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.


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


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.






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


Lviv's old city fortifications.


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


Art Nouveau building in need of repair.


Around Market Square.












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




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.


Night shots from the square in front of our hotel.




Opera and Ballet Theatre.


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


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


Inside the Transfiguration Church.


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.
















White Rabbit.


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


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










We fill up at Puzata Hata. Love the potato dumplings.

Kosice

Kosice is the 2nd largest city in Slovakia and the largest in eastern Slovakia. We stopped here for one night on our way to Ukraine. The lovely and lively Town Square is a simply an incremental widening of the already very wide main street. Being a holiday weekend, the town was busy and we enjoyed strolling around in the afternoon and late evening.

The city's trams pull up right in front of the train station - perfect.


The southern end of the Town Square.


Arcade.


St Elizabeth Cathedral is the largest church is Slovakia. Big enough to hold a wedding on the left side while tourists visit the rest of the building. Checkout the pulpit (left) and the two large altars (center and right).


And from the side.


We were in Kosice on a holiday weekend and saw the special 4-gun salute after the mayor's speech.




North end of the Town Square.




Tram stop.


Museum.


Bank Building.


Slovakians love ice hockey and were following the World Championships.


The Jewish Synagogue; built in the 1920's.


We ate dinner on the square and I had a very tasty Staropramen draft lager.


While having dinner, this guy rode by at least three times. Labor is cheap in Slovakia.


Dinner drinks: beer for me and a negroni for SL.


Still going.


The so-called Singing Fountain is in the center of the square in front of the theater and loved by all.


St Elizabeth's at night.