CT's Adventures in Ukraine: Back to Chernivtsi

The overnight train ride was fine. We did the usual shifting to the new tracks and going through border patrol. As soon as we got into Ukraine territory, I used the phone to call my Mother in hopes of talking to my grandmother on her birthday. It was 4:30 AM my time, and thus 9:30PM their time. They had just returned from dinner. I didn’t get to talk with my grandmother but did get to talk briefly to my Mom. I had wanted to call my other grandmother on her birthday back in February, but at that point in time was still trying to figure out how to call the US, so that didn’t work.

Now I sit in the Lviv train station waiting room, killing 4.5 hours, waiting for the 10:40 train to Chernivtsi. I bought tickets when we pulled into the station this AM a few minutes after 6. That was an experience, as always.

The concept of personal space does not exist in these parts, especially Ukraine, the way it is exists in America. Therefore, with people always crowding you, bumping into you, etc. you always feel like they are trying to break in line ahead of you. And, often, they are. So, the ticket lady and I communicated regarding the ticket situation…4 billets, oden cabin, Lviv to Chernivtsi, etc. Getting this right was important bc of the smelly feet experience I had last time I took the Lviv-Chernivtsi train ride. I began to pay and then as soon as I handed over my money, before the tickets had been handed to me, two women who had crowded on either side of me began to battle over who was gong next. Both were speaking in raised voices to the train lady, who had not even begun to point out the ticket info to me, as they always do. The ticket lady began to point out the info to me while the women were still talking. So, I raised my voice a bit louder than normal, threw both of my hands out to the side, and said, “Oden minoot!” The ladies backed off. Jeff thought this was hilarious.

We used the restroom, which takes about 25 minutes around here, after paying, waiting in line, etc. and then I bought 2 kavas. It doesn’t matter how many times I order ni sukar, I get sugar. Ni sukar evidently means no added sugar. I think it is impossible to get a no sugar coffee unless one order espresso. Perhaps I’ll give that a try here next.

The musician from Columbia just came over and asked, “So how did y’all sleep?” Y’all! It has been FOREVER since I have heard that.

It is now 7:42. 3 more hours!

Once we disembarked in Chernivtsi, we got a taxi to go back to the flat. It was quite a welcome back to Ukraine wake up call. The taxi, which must have been from 1978, was nasty, the car didn’t function like cars are supposed to function, and the driver almost hit a few other cars, a babushka, and a stray dog before we finally arrived at our destination.

So soon after we returned to Chernivtsi, I went to Ace. Getting in a good workout sounded really good.

I worked out, paid my May membership dues (125 UAH for the month= 15 USD), and then it began to rain. Hard. Lightening and thunder soon followed. So I worked out some more. The walk home testifies to the amount of dust that covers this city on any given day.