Sunday, May 15, 2016

Into Ukraine - Lviv

It was a long but painless day as we traveled from Kosice, Slovakia to Lviv, Ukraine: a medium train ride to the border, a long wait at the border after an easy border crossing at Cierna das Tisou/Chop, a longer trip north to Lviv, and finally a quick hassle-free taxi to our booked hotel; about 12 hours total plus a timezone change (one hour lost).

Being the end of a long holiday period in Slovakia - Sunday May 1 was Orthodox Easter and also Labor Day ie May Day, and Sunday May 8 was Victory Over Fascism Day remembering the end of WWII - Lviv was filled with locals and travelers enjoying the beautiful weather. Not to mention there were more street musicians per 50 meters than I've ever seen anywhere.

The train from Kosice to Cierna nad Tisou; i.e. the Slovakian border crossing.
Lviv, Ukraine

Where we switched to this Slovakian train to go a few kilometers to Chop, the Ukrainian border crossing. We were the only passengers.
Lviv, Ukraine

The interior of Chop Station is very, er, large and ....Soviet-like. We had some time to kill so we admired the Social Realist murals in the station, then walked around town testing the ATMs and finally withdrawing some Ukrainian hryvnia from one.
Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

The train to Lviv took about 6 hours and we were in a compartment that was just like a Chinese soft-sleeper.
Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv's old city fortifications.
Lviv, Ukraine

The Book Market is in a square with a statue of Lviv's first printer.
Lviv, Ukraine

Art Nouveau building in need of repair.
Lviv, Ukraine

Around Market Square.
Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

The Town Hall and Tower are in the middle of Market Square.
Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

We discover a instant fav restaurant: Puzata Hata. It's a vegetarian-friendly cafeteria where you can see the food before choosing, then pay by weight. The potato dumplings, lower left, are delicious.
Lviv, Ukraine

Night shots from the square in front of our hotel.
Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

Opera and Ballet Theatre.
Lviv, Ukraine

The open-air (and covered) market is huge.
Lviv, Ukraine

The view from Castle Hill is mostly obstructed by trees. But here's a shot to Market Square.
Lviv, Ukraine

Inside the Transfiguration Church.
Lviv, Ukraine

The Armenian Cathedral of Lviv was built in the 14th-century but the interior is largely early 20th-century Art Nouveau. The church is small and the lighting is dim; however, it is extremely beautiful.
Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

White Rabbit.
Lviv, Ukraine

Art Nouveau villa, now a hotel, seen on the walk to the cemetery.
Lviv, Ukraine

There are 4 or 5 Art Nouveau buildings on Bohomoltsa Street; most need some repairs.
Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

Lviv, Ukraine

We fill up at Puzata Hata. Love the potato dumplings.
Lviv, Ukraine




5 comments:

Crash Eddy said...

You omitted the border crossing into Poland as I see this travel cuts across a point of Poland. Interesting: trams abound. Where are our trams? Also Segways. And more squares with people walking everywhere. Oh, Raleigh. Where is our square? Given up to vehicular traffic. We don't need no stinkin' square.

Crash Eddy said...

Checking Google Maps again, I see that cross into Poland is not necessary. Other routes bypass Poland.

Kathy said...

You didn't go to the cemetery?

Sun-Ling said...

@Kathy, I am not a big fan of cemeteries, and feel like I have been to more than my share of them. We'll be back in Lviv tomorrow, a must see?!

Kathy said...

Definitely one of the best. See:

https://kwilhelm.smugmug.com/Travel/Europe-2006/Ukraine-Kolomiya-Lviv/i-6r8BsMR

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