So the company you want to order from is charging $140? Do you know how much the battery and lens together weigh? And what city are you in? I can find out from the post office how much they would charge to ship it to you - it could be a little or a lot cheaper.

No- the long story goes like this:

I ordered a Nikon D200 through a friend who works at Ritz. She got me a slight deal, as well as a deep discount on the hard-to-find en-el3e battery (the only batt the D200 will eat), and also a fast prime lens. Unfortunately these things were shipped at different times.

I can buy the lens (again, argh!) here, but the batteries are completely unavailable. I've called every shop in Moscow that has an online store and mentions them, and they all tell me to call back in a few months. In a few months, I'll be back in the US.

More background: the Russian post is not safe. Of the 8 packages I've had sent to me, 6 have made it. Two never did. One had been cut open and had some things removed.

I had a friend who was coming here bring the D200 body, and I bought a lens for it here. That way there are no customs hassles and no "lost in the mail" BS. I also have no permanent address here, and items shipped by post often take more than a month- I won't be here any longer than that.

The 140$ was with FedEx, who is pretty reliable as a shipper and has a Moscow office. I'm open to other suggestions as well.

To answer your question, the lens and battery together weigh 2 pounds. I'm in Moscow, Russia, and the lens and battery are in Bismarck, North Dakota, 58504-4250.

Check with cmonkey - He's not going to Moscow, but he'll be in the Ukraine, I think.

No, I had to postpone my Belarus/Ukraine trip until next fall since I didn't get my money-saving act together.

Unfortunate- but what were you planning to do there? I've decided I have to see Balaklava and Chernobyl before I leave this part of the world...

Chernobyl (well, Pripyat) for sure. I also want to see the Museum of One Street in Kyiv, the Museum of Confiscated Art in Minsk, and the Brest Fortress. Well, and ride the subways. I'm on a mission to ride every subway in Europe.

fake - if you do get to Chernobyl/Pripyat, please post any pictures that you may take! That area has always fascinated me, in a Ballardian sort-of-way.

Cmonkey, have you seen that new book that's out of oral histories from Chernobyl?

No, I haven't. Is this it?

There's another new, super-cool book about Chernobyl/Pripyat out there- I saw it in Germany, it has a masked soldier on the cover. Huge numbers of primary documents and original photographs, mostly concerning the firefighters.

Zack, if I get there, I'll be sure to share... I'll be making the effort within the next two months. I really wanted to get there in the winter but right now that sounds impossible.

I haven't heard of the book! I'll have to keep my eyes open for it. Pics would be great... I was wandering through the Stalker game website, and came upon this page, with pics that they took of their second trip there. Thought you (and cmonkey) would like to see if you haven't already.