bride and best friend in Ukraine.

[maxd]

... in response to directions to US Emb in Warsaw?, posted by BrianB68 on Oct 21, 2001

Not hard to find. We are well versed with this and can help ordering taxi's etc.

www.warsawshotel.com

[Bill P]

... in response to directions to US Emb in Warsaw?, posted by BrianB68 on Oct 21, 2001

Brian-

  Here's my take on this.  My fiancee at the time (now wife) took the train from Odessa to Warsaw.  I flew and met her in the train station.  There just weren't direct flights to Warsaw from Odessa and we decided the train was the best way.  But they didn't have heat on the train and she was feeling pretty sick by the time she got to Warsaw.  On the day of the interview, we simply took a cab from the hotel to the embassy.  It was cheap and they knew exactly where to go.  But be sure to check the door of the cab for the price before you get in.  Some cabs can be much more than others or can just charge whatever they want to.

-Bill

[Dan]

... in response to directions to US Emb in Warsaw?, posted by BrianB68 on Oct 21, 2001

Brian,

I suspect you will get differing opinions on your question - so please accept this as only my own (opinion, that is).

I would NEVER have allowed Olya to take a train to Warsaw on her own. There are just too many stories of people I know who have had intruders in the middle of the night or been hassled by the border guards or other difficulties. Our plan, had I NOT been able to accompany her, was for one of her family members to accompany her to Warsaw. If they were unavailable, I had a friend of mine lined up to accompany her.

One option I would have given a LOT more consideration to is flying her there instead of taking a train - especially if she absolutely had to travel solo.

As for directions to the Embassy, I know there are some map sites on the internet that show it, but none I know of in Russian. Maybe your best bet is to reserve her a room at a hotel you know is walking distance to the US Embassy - the Grand Hotel comes to mind. The staff there can give her directions upon arrivel - probably the night before her interview - and can provide her other logistics assistance while she is in Warsaw. You can pre-book her a room at the Grand by going onto the internet at hotelspoland.com.

Just my perspective - and while I generally consider the trains in Ukraine to be safe and comfortable - that is just too long a trip and I've heard far too many horror stories to be comfortable with the notion of her traveling solo by train.

I hope this helps.

- Dan

[tfcrew]

... in response to directions to US Emb in Warsaw?, posted by BrianB68 on Oct 21, 2001

....."she is a big girl now". She will find where she needs to go.
Warsaw is a big city. However, it is not difficult to get around. Maps in all languages are everywhere.

[russian2000]

... in response to Yes, you are correct...., posted by tfcrew on Oct 21, 2001

I think it is a very good idea to have someone else with her in Warsaw, preferable a male.  It is just safer.

Olga

[tfcrew]

... in response to Re: Yes, you are correct...., posted by russian2000 on Oct 21, 2001

....if I were the fiancee, I would want my fiance' there with me at that interview. I had mine fly from Kiev and met her in Warsaw. The date came to soon to get the Ukraine visa.
Would do it again either way.