Russian Women Discussion
RWD Discussion Groups => Trip Reports => Topic started by: c5h on July 26, 2021, 07:22:48 AM
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Just returned from latest trip. Will post some photos and general stuff, but here are main changes from my Fall 2019 trip:
The Arabs are the big story in Kyiv. Tourists are mainly Arab (I was told they have a 2 week qt in rest of Europe so they are going to Ukraine instead), there has also been a massive influx of Arab workers. Kyivians I spoke with said they are mostly working with Taxis and Food delivery services, that is extremely easy to get work permits or bypass them. Was also told they are here because France staring denying them entry b/c of some terrorist related incident (a lot are Syrians). This was the most noticeable thing about the trip and most of the Kyiv people I met were fairly angry about it.
Almost no tourists that were not Arabs. I usually do fall trips, but all the skin on display, pretty much no competition, and Ukraine struggling economically now would probably be the ideal time to visit if goal is to met women.
Kyiv Subway is now paper code (can buy at counter or machines).
Airport train all machines are down. The one person selling tickets had a massive wait, you can pay on train when they come to collect tickets (they stopped to get machine at first stop).
I had the most difficult time paying by card on this trip. Credit cards required a 8 digit pin that doesn't exist for the most part. I got hit pretty hard with exchange fees because I had to use a Visa Debit (which ironically doesn't require any pin even though it actually had one).
Masks required at airports, museums, and Mcdonalds. Museums and McD also require temp checks. Air France specially requires blue surgical masks they said, but if your cloth mask looks like a regular mask your good. They make me replace gaiter I wear on every leg. UIA and Delta it is fine. I didn't see another person use a gaiter mask on my entire trip. I've never had to wear a mask for over 15 minutes before so the flights were a pain.
Food delivery people are everywhere now. In general a lot of these and Uklon type taxis are Arabs that don't speak Russian/Ukrainian or English. Glovo most popular among them. Uklon and Bolt the favorites of locals for taxi still. If traveling from USA Uklon activation didn't work for us, so you will need to get a Kyivstar sim to activate there.
Tickets were Delta but I had 3 Air France legs and unfortunately a origination leg out on Ukraine International. Covid test system at airport is a custer fuck as well as UIA check in process. They did hold plane for us to board (about 4 minutes).
Ukraine entry customs they did not ask any questions or do random bags for anyone. They glanced at insurance and vaccine cards.
Zero soft drinks were difficult to find in 2019 and now they are everywhere and typically the default drink you get.
For meeting women I would do the pedestrian bridge to the island/beach. Jet Ski rental would probably be a good date.
(http://i.ibb.co/LhMn7Dj/IMG-20210715-104344734.jpg)
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Thanks for posting pic of nice looking legs.
Yours I mean.
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Just returned from latest trip. Will post some photos and general stuff, but here are main changes from my Fall 2019 trip:
The Arabs are the big story in Kyiv. Tourists are mainly Arab (I was told they have a 2 week qt in rest of Europe so they are going to Ukraine instead), there has also been a massive influx of Arab workers. Kyivians I spoke with said they are mostly working with Taxis and Food delivery services, that is extremely easy to get work permits or bypass them. Was also told they are here because France staring denying them entry b/c of some terrorist related incident (a lot are Syrians). This was the most noticeable thing about the trip and most of the Kyiv people I met were fairly angry about it.
Almost no tourists that were not Arabs. I usually do fall trips, but all the skin on display, pretty much no competition, and Ukraine struggling economically now would probably be the ideal time to visit if goal is to met women.
Kyiv Subway is now paper code (can buy at counter or machines).
Airport train all machines are down. The one person selling tickets had a massive wait, you can pay on train when they come to collect tickets (they stopped to get machine at first stop).
I had the most difficult time paying by card on this trip. Credit cards required a 8 digit pin that doesn't exist for the most part. I got hit pretty hard with exchange fees because I had to use a Visa Debit (which ironically doesn't require any pin even though it actually had one).
Masks required at airports, museums, and Mcdonalds. Museums and McD also require temp checks. Air France specially requires blue surgical masks they said, but if your cloth mask looks like a regular mask your good. They make me replace gaiter I wear on every leg. UIA and Delta it is fine. I didn't see another person use a gaiter mask on my entire trip. I've never had to wear a mask for over 15 minutes before so the flights were a pain.
Food delivery people are everywhere now. In general a lot of these and Uklon type taxis are Arabs that don't speak Russian/Ukrainian or English. Glovo most popular among them. Uklon and Bolt the favorites of locals for taxi still. If traveling from USA Uklon activation didn't work for us, so you will need to get a Kyivstar sim to activate there.
Tickets were Delta but I had 3 Air France legs and unfortunately a origination leg out on Ukraine International. Covid test system at airport is a custer fuck as well as UIA check in process. They did hold plane for us to board (about 4 minutes).
Ukraine entry customs they did not ask any questions or do random bags for anyone. They glanced at insurance and vaccine cards.
Zero soft drinks were difficult to find in 2019 and now they are everywhere and typically the default drink you get.
For meeting women I would do the pedestrian bridge to the island/beach. Jet Ski rental would probably be a good date.
(http://i.ibb.co/LhMn7Dj/IMG-20210715-104344734.jpg)
Never had a problem paying by credit card in Ukraine. I just use the standard 4 digit pin.
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Just a small point of interest to add.
A lot of the ladies in Kyiv are going bra less now. It’s really quite noticeable. Not a complaint, just an observation.😎
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Never had a problem paying by credit card in Ukraine. I just use the standard 4 digit pin.
Yeah me either until now. Had travel notifications on they all worked fine in Paris and Amesterdam. Chase never worked and Citi Card worked 1/3 times. Visa Debit only failed once (Airport Train) but Citi Mastercard worked there.
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Boryspil to Kyiv Train by Rail is 80 hyvnia. Bus is 100 hyvnia. Leaving from airport I think it is always better to take train if schedule is close. Buses run every 30 minutes, Train from 30-2:00. Getting through the station at the other is a bit of pain on the other end.
Boryspil exchange rates were crazy bad in 2017 trip, and priced like normal in 2019, they were back to bad this trip (22 exchange rate vs 27.4 elsewhere)
Mini-Bus station is accessible by train, we didn't have working Uklon and where in a hurry so took a $10 taxi ride. The hometown of wife is a 1 hour drive from Kyiv and it costs 90, or 80 if you call ahead. Bus will leave at top of hour or when full. I asked wife to purchase all the remaining seats and she refused to translate because it would be rude.
Smalls busses there are brutal in summer. What I thought was a unique problem with my wife is country wide problem instead. There is almost no breeze/weather in Ukraine and the people thing a draft will make you sick. It was 92 deg on arrival and everyone insists on keeping all windows closed.
(http://i.ibb.co/qgGJKLp/IMG-20210710-095145409.jpg)
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(http://i.ibb.co/dtS0rjS/211737492-2394502040687023-6014161781986694533-n.jpg) (http://ibb.co/QkZFfpZ)
Local Quarry, swimming hole.
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(http://i.ibb.co/1883z5Q/IMG-20210711-102339630-HDR.jpg) (http://ibb.co/NZZXTPC)
Locals build these levies into river, the fishermen throw a bunch of food there to train to fish to stay or before they start fishing. We used bean looking things for bait and had poles with spots to spear strawberry jam type stuff on it. The dog in the picture ended up belonging to neighbor we met later. Her daughter is married to an American (pentagon/mil) that rotates between DC, Colorado springs, and a site in Alaska). They had just moved from Kyiv a couple years ago. Country side is filling up with people relocating from Kyiv. It is off the newish (2016 I think) highway from Kyiv from Zhytomyr. Others just visit to escape Kyiv in summer to dachas.
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9yr old niece cooked up breakfast.
(http://i.ibb.co/n0n1Wt8/IMG-20210712-030627574.jpg) (http://ibb.co/b32vfDR)
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The building at maiden that has been undercover every trip I have done is finished now. (Prosecutors office) Haven't followed the story but local said it was set on fire to weed out protesters during the Maiden riot.
(http://i.ibb.co/pvVgr0g/IMG-20210715-102523496-HDR.jpg) (http://ibb.co/HDw0pF0)
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Roadside weed
(http://i.ibb.co/7WKYSnb/IMG-20210712-132849181.jpg) (http://ibb.co/cFQgy6x)
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At every random bus stop there are typically 2 hot women from I've found.
(http://i.ibb.co/4ZHW7wP/IMG-20210715-055046299-HDR.jpg) (http://ibb.co/6RkYmcg)
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First summer trip so this is maybe normal, but the city and dacha houses had hedge (corrected) hogs.
(http://i.ibb.co/Vg8TxwZ/IMG-20210714-131833135.jpg) (http://ibb.co/c6dQwYH)
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Skybridge had just been fished on last trip but glass was blocked off (apparently it was breaking), it is good now but scratched so bad you can't see through it.
(http://i.ibb.co/qYQzCG2/IMG-20210715-105659845.jpg) (http://ibb.co/234wS2p)
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Boat rides are around $8. 1-1.5 hours. Docks were a popular hang out as well.
(http://i.ibb.co/93X4Ybt/IMG-20210715-112626440.jpg) (http://ibb.co/DgXMK9p)
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You can enter Ukraine with a vaccine card (locals are saying Kyiv will shut down again at end of August) now. For US residents you have to have a negative covid test to enter USA again even if you are vaccinated. The airlines there check. I didn't notice them taking a picture or anything but they did ask for document. On USA side (customs) they did not ask for document nor did the ask if you had the test done.
In any case if you are going, get the test in Kyiv before the flight. We were at the airport very early. There is a single person doing processing and she didn't speak much english. Even with a Ukrainian speaking wife it was pretty confusing. The actual test took 10 minutes. The entire process was over an hour, mostly because you have to pay at the exchange counter, and they happened to take a random 30 minute break when we needed to pay. (there were 3 employees in the book but they were on a break). You can pay on a app. On the payment screen when you enter a birthday you have to click one button for each month. So if you are 40 years old you manually have to click it 480 times. At the end it wouldn't take any credit or debt card I had, even though they all have travel notification on them.
(http://i.ibb.co/cDQwwTJ/IMG-20210721-002349058.jpg) (http://ibb.co/KFWDDy6)
(http://i.ibb.co/jhVhnf2/IMG-20210721-003546721.jpg) (http://ibb.co/VVHVf9Z)
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How refreshing! Someone got on a plane :)
Nice pics and report. Thanks!
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First summer trip so this is maybe normal, but the city and dacha houses had groundhogs.
(http://i.ibb.co/Vg8TxwZ/IMG-20210714-131833135.jpg) (http://ibb.co/c6dQwYH)
That's a hedgehog. They are fairly ubiquitous throughout Europe, and are harmless to humans. I've seen them in Kyiv as well.
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Very nice trip report. Love seeing all the photos. Big thanks for the contribution. :clapping:
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At every random bus stop there are typically 2 hot women from I've found.
(http://i.ibb.co/4ZHW7wP/IMG-20210715-055046299-HDR.jpg) (http://ibb.co/6RkYmcg)
Women or girls?
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Women or girls?
Women, because it would be a jailing offense to use the word 'hot' when referring to girls.
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Almost no tourists that were not Arabs. I usually do fall trips, but all the skin on display, pretty much no competition, and Ukraine struggling economically now would probably be the ideal time to visit if goal is to met women.
That's music to my ears c5h :D Guessing with all the Arabs the girls will be more keen than ever to meet a WM.
Saw the Sky Bridge last time I went to Kiev back in the summer of 2019. As you say it was roped off, but I don't think I would care to go on it, that barrier looks way too low for my liking. Probably only a matter of time before an unfortunate fall from it I wager. At the time I recall thinking it must have cost a bit to do kind of more the sort of thing we do in the west. So for me pointed to Ukraine becoming more wealthy, either that or done with western handouts. Now though I'm guessing the economy is back where it was after the civil unrest from a number of years ago now. Looks like the bridge is already aging badly so probably won't be too long before it's not gleaming anymore.
Anyway, a good trip report and much appreciate the update and insight into how things are now, a bit different from the last time I went by the sounds of it and to think that was only two years ago.
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The Glass was cracking or damaged on my September 2019 Trip and it was just roped off at the time. There is "crack" painted on the arch to symbolize fracture in relationship with Russia but I don't recall if that was new or not. The Sky bridge trail, the river bridge and areas on river on both sides had a lot of locals and probably the best place to meet women. Maiden was fairly dead. The tourist sites were all mostly vacant. I don't get the impression tourism as a whole is down much though because it was difficult to find apartments. Most of my trip was countryside with 3 trips to Kyiv. I stayed in a hotel for the first time, it was the first time our Ukrainians friends stayed at a hotel as well. Hotel Kozatskiy which was one of the 3 old soviet hotels. It was fairly decent. Rooms were $40 (one room flat with bad view), $60, $100 (two room suite). On our first go around there were only two rooms available but the hotel feels like a ghost town. Front desk people all speak english and are extremely helpful with directions and getting a taxi there for you.
Late night (midnight to 2-3am) Arabs are 60-70% of crowd.
(http://i.ibb.co/yksgKQd/220000877-6213315335360180-309550011773688107-n.jpg) (http://ibb.co/GMPCG5n)
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Locals think Kyiv will be shut down again in late August. A smart card is required for the regular buses, one traveler told us this was put in a few months ago and card is tied to occupation, so during shut downs this is how they will stop non-essential personnel from using transit. It wasn't clear how/where to get them and we had to hop off bus so we where not fined. It's the only accepted payment method.
(http://i.ibb.co/QDtk0Bx/IMG-20210716-051813099.jpg) (http://ibb.co/z6DFdct)
mapbox clear map (http://geojsonlint.com/)
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Late night (midnight to 2-3am) Arabs are 60-70% of crowd.
I never stayed out that late but I have seen them picking up women that hang around Maidan Square. They aren't looking for marriage.
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I never stayed out that late but I have seen them picking up women that hang around Maidan Square. They aren't looking for marriage.
They are looking for someone with whom to discuss the Koran.
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The Arabs in town now are mostly here with their families. They are the tourists who would have usually gone to London and other European destinations for the summer but due to travel restrictions have discovered Ukraine. It’s not just Kyiv they are to be seen at but in Lviv, Odesa and other cities.
It’s a different crowd to the single men (Turkish sex tourists of yore) normally seen picking up women late at night.
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They are looking for someone with whom to discuss the Koran.
Easy does it. Sarcasm recognized. Let's take a step AWAY from any discussion disparaging another's religion.
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The Arabs in town now are mostly here with their families.
I've never seen their wives and kids and never stayed out as late as 2-3 AM in the morning to see their wives and kids. It's been 5 years since I was there so maybe it changed. Staying out that late in Kiev, you may get robbed by the police. It was around midnight when I was in a tunnel and the police wanted to pat me down. One pulled my wallet out while the other was talking to me but I turned around quit. I can't say for sure but I think he took at least one bill out of my wallet. My wife and MIL told me to never walk around late because the police will rob me. I called the Consulate and reported the harassment by the cops and they say its unfortunate but normal. A few years after the last Revolution, Western nations and Japan pumped money into Ukraine and gave the cops new training. Hopefully things changed for the better.
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I've never seen their wives and kids and never stayed out as late as 2-3 AM in the morning to see their wives and kids. It's been 5 years since I was there so maybe it changed. Staying out that late in Kiev, you may get robbed by the police. It was around midnight when I was in a tunnel and the police wanted to pat me down. One pulled my wallet out while the other was talking to me but I turned around quit. I can't say for sure but I think he took at least one bill out of my wallet. My wife and MIL told me to never walk around late because the police will rob me. I called the Consulate and reported the harassment by the cops and they say its unfortunate but normal. A few years after the last Revolution, Western nations and Japan pumped money into Ukraine and gave the cops new training. Hopefully things changed for the better.
I don’t walk about town at 2-3 in the morning either so can’t comment about who is about on the streets then.
In the daytime now, you will see lots of Arab families, couples out and about as tourists.
Five years is a long time to have been away. A lot has changed since.
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Kyiv was a different place from my last trip less than 2 years ago. The later night crowds have transitioned from Maiden to the riverfront. We stayed out to 2-3am each night in Kyiv, Police are fine and we felt safe entire time. The locals hate the Arabs, but the Arab people from what we saw were fine, respectful. There were rich arabs there for women but they ordered not picked up on street, families on vacation, all the workers (most taxi and food delivery) just hanging out after work. All the Ukrainian women I have been have a distain for Turkish-Arab so don't thinking picking up would go that well for them. Kyiv is relatively dead for a major capital at night. We have a Kyiv tradition of being kicked out out of Big Ben (out of business now) or Guliver bowling when they close at 10pm.
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One unfortunate thing has been the opening of Kreschyiatik on the weekends, when it used to be closed to traffic.
It used to be a fun place now with all the traffic, not so much.
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c5h, any word of how Ukrainian guys are feeling about taxi jobs being done by foreigners now when it just used to be them? Can't think they are taking it too well, with the current state of the economy out there I would have thought they would have needed that work more than ever.
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Last night about half past nine walking down Kreschiatyk, it was heaving. The worst thing now is the electric scooters whizzing by on the pavements. An absolute menace they are.
Again, lots of Arabs about, this time I noticed more single men in groups hanging about.
I bet the working girls are taking in brisk business.
My time in Kyiv this summer is at an end. Heading for the airport in half an hour.
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Was talking with my UW wife about increased number of Saudi's in Ukraine.
She had read that they can now visit without visa.
But I checked and they still need visa, however now they can apply online for eVisa and quickly get.
She said also they want to get away from Saudi heat this time of year and easier and cheaper to go to Ukraine vs western European countries they used to go to.
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I don’t walk about town at 2-3 in the morning either so can’t comment about who is about on the streets then.
Lady friend had an apartment near the Presidential Admin Bldg. I recall walking back to my apartment
on a freezing winter night at 2am. Very eery to look in every direction and not see a single person or car on the streets.
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c5h, any word of how Ukrainian guys are feeling about taxi jobs being done by foreigners now when it just used to be them? Can't think they are taking it too well, with the current state of the economy out there I would have thought they would have needed that work more than ever.
The one Ukrainian taxi driver we spoke with didn't mention any hard feelings, but noted Arabs everywhere. The people I know that live in Kyiv where a mix of there a lot of Arabs, to obvious anger over them being their. I had the assumption they just visited and worked, but one of the more knowledgeable friends there (works for a TV station in news) said they did get work permits (Ukraine has enacted measures to have work "official") but they were handed out to everyone. One small town (cheaper living) has been overrun. I was out late every night in Kyiv and they were not an obvious problem and never saw any of them approach women.
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The one Ukrainian taxi driver we spoke with didn't mention any hard feelings, but noted Arabs everywhere. The people I know that live in Kyiv where a mix of there a lot of Arabs, to obvious anger over them being their. I had the assumption they just visited and worked, but one of the more knowledgeable friends there (works for a TV station in news) said they did get work permits (Ukraine has enacted measures to have work "official") but they were handed out to everyone. One small town (cheaper living) has been overrun. I was out late every night in Kyiv and they were not an obvious problem and never saw any of them approach women.
It's dead for a big city but there more people out this time than previous trips. Bridge was ~10pm, pedestrian bridge ~11pm, Maiden not sure but maybe 12-3am.
(http://i.ibb.co/hVc7nLs/220000877-6213315335360180-309550011773688107-n.jpg) (http://ibb.co/2dSnLWq)
(http://i.ibb.co/qY58YfR/IMG-20210715-135014521.jpg) (http://ibb.co/Mk6Hk4R)
(http://i.ibb.co/R9Tc1PV/IMG-20210715-143728273.jpg) (http://ibb.co/kx2Xp0W)
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Was talking with my UW wife about increased number of Saudi's in Ukraine.
She had read that they can now visit without visa.
But I checked and they still need visa, however now they can apply online for eVisa and quickly get.
She said also they want to get away from Saudi heat this time of year and easier and cheaper to go to Ukraine vs western European countries they used to go to.
Saudis no longer require a visa. The list is below.
http://mfa.gov.ua/en/consular-affairs/entry-and-stay-foreigners-ukraine/entry-regime-ukraine-foreign-citizens (http://mfa.gov.ua/en/consular-affairs/entry-and-stay-foreigners-ukraine/entry-regime-ukraine-foreign-citizens)
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Was talking with my UW wife about increased number of Saudi's in Ukraine.
She had read that they can now visit without visa.
But I checked and they still need visa, however now they can apply online for eVisa and quickly get.
She said also they want to get away from Saudi heat this time of year and easier and cheaper to go to Ukraine vs western European countries they used to go to.
Absolutely true.
I watched on an aviation company many flights from Saudi Arabia.
Asked a Ukrainian friend why?
He told the same as your wife.