L'viv

Don't ever ride on a Ukrainian train in the summertime. It is hell on earth. Got up early in the morning to catch the Uzhgorod-to-L'viv train with cousins Alla and Aileen.

Train ride was 6 hours long on a cramped, Soviet style electric train with no air conditioning, no ventilation, no rest stops. It must have been 100 degrees inside. Never, ever again!!Wish the train ride was better, because we traveled through some very beautiful scenery, going through the mountains.

audio of the singers:

We passed scores of quaint little villages, mountain streams, and dozens of churches. But no matter how hard I tried, it seemed that a telephone pole got in the way every time I tried to shoot.

L'viv was just as hot, but at least out in the open there was a little breeze. L'viv is a beautiful town, hundreds of old historic buildings.

 Very pedestrian friendly. Old cobblestone streets shut off to auto traffic. Alla had never been to L'viv before, but Aileen had, many times. She knew lots of little art shops. Lots of street performers trying to hustle money. Balalaikai players, violin players, piano players, singers, people with trained birds, an old woman with a piglet, begging for food for her pig.

People in L'viv very attractive people. In fact, all over Ukraine, attractive, good looking people. Don't see very many obese children and teenagers. My Ukraine friends asked me why they see so many fat American kids on TV.

Spent about 5 hours in L'viv, then got back on the train. Trip home even worse than the ride there. I didn't know it could get any hotter. We decided to get off at Mukachevo, get something to eat there, then take a taxi to Uzhgorod rather than stay on the train any longer. Mukachevo is another very pedestrian friendly town. Little auto traffic, nice quiet streets to walk around in.

I wish I had some video of our taxi driver. He has to be a serial killer. I bet he's probably run over a few hundred people in his career. These Ukie drivers are nuts. They fly down the roads 120 KPH, just inches away from other cars, there are absolutely no rules when it comes to driving - anything goes. And whoever is fastest and has most nerve has the right of way.

We did some souvenir shopping in L'viv; there were lots of old guys at a bazaar selling their old Soviet medals and stuff. Picked up Soviet Army hat cheap.