Friday, August 14, 2009

Southern Ukraine

So, as much as I loved Kiev, it turned out to be a really big hassle to get out of there as well! The Ukraine just kept wanting to keep me where I was, it seemed.

A very classy overnight train ride, where Lyla and I enjoyed our own sleeper cabin for 11 dollars each, brought us to the small town of Kamyanets-Podilski early in the morning. After a bit of fussing about finding the bus station, buying tickets for that afternoon, and dropping our bags at left luggage we wandered into the center of town. The old town is essentially an island, surrounded by a gorge. It was beautiful. Lush, green, hazy.

After eating a breakfast that, surprisingly, contained a plate of bulghar, we wandered the city. A few small churches greeted us, including my personal favorite statues of the trip, two saints literally dancing outside a chapel. Then we crossed a bridge, where we were met with the amazing view of an old, fourteenth century castle. We wandered that, climbing rickety ladders up into centuries-old towers.

Lunch was pizza, which we successfully ordered with ham due to my oinking at the poor waitress.

That afternoon we caught a mini-bus (like a large minivan) to the border town of Chernivtsi, which was surprisingly beautiful and which I was sad to only have one night in. The next morning it was up at five to get back to the bus station and catch a second minibus out of the Ukraine and into Romania, a 90 km trip that managed to take only 4 hours!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Lauren Boy you are seeing lots and it all sounds so beautifull Country side sounds so nice. Heard the churches were real elaborate. Can't wait to see your pictures. After oinking at the waitress I hope your pizza was good. Take care of yourself and be careful Love and kisses and hugs Grandma XOXO