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Advice/Things to do in Ukraine
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Posted by: Raspberry

A few days ago at work, I was helping this Ukrainian lady. She is from Lvov, a naturalized Canadian citizen, married to a Canadian. We happened to be talking about things Ukrainian, after I mentioned that I planned to go there.

She gave me some unsolicited advise:

(1) Visit Kiev----you are missing out on a great city if you don't go there.

(2) Although it can be easily done, don't get married the first week you are there.

(3) If you see Black people when in Ukraine, talk to them. They speak English, and they may be able to help you.....and vice-versa.

(4) Drink plenty of vodka

Posted by: OzGuyLooking

I personally would visit the Chernobyl memorials, see some of the ancient Viking/Rus sites, some of the ancient Beaker people sites and not to forget the Keltoi barrows if there are any left.

Posted by: AkMike

Visit the ancient Greek settlements near Stevastopol!!!
Visit the site of the "Charge of the Light Brigade" from the Crimean War at Balakalava.
Kiev's war museum under the Iron Maiden Statue. See the churches in the downtown area. Try not to trip over your tongue with all the beautiful women there.

Posted by: markgm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspberry

A few days ago at work, I was helping this Ukrainian lady. She is from Lvov, a naturalized Canadian citizen, married to a Canadian. We happened to be talking about things Ukrainian, after I mentioned that I planned to go there.

She gave me some unsolicited advise:

(1) Visit Kiev----you are missing out on a great city if you don't go there.

(2) Although it can be easily done, don't get married the first week you are there.

(3) If you see Black people when in Ukraine, talk to them. They speak English, and they may be able to help you.....and vice-versa.

(4) Drink plenty of vodka

Kiev is a big city with lots of sites but is expensive, Lvov which is Lviv is another really nice city on the western border with heaps of sites to visit.
You would be really lucky to see any coloured people over there.

Hmmmm drink Vodka best to stay away from this while over there the homemade vodka which is also sold in most shops will wipe you out He!! He!! it did to me anyway.

Also it takes around 3 months to organize paperwork for a marriage in the Ukraine so no chance of that happening

Posted by: AkMike

Mark,
It just took us a couple of days to get our paperwork done, Not 3 months.

You just need to know which palms to grease...

Posted by: markgm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkMike

Mark,
It just took us a couple of days to get our paperwork done, Not 3 months.

You just need to know which palms to grease...

Hi Mike I enquired last time i was over there in Nats town they said minimum waiting time for approval was 3 months for an Aussie They wanted Ukranian certified copies of Full birth cert, divorce cert, Previous marriage cert, and copies of all pages in passports.
So decided we might as well do it in OZ.

Posted by: markgm

Quote:

Originally Posted by OzGuyLooking

I personally would visit the Chernobyl memorials, see some of the ancient Viking/Rus sites, some of the ancient Beaker people sites and not to forget the Keltoi barrows if there are any left.

He!!He!! and if you do visit Chernobyl you might even get free glow in the dark Tank.

Posted by: OzGuyLooking

Quote:

Originally Posted by markgm

He!!He!! and if you do visit Chernobyl you might even get free glow in the dark Tank.

It was 20 years ago today you know. Still the UN and probably more importantly the Ukraine and Russian governments still argue ablout the overall effect of it. National Geographic did an article on it for the latest issue.

Posted by: AkMike

Well Mark I don't have a clue why they'd make Ozzies wait so long! Maybe to make sure that the distemper shots worked?

There is a 30 day wait that can easily be avoided by giving a "gift" of $100 to the right people. It was the best $100 I ever spent in my life!!

Posted by: OzGuyLooking

Didn't you know Mike, Distemper in Oz takes 3 months because of the weather.

Posted by: AkMike

I thought so!

That's why they tried to keep you guys isolated away from the rest of us.

Posted by: markgm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkMike

Well Mark I don't have a clue why they'd make Ozzies wait so long! Maybe to make sure that the distemper shots worked?

There is a 30 day wait that can easily be avoided by giving a "gift" of $100 to the right people. It was the best $100 I ever spent in my life!!

Ha!!Ha!! The gift I know mate handed a few of them out over there. I found mike when it came to being an Aussie over there they just did not know what to do especially the Banks. Kiev was Ok but a few hundred miles away where no one speaks English forget it mate Its like ohhhhhh an Australian sheezus what do we do.......................

Posted by: AkMike

I was lucky I had my very own personal translator/ russian teacher and travel guide during my time over there. Now I get to show her my part of the world!

Posted by: markgm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkMike

I was lucky I had my very own personal translator/ russian teacher and travel guide during my time over there. Now I get to show her my part of the world!

I was lucky that i can speak some Russian otherwise i would have been stuffed plus Nat took care of me and guarded me like a hawk.
In her town when they saw an Aussie passport mate they just did not know what to do it was like having a passport from another planet.

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Its like ohhhhhh an Australian sheezus what do we do...

Same as the rest of us then he he

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by OzGuyLooking

20th Anniversary today, still thousands of people affected by it and they say 97% of Belarus is contaminated.

Even some farmers in Cumbria in the UK not far from me still have to have their sheep monitored before they can send them, to market, there are still higher levels of radiation coming out of the marshy ground in areas of Cumbria.

They also say the next Chernobyl will be Chernobyl 2 as there is much more to come out of it and it is just waiting to happen.

Chris

Posted by: tonton

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

Same as the rest of us then he he

Almost Chrismc, I have had 2 amusing taxi experiences in different cities - I also do some work in Russia, and in Perm and Elenas' city of Tomsk the driver assumed I was American (sorry guys) and on both instances when learning I was Aussie he has slammed the brakes, looked at me and asked about Kostya Tszyu! He is an icon over there....oh, a Russian-Aussie world champ boxer for those not knowing of him. He is on reality TV over here at the moment - his wife is a Russian hottie!

Posted by: Jill

Where will you be based in Ukraine and how long will you be staying for?

Definitely see Kiev. Spend at least a few days there so you can see Pecherska Lavra, Andreyevskyy spusk, maybe the Chernobyl museum, the Hetman museum is interesting if you like history, Khreshyatik on the weekend (Saturday night, for example). From Kiev, you can also do some day trips--I highly recommend Pirogovo, also Sofiyivka is very nice. If you have a chance, see Lviv (if you end up based in Kiev, you can easily do Lviv as a weekend trip), also Odessa is worth seeing (could be another weekend trip from Kiev--be sure and check out Arcadia). Crimea has some interesting sights, including Khersones and Bakhchisaray. Maybe Zakarpattia? (Although most people go in the winter months).

Hmmm...I need more specifics about your plans and interests, becuase there is really just so much to see and do in Ukraine.

Posted by: AkMike

If you have time and are in the area, Yalta is a great town. Lots of things to see and do. You can see the Czar's palace Livadia, Count Vorontsov Plalace. Fairy Tale Alley, the Swallow's Nest and lots of stuff right in town.

Edit..
You can see some picture of this area in my photo gallery here at RMP.

Posted by: deccie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

In general it appears the way the FSU has dealt with nuclear materials has been very poor.
Nuclear reactors dumped at sea.
Nuclear fuel stored in old ships and the fuel rods themselves damaged.

Chernobyl may be the most well know disaster but there have been others.

Posted by: jpierce55

I thought Kiev was incredible. From my room I could walk to the Cathedrals and that was incredible. Not overly fancy but interesting and good was O'panas restaurant. Unfortunately some rennovations were being done on the one Cathedrals bell tower when I was there, I understand normally you can go in. I did not get to fully enjoy them or Kiev and eventually wish to go back, but ironically I chose to return to Moscow that I hated.