Warsaw 18.08.2019

In the morning I took a train from Krakow to Warsaw and had 3 hrs to spend in Warsaw. Besides having lunch I did visit the National bank, which was open on sunday and got a few missing polish coins.

Krakow 17.08.2019

In Krakow I did meet some work colleagues from the Krakow office and we have a nice with with Pizza and Cola.

I have also seen the famous dragon of Krakow. He is on fire.

14.08.2019 rain in Lviv but good food

The rain in Lviv today resulted in a non sightseeing day, but for the second and last time after Tiraspol, I had to do the laundry on this trip (in the Hostel for 2 Euros the load). I also bought my last missing train ticket from Lviv to Krakow and in the evening I finally had some nice food.

6 hr bus ride in hot glowing scapmetal object

Today was a travel day and I had to go by bus from Kamjanez-Podilskyj to Lviv. Its a 6 hr ride, but today was not my lucky day and the bus performing this 275 km trip was a hot glowing piece of scrapmetal. Outside temperature was 30 degr. , but in the bus it was 40 degr. with of cause No Aircon.

The first part of the journey from Kamjanez-Podilsky to Ternopil abt. 150 km was the worst. In addition to the conditions of and in the bus for the full 150 km the driver stopped at every corner to let people on and off. The ride was more like playing snake in real life. As the drivers aim was to avoid all potholes on the 150 km track, that basically means that he drove snake lines for all 150 km.

The first 150 km took 4 hrs. The next 125 km took only a bit under 2 hrs.

Russian built maschrutka service. Boryspil Automobile Plant built this wonderful Etalon edition.

2 of the best castles / fortresses in Ukraine 12.08.2019

I am back im Ukraine and after a one night stay in Czernowitz, I continued on to Kamjanez-Podilskyj for a 2 night stay. In Kamjanez-Podilskyj you will find a very nice fortress, but as it is located at a busy road, its not as nice as the at the river located fortress at Chotyn. Chotyn castle is not that easy to get to, so I decided to hire a Taxi for the 40 minute/30km  drive to the place. I visited the castle and same cab took me back to Kamjanez-Podilskyj for total fare of abt. 15 Euros.

Kamjanez-Podilskyj castle

Chotyn castle

2 nights in Iasi Romania 09.08.2019

 Iasi in Romania is just a base for 2 days in order to travel from Moldova to Ukraine again. This part of the travel takes the most time as in the current travel speed I hit a border every 2 days. I left Odessa Ukraine on sunday and travelled through Transnistria, Moldova and Romania in order to get to Chernivtsi, Ukraine on Saturday (crossing 3 countries in one week)

Palace in Iasi Romania below

Back in time Moldova

In Chisinau I needed to get a train ticket to Iasi in Romania and ticket was issued completly manually including punch paper !

 I liked that service that much that I called the customer service to leave a good feedback. Luckly enough modern phones have been installed in front of the station.

While travelling by train from Chisinau to Iasi in Romania,  the width of the track changes and its solved in the way that the whole train is lifted up (while you are in it) and each axis is changed to fit the smaller gauge.

Chisinau Moldova 06.08.2019

After 2 nights in Transnistria I took a 2 hr busride to Chisinau the capital of Moldova. As Moldova does not recognize the country of Transnistra they also have also decided that they can not put up a border on their side, as a border would kind of recognize a country. Leaving Transnistria you are 'checked out' by Transnistrian border guards, but actually you are now 'not legal in Moldova' as you have never officially entered the country. As I wanne leave Moldova again to Romania you need to visit the office part of the Ministry of Immingration and Asylum. I showed up at that office and basically all I had to say was the word 'Transnistria' and I was retrospectivly 'checked in' the country of Moldova.

Chisinau capital of Moldova

New vs Soviet times buildings

Arrival in the country that does not exist 'Transnistria' 05.08.2019

On sunday evening 1845 hrs I left Odessa and took a train to Tiraspol with arrival 2100 hrs.
In Kiev I stayed in a hostel, in Odessa in a hotel and in Tiraspol it will be a homestay. A few weeks ago I messaged a german speaking tourguide offering Soviettours in the capital Tiraspol and he also offered a guestroom in his place. I gladly took the offer.

As Transnistria is a none recognized country although it has borders, a goverment, flag and his own currency since abt 30 years.

Transnistria is the last Soviet country and still has hammer and sickle as part of their flags on their coins etc. Even Russia has removed the hammer and sickle from their official symbols.

Lenin still greets guests in front of goverment buildings

Like in Prypjat (Chernobyl) all good Soviet towns had a similar amusement section.

 And Tanks remember the war against Moldova in 1991

31.07/01.08.2019 to Odessa by Nighttrain

 

I left Kiev at 21:15 and arrived Odessa 0600 hrs. It booked a 4 bed sleeper compartment for the price of abt. 18 Euros. On arrival in Odessa I was offered a taxi and I realized that after 4 days this Taxi driver in Odessa was the first person who tried to sell stuff. In all the last 4 days nobody anywhere is trying to sell you goods or services on the street. Ukraine is a completly hassle free experience.

I had breakfast and as my first tourist attraction I have picked the Odessa Film Studos. 2019 the Film Studios turn 100 years old. 5 Hryven coin issued to celebrate the event.

The main attraction in Odessa are the Potemkin Steps from the iconic movie Battleship Potemkin (1925). Other movies like The Untouchables (1987) and The Naked Gun 33 1/3 (1994)  have also made reference to that scene.

Chernobyl 29.07.2019

Chernobyl plant with the new hull construction

Prypjat Fairground has seen better days

Prypjat (Chernobyl)  harbour is not HSSE approved anymore

A nice start in Kiev 28.07.2019

Arrived in Kiev Saturday night. Very painless process, no forms to fill, just a stamp in the passport and I am on my way. After a nice breakfast on sunday morning the first person I run into is the president and he wishes me a nice holiday... I guess that is a good start. Sunday exploring Kiev and monday will be Chernobyl.

If I would have known that I will meet the president, I would have taken off my hut and glases...

 

 

Route for Summer 2019

After a longer break, I will start a BackPacktrip again and if you took a longer break from travelling you have to check your equipment and docs again. My vacinations seem to be in order, passport seems to be in order, but i bought a new backpack, new glasses and cancelled my AAA membership.

Here is the planned route for summer 2019, Kiev to Warsaw. When I checked the public transport option for the route, I stumbled over the fact that the bus/train from Odessa to Modova will cross the country of Transnistria. Lets see...

I will fly on 27.07.2019 from Hannover to Kiev with WizzAir

Return flight Warsaw to Amsterdam on 18.08.2019 with KLM