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Thursday, June 17, 2004
One Saturday in Kiev
The alarm awakes me at 7:15 and I jump out of bed. Today I'm going to watch the All Blacks so I am excited. After a shower, breakfast and hasty quiet time (sorry Lord), I leave home about 8am and head down to the bus station to find a car or anything to take me into Kiev.
I plan to watch the rugby which kicks off at 10:30 am, then go to the train station to buy some tickets for a trip to Lviv, then buy a few groceries and head home. I should be home by mid afternoon.
There were no cars going anywhere. The bus station was as dead as I had seen it. As time wore on I was getting more and more agitated and ready to pay a higher and higher price. By about 9:10 I flagged a car that pulled over and for 10 grivney I was on my way. I arrived at the metro station at 10:15. I had to go 4 stops, change, go another stop and then about a 5 minute walk. I was about 5 minutes late when I arrived at O'Brien's Irish Pub. But there was no Rugby on the big screen. There are about 40-50 people, a good smattering of English rugby shirts and I manage to spot just two All Black shirts. One Kiwi comes over to talk and we discover that the satellite is out to all the hotels in Kiev. The Embassy will video the first half and drive it over for us and then video the second half and drive it over. So I buy a very nice but rather expensive breakfast and decide that it will be lunch also (about $10). The game eventually turns up and its just Heaven on Earth to watch the All Blacks clinically and piece by piece take the English to the slaughter house. I had a Pom sitting next to me complaining about the referring. Whinging Poms!!
After the game I head down to the main train station to buy some tickets to Lviv for when my parents are here. I go to an information desk to be sent to another information desk to be sent to Kaca 41 or 42. I eventually find 41 and 42 but they are shut. The lady in 39 tells me they will be back after lunch at 3pm. And she can't sell me a ticket to Lviv. So I go off to find a market and buy some groceries and vegetables. I come back at 2:55 with a back pack full and a large bag in each hand. I line up and have 4 people push in front of me. Oh well. Then praise the Lord, one girl who pushed in front spoke English and offered to translate for me. The lady wanted my parents' documents (crazy country). She eventually sells me 4 train tickets and I head back to the bus station to make it home. The next bus doesn't leave til 5:30. Good thing I brought a book to read.
By the time I get home and lug my groceries up the hill its 7:15pm and the first person has already turned up for an informal games night starting at 8pm.
Just another day in Ukraine!!
I plan to watch the rugby which kicks off at 10:30 am, then go to the train station to buy some tickets for a trip to Lviv, then buy a few groceries and head home. I should be home by mid afternoon.
There were no cars going anywhere. The bus station was as dead as I had seen it. As time wore on I was getting more and more agitated and ready to pay a higher and higher price. By about 9:10 I flagged a car that pulled over and for 10 grivney I was on my way. I arrived at the metro station at 10:15. I had to go 4 stops, change, go another stop and then about a 5 minute walk. I was about 5 minutes late when I arrived at O'Brien's Irish Pub. But there was no Rugby on the big screen. There are about 40-50 people, a good smattering of English rugby shirts and I manage to spot just two All Black shirts. One Kiwi comes over to talk and we discover that the satellite is out to all the hotels in Kiev. The Embassy will video the first half and drive it over for us and then video the second half and drive it over. So I buy a very nice but rather expensive breakfast and decide that it will be lunch also (about $10). The game eventually turns up and its just Heaven on Earth to watch the All Blacks clinically and piece by piece take the English to the slaughter house. I had a Pom sitting next to me complaining about the referring. Whinging Poms!!
After the game I head down to the main train station to buy some tickets to Lviv for when my parents are here. I go to an information desk to be sent to another information desk to be sent to Kaca 41 or 42. I eventually find 41 and 42 but they are shut. The lady in 39 tells me they will be back after lunch at 3pm. And she can't sell me a ticket to Lviv. So I go off to find a market and buy some groceries and vegetables. I come back at 2:55 with a back pack full and a large bag in each hand. I line up and have 4 people push in front of me. Oh well. Then praise the Lord, one girl who pushed in front spoke English and offered to translate for me. The lady wanted my parents' documents (crazy country). She eventually sells me 4 train tickets and I head back to the bus station to make it home. The next bus doesn't leave til 5:30. Good thing I brought a book to read.
By the time I get home and lug my groceries up the hill its 7:15pm and the first person has already turned up for an informal games night starting at 8pm.
Just another day in Ukraine!!
