After a 16 hour flight, just about anyone is more than ready to get off the airplane, I was no exception.

 

 

 

 

 

Clearing customs in Odessa was a breeze, especially since we were the last flight to land that night.

We arrived about 10 p.m., and after a 15 minute bus ride to the terminal, we walked right up to the Customs officers in their booths.  Clearing through these guys went quick and easy, but for a Westerner, having never been through an Eastern European airport, it was a bit different.

Firstly, I guess I wasn’t quite ready for the camouflaged fatigues and AK-74’s at the gate. (Yes, I looked closely and asked what model it was…..) I don’t know if the Ukrainian army controls customs and immigration, but it certainly looked that way. Intellectually, I knew I would probably see the guards and guns, but as an American who grew up and served in the Army during the Cold War, this was a bit of a wake up.

However, the guards, and the airline employees, and in fact, everyone I came across, was friendly and helpful. Smiling and trying to show off their English language skills, they tried to understand my smattering of Russian, and figure out what I wanted.

The airport itself was about what I expected. Concrete block buildings, with governmental looking chairs, and desks, and looked like it hadn’t been painted in quite a while.

I knew that after the breakup of the Soviet Union the economy in Ukraine hadn’t been too robust, and with the recent military actions in the east, and conflicts with Russia, there would not be much money for improvements to government buildings for some time. But, I wasn’t there to tour airports…..

I’ll tell you about the ride in from the airport in my next report…..