I am making my sixth trip to Ukraine. My American and Russian friends
think that I am crazy to visit Ukraine at this time. I flew from the east
coast to Detroit to Amsterdam to Kiev. After the flight from Detroit to
Amsterdam, I spent some time at Schiphol Airport. There are shower
facilities and a hotel in the airport. I used the shower facilities which
was 15 euros and the hotel was 40 euros. The shower facilities were
immaculate and to me were well worth the price. On a previous trip,
I stayed at the Citizen M hotel which is walking distance from the terminal
which was about 90 euros. It was also very nice. There is a shopping mall
at the terminal with numerous places to eat, a grocery store, and most
stores that you would find in a mall. I collect scotch and there was a store
with an impressive collection of high end scotch whiskeys. I considered
buying a bottle of Macallan Obscura which came with a Lalique crystal
ornament, but I did not think it was a good idea to pack a $1200 bottle
of whiskey and ornament in my checked baggage when I traveled on
my way home in the U. S. If you have time, you can take a train into
the city from the terminal.
The flight to Boryspil Airport near Kiev was about 3 hours from Amsterdam
and there is a one hour time difference. Starting December 1st, most of
the domestic and international flights go through Terminal D. Terminal B
and F seemed to be almost empty. Terminal D resembles most airports in
the U. S. except for the language differences. Bus and train tickets can
be purchased on the first floor. ATMs are available, but the maximum that
I could withdraw was 2,000 grivna which is about $133. I was surprised
when the window where money is exchanged told me that they had no
grivna for me to purchase and another told me that I could only convert $50.
Since I arrived later in the day, I decided to stay at the Korona Hotel near
the airport. The taxis were asking 20 euros, but eventually I found one that
would accept 10 euros. When I arrived at the hotel, the woman at registration
told me it should be 50 grivna or less than 3 euros. I was also told that the
price of the hotel included 2 trips to the airport for free. I did return to the
airport to purchase a bus ticket for the following day. The cashier for the bus
company did not speak any English, but I managed to purchase a ticket for
the following morning. I noticed buses from the airport that went to the train
station, but I have not taken the train from Kiev to Kharkov. I do not fly within
Ukraine or Russia, even though some of the flights to Boryspil has been on
Ukrainian airlines. I was a flight surgeon in the Air Force and I have done free-fall
parachuting, but I have some concern with maintenance and counterfeit parts in
aircraft. I have been told that the flight from Boryspil to Kharkov is about 40 minutes.
The bus ride is about 6-7 hours.
The Korona Hotel is near the airport. The people there were very nice and the woman
at the front desk spoke understandable English. She wrote in Russian on a piece of
paper that I wanted to buy a bus ticket tomorrow to Kharkov that I took with me to
the bus office cashier. The room was clean and warm. There is no phone in the room.
I was not able to get more than warm water from the shower. Breakfast is included
with the price of the hotel and it was good light breakfast. They do not have an elevator
in the hotel and the steps are narrow. My room was up two floor from the lobby. They
have free internet. I was unable to get online during my last stay, but it may be easier
now because it is not so busy.
Early the next morning, I went back to Terminal D to catch the bus to Kharkov. I
arrived 30 minutes before the departure. About 10 minutes prior to departure,
I went outside to wait for the bus. When I saw the bus in front of Terminal D, I
took may bags towards the bus, but the driver took off without me. I went back
inside and they told to hurry outside to catch the bus, but after waiting 10 minutes,
i figured that I was going to have to buy another ticket for the next bus. I guess that
they must have called the bus driver back and when i went out again, the bus was
there. The Autolux bus stops is to the left 100 m when you exit the Terminal D.
There was another sign in English which says Intercity Bus Stop which is to the right.
I arrived at the bus terminal in Kharkov in the afternoon and take a taxi to the
Superior Golf Club and Spa which is on the outskirts of the city. I check in and
the people have been very helpful. It is one of the few places with service that
meets western standards. The room is very comfortable. I rest the first day and
early the next morning I go to the fitness center and run on the treadmill. They
have a heated indoor pool and the temperature of the water is 80 degrees. After
my morning run and a hot bath, I have breakfast in the hotel which is included in
the hotel price. I take a taxi into town which is about 70 grivna. I exchange my
dollars and get 15.85 grivna per dollar. I walk down Pushkin street and look for a
place to buy a local SIM card for my iphone. It is Saturday and the store that sells
SIM cards does not open until 1000. There is a McDonald's in the area and I have
another breakfast to get out of the cold while waiting for the SIM card store to open.
After I purchase the SIM card, I take a taxi back to the hotel.
I requested that the woman that I was to meet leave a message at the hotel so that
I could contact her. I make reservations for dinner at the Albatross restaurant which
is at the golf club of the hotel. The woman that I was going to meet is fluent in English,
but I invited my interpreter and her husband to join us for dinner. As it turns out, the
woman does not show, but I have a nice dinner with my interpreter and her husband.
Unfortunately, the woman not showing has been more the rule than the exception,
so I am not surprised. My interpreter offers to arrange meetings with other women.
The temperature has been about -10 to 0 C or 14-32 F. There is snow on the ground.
Everything seems to be running normally in Kharkov. From the little Russian that I
know, the people seem complain about inflation of prices and have become weary of
the conflict in eastern Ukraine. I tell them that I hope things will get better soon. I
am not sure if they believe this, but they thank me for my thoughts.
I will be taking the 14 hour train ride from Kharkov to Odessa. It is an overnight train
and I can sleep on the train. I will be staying at the Bristol Hotel in Odessa. I have two
other women to meet there, but my expectations are low. I enjoy the city and I have
my favorite restaurants. Regardless of the outcome, I will get some needed rest and
exercise. Anything on top of that is a bonus.
