Tourism 7-11 November
The 7th I took the train up into the Carpathians, basically directly South of Ivano-Frankovisk. It was a three hour train ride, around 150 km that took me to Vorochta. I had lunch and asked the waitress if she knew any rooms to rent. She followed me to a place and looked up the owner. That was very nice of her, Irinka was her name. Just another example of how helpful Ukarainians are. They don't smile a lot though.
One exception from the rule is the women that work in the railway station. They seem to be very little inclined to help, and as I wrote before the whole system is confusing, and a poor foreigner can actually need some help.....Also the women in the post office are blunt (sorry girls but there seem to be only women that are bad, let's say the guys are all drunk to be fair).
The train was very simple, wooden benches and the windows were so dirty that it is hard to believe they have washed them since the wagon was made, and I rather not speak about the toilet (the smell still haunts me)...The train was full and people chatting all the time. Wheh we reached the mountains the sky cleared and I saw the sun for the first time since coming to Ukraine.
An interesting observation is that they have soldiers guarding all the rail tunnels and bridges on each side, with a watch tower and also trenches for them to take position in. I wonder which completely outdated military doctrine that is the basis for this complete waste of human energy?
I took a walk aound the village and a short bit up into the hills. This is next to the highest mountain of Ukaraine, 2061 meter, but I could't see the top. I went into a church and there was a wedding ceremony. The Ortodox churches are really loaded with things.
The same wedding party later appeared in the restaurant where I had dinner, but the main party was somewhere else.
The following day I took the bus to Yaremche, which is the center of tourism in the Carpathians. I was looking for a trail leading to some spectacular cliffs but never found it, but had a nice walk. From Yaremche I took the bus to Kolomija, which features a museum for egg shell paining, a Ukrainian speciality. Then back to I-F in the evening of the 9th
the 10th and 11th I cover a lot of ground between Ivano-Frankovsk and Kamyanets-Podilsky where I am now. Most of the photos in the other posting is from those two day. It is striking what potential they have for tourism - and how little they have made out of it. In a German book I read about this striking cave with walls full of crystal. I tried to find it. There were absolutely no signs, but by asking the locals I gradually came closer and closer and further and further away from "civilisation". Finally I reached a place where there was a house and a party tent. Still no signs or any people. But there was a path leading up into the hill, so I went there. After quite a while I finally found the entry, but there was a closed gate. No information even in Ukarainian about opening hours etc.
Kamyanets-Podilsky is a really fascinating town. The whole Old town and the Fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage. You can see the castle with me in front in the other posting. They cast the black and white version of Ivanhoe in that castle (was it Errol Flyn?). You can find a lot of pictures on http://www.tryukraine.com/photos/kampod.shtml
Apart from all the nice things to see it is like Jerusalem but more. The old Town is divided in Quarters for a large number of ethnic and religious groups, (Russians, Ukrainians, Poles, Greek, Tartars, Jews, Bulgars etc.) which in the old time all had their own rule and magistrates. There is very little commercialism developed. I believe this would be a prime investment target for anybody having some extra money. Really beautiful and huge tourism potential.
Costs
Ukraine is a lot cheaper than Poland and Lithuania. Train ticket for 150 km: 1 Euro, bus is a little more expensive, One loaf of bread or a beer in a shop 30 eurocent. Food in a bar-restaurant has a wide spread in costs, but in most simpler places you get a royal meal, including drinks for 3-4 Euro, and it is quite easy to get through on 5 Euro per day if your interest is mainly to save money. Hotels I stayed in have cost from 6 Euro to 75 Euro. The 75 Euro was in Lviv and it was Superior room in the best hotel. I stayed two more days in Lviv in a nice place for 30 Euro. In the countryside the hotels/pensions will normally cost like 10-15 Euro, in the cities the double. Here in Kamnyanets I stay in a recently refurbished hotel of high standard and it costs 28 Euro per night, breakfast included. If you drive petrol is in the range of 60 cent per liter. Taxi is very cheap and most of them have a meter/
One exception from the rule is the women that work in the railway station. They seem to be very little inclined to help, and as I wrote before the whole system is confusing, and a poor foreigner can actually need some help.....Also the women in the post office are blunt (sorry girls but there seem to be only women that are bad, let's say the guys are all drunk to be fair).
The train was very simple, wooden benches and the windows were so dirty that it is hard to believe they have washed them since the wagon was made, and I rather not speak about the toilet (the smell still haunts me)...The train was full and people chatting all the time. Wheh we reached the mountains the sky cleared and I saw the sun for the first time since coming to Ukraine.
An interesting observation is that they have soldiers guarding all the rail tunnels and bridges on each side, with a watch tower and also trenches for them to take position in. I wonder which completely outdated military doctrine that is the basis for this complete waste of human energy?
I took a walk aound the village and a short bit up into the hills. This is next to the highest mountain of Ukaraine, 2061 meter, but I could't see the top. I went into a church and there was a wedding ceremony. The Ortodox churches are really loaded with things.
The same wedding party later appeared in the restaurant where I had dinner, but the main party was somewhere else.
The following day I took the bus to Yaremche, which is the center of tourism in the Carpathians. I was looking for a trail leading to some spectacular cliffs but never found it, but had a nice walk. From Yaremche I took the bus to Kolomija, which features a museum for egg shell paining, a Ukrainian speciality. Then back to I-F in the evening of the 9th
the 10th and 11th I cover a lot of ground between Ivano-Frankovsk and Kamyanets-Podilsky where I am now. Most of the photos in the other posting is from those two day. It is striking what potential they have for tourism - and how little they have made out of it. In a German book I read about this striking cave with walls full of crystal. I tried to find it. There were absolutely no signs, but by asking the locals I gradually came closer and closer and further and further away from "civilisation". Finally I reached a place where there was a house and a party tent. Still no signs or any people. But there was a path leading up into the hill, so I went there. After quite a while I finally found the entry, but there was a closed gate. No information even in Ukarainian about opening hours etc.
Kamyanets-Podilsky is a really fascinating town. The whole Old town and the Fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage. You can see the castle with me in front in the other posting. They cast the black and white version of Ivanhoe in that castle (was it Errol Flyn?). You can find a lot of pictures on http://www.tryukraine.com/photos/kampod.shtml
Apart from all the nice things to see it is like Jerusalem but more. The old Town is divided in Quarters for a large number of ethnic and religious groups, (Russians, Ukrainians, Poles, Greek, Tartars, Jews, Bulgars etc.) which in the old time all had their own rule and magistrates. There is very little commercialism developed. I believe this would be a prime investment target for anybody having some extra money. Really beautiful and huge tourism potential.
Costs
Ukraine is a lot cheaper than Poland and Lithuania. Train ticket for 150 km: 1 Euro, bus is a little more expensive, One loaf of bread or a beer in a shop 30 eurocent. Food in a bar-restaurant has a wide spread in costs, but in most simpler places you get a royal meal, including drinks for 3-4 Euro, and it is quite easy to get through on 5 Euro per day if your interest is mainly to save money. Hotels I stayed in have cost from 6 Euro to 75 Euro. The 75 Euro was in Lviv and it was Superior room in the best hotel. I stayed two more days in Lviv in a nice place for 30 Euro. In the countryside the hotels/pensions will normally cost like 10-15 Euro, in the cities the double. Here in Kamnyanets I stay in a recently refurbished hotel of high standard and it costs 28 Euro per night, breakfast included. If you drive petrol is in the range of 60 cent per liter. Taxi is very cheap and most of them have a meter/
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Postat av: GM
Hallå! Är allt bra idag? =)
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