Arriving in Kiev
I arrived in Kiev at about 16.30 (train was on time despite 18hr journey) and immediately sought a cash machine to get some local currency, the Hryvnia. I felt very named and exposed without it, and besides, I had to get a bus, so needed some, preferably small denomitaiton notes. I had already worked out the exchange rate from my WikiTravel printout.
Note to travelers: Always know the exchange rate of the country you are going to. And have some sort of guide for the country / city. My WikiTravel printouts were not exactly huge, but they were adequate (what I mean is, the info that they had was fantastically useful - more would have been helpful if I was staying longer). I should by rights update them with my experiences.
Lucky for me the ATM gave me a great variety of notes, which was to prove very useful. Despite having 'worked out' the exchange rate at 2.5UAH to the £ it turned out to be 10UAH to a £. Anyway, from the machine I got 500UAH, which sounded like (and looked like) a lot - £50 ($100).
My instructions were to get the 726 Marshrutka from outside the station. Hmmm. Outside the station, there were many many mini buses pretty chaotically arranged (to my eyes). Anyway, I wondered around a bit and saw where the numbers were on the little yellow (Transit van sized) buses. I couldn't see the 726 though. There weren't as far as I could tell 'bus stops' as such. While I was working out what to do / who to ask, my 'friend' from on the train appeared and asked if I needed help... Having explained he found out where the 726 went from and there it was, right in front of me.
My send instruction was to get the bus to the 'Magelan Trade Centre', and get off at the next stop. So I got on the bus and someone appeared to collect the fares. The fare was 1.5UAH (15p) - flat fare.
I managed to 'talk' to some women on the bus who helped point out the 'trade centre' when we got there after a 45 minute journey. The Magelan turned out to be a round shopping mall / centre. I got off the bus and I was on a fast dual-carriageway lined with blocks of flats. All very ordered, each one has a number. So an address of 26/2 is simply block 26, flat 2. Easy. So I trudged through the ice and snow and found block 26. Big steel door, locked. Lucky for me, a resident appeared and I floated through with them to be confronted by a friendly concierge woman. I showed her my printout with my hosts name... she waved me through and pointed out flat 2.
I rang and rang the door bell and there was no reply. So I called Yevgeny's mobile. Turns out (a) he wasn't expecting me for a few days and (b) he wouldn't be home from work for four hours. Oh dear (fuck). He suggested I went to the Magelan. So I did. It's open until 23.00.
I made a decision to dump my bag outside the flat, which was behind several doors so was safe-ish. I certainly wasn't going to lug it around the shopping centre.
Leaving the building I 'explained' in sign language to the concierge that I had a four hour wait. She very kindly offered me to sit in her cosy room and watch her TV. I declined gracefully.
I used my time in the Magelan to get an hour in a net cafe and have a meal, and of course browse the fantastic supermarket (a cultural highlight of any trip abroad). All quite inexpensive. CDs in the book/music shop were about very cheap. Average price was £4 and the most expensive I saw was £6. UK chart CDs were about £4 and this in a reputable looking shop.
The meal was <blush> Sushi - I picked a restaurant that had pictures on the menu. The chefs were Asian at least.
Everyone smokes here, especially the women.
Many women in fur coats. Have to assume they are real. And needed.
A lot of people in the resto are drinking 'brandy' (I think - well, it looks like brandy) and coffee as an aperitif. The 'brandy' comes with a plate of lemon slices.
Drifted back to the flat at gone 10.
My bag had gone!!
Olga had rescued it... And left this wonderful note on the floor where it was. A more accurate picture of what was where would not be possible.
Note to travelers: Always know the exchange rate of the country you are going to. And have some sort of guide for the country / city. My WikiTravel printouts were not exactly huge, but they were adequate (what I mean is, the info that they had was fantastically useful - more would have been helpful if I was staying longer). I should by rights update them with my experiences.
Lucky for me the ATM gave me a great variety of notes, which was to prove very useful. Despite having 'worked out' the exchange rate at 2.5UAH to the £ it turned out to be 10UAH to a £. Anyway, from the machine I got 500UAH, which sounded like (and looked like) a lot - £50 ($100).
My instructions were to get the 726 Marshrutka from outside the station. Hmmm. Outside the station, there were many many mini buses pretty chaotically arranged (to my eyes). Anyway, I wondered around a bit and saw where the numbers were on the little yellow (Transit van sized) buses. I couldn't see the 726 though. There weren't as far as I could tell 'bus stops' as such. While I was working out what to do / who to ask, my 'friend' from on the train appeared and asked if I needed help... Having explained he found out where the 726 went from and there it was, right in front of me.
My send instruction was to get the bus to the 'Magelan Trade Centre', and get off at the next stop. So I got on the bus and someone appeared to collect the fares. The fare was 1.5UAH (15p) - flat fare.
I managed to 'talk' to some women on the bus who helped point out the 'trade centre' when we got there after a 45 minute journey. The Magelan turned out to be a round shopping mall / centre. I got off the bus and I was on a fast dual-carriageway lined with blocks of flats. All very ordered, each one has a number. So an address of 26/2 is simply block 26, flat 2. Easy. So I trudged through the ice and snow and found block 26. Big steel door, locked. Lucky for me, a resident appeared and I floated through with them to be confronted by a friendly concierge woman. I showed her my printout with my hosts name... she waved me through and pointed out flat 2.
I rang and rang the door bell and there was no reply. So I called Yevgeny's mobile. Turns out (a) he wasn't expecting me for a few days and (b) he wouldn't be home from work for four hours. Oh dear (fuck). He suggested I went to the Magelan. So I did. It's open until 23.00.
I made a decision to dump my bag outside the flat, which was behind several doors so was safe-ish. I certainly wasn't going to lug it around the shopping centre.
Leaving the building I 'explained' in sign language to the concierge that I had a four hour wait. She very kindly offered me to sit in her cosy room and watch her TV. I declined gracefully.
I used my time in the Magelan to get an hour in a net cafe and have a meal, and of course browse the fantastic supermarket (a cultural highlight of any trip abroad). All quite inexpensive. CDs in the book/music shop were about very cheap. Average price was £4 and the most expensive I saw was £6. UK chart CDs were about £4 and this in a reputable looking shop.
The meal was <blush> Sushi - I picked a restaurant that had pictures on the menu. The chefs were Asian at least.
Everyone smokes here, especially the women.
Many women in fur coats. Have to assume they are real. And needed.
A lot of people in the resto are drinking 'brandy' (I think - well, it looks like brandy) and coffee as an aperitif. The 'brandy' comes with a plate of lemon slices.
Drifted back to the flat at gone 10.
My bag had gone!!
Olga had rescued it... And left this wonderful note on the floor where it was. A more accurate picture of what was where would not be possible.
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