Ukranian vodka
People i met here who contributed to, and improved my trip: Stale (Norway) my axe throwing brother!
Rather than hang around in Budapest any longer i decided to jump
straight onto the overnight train to Lviv in the Ukraine. I'd wanted to
visit last time i was in Eastern Europe, but unfortunately at that time
i'd needed a visa. This restriction was lifted only 6 months ago
so off i trotted on my merry way.
In my train compartment, there was a Ukranian government official, which was rather surprising as you would expect such a person to fly. This however probably reflects quite well on the financial plight within the country. He couldn't quite grasp why i wanted to visit the Ukraine and warned me there would be nothing written in English, very few people who spoke English and my whole experience may be clouded by the beauracracy of the country.
After jumping in a taxi to Hotel Lviv - a shocking old Russian hotel (but extremely cheap) - i hit my first hurdle, that the guy on the train had pre warned me of. No prices in English and no English spoken. Luckily one sour faced woman begrudgingly spoke some German with me and checked me in. After a quick shower and change i popped back down to reception, to try and get a map and find out some info on the city. To my bewilderment, the woman who had only moments earlier spoke German with me, no longer had any concept of the language! Rather irate i trudged off into the centre.
Over the next few days, i visited the cemetery, climbed the town hall for great panoramic views, got lost on countless occasions and couldnt find anything written in English, or anyone willing to speak to me in English! I did however get soaking wet watching Ukraine beat Tunisia in the World Cup on a huge screen in the park.
On my last day i eventually met Stale a Norweigan guy, Jurgen a German and a Canadian called Morey. I've never seen Westerners so happy to meet and talk with each other! In celebration of our new friendships we went out and got blind drunk in a club! On my way home around 4am, i stumbled across an end of year school party of 14-17 year olds. Somehow i was talked into buying them 2 bottles of vodka (they were already drinking with their teachers!) which they then tried to force feed me! By 4.30am i was losing consciousness and snuck out on my way to the toilet. As a result of these festivities, i missed my train the next day and slept away my pain!
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