I'm out the door to Ukraine.....

[Makkin]

Hello,

  Still have a lot to do here and also as a main idea get to the western union and send a gift to Richard in Tvar.

  The trip to Ukraine was a great experience for myself and my friend. We will both be back to the country but probably not together. I plan to visit again in August or September but those dates could change if I can get off earlier. Probably check with Jack and see what he has going on?

 
  I met some women in Odessa but since the trip was so short it was nearly impossible to establish anything genuine in regards to a relationship. I would stay longer on the next trip and possibly have already made contact with some ladies before arriving...DUH ! ! !
  My friend had a great time and he plans to run an ad on himself as I may do that also. He really liked everything we did and the people did not stare at him too much due to his severe burns..... One street kid asking for Kopeks..etc.. spoke good enough English to ask my friend if he was an invelet...I almost choked in laughter on that one...(sp on invelet).
  I don't have a lot of advice on anything as I'm learning myself at this point and a lot to be learned is the long and short of it..lol. I suppose I/O said it best when I asked for advice.."Get on the plane".

  The best part of the trip was when I realized the thought curve in relation to my thought process. The ability to reason in the shoes of others per say. The ability to perceive myself as seen by others and adjust the communication process.

  I'm thinking that I will really have a good time every time I visit Ukraine in future and will be able to continue to learn and adjust to the great people who make such fine hosts.

Makkin

[Nat]

I bought five candy bars and paid about 96 cents American. 

When I read trip reports, I just wonder – where do people find such prices? First in Kuna’s report it was a taxi for 25 UAH in Kiev, now it’s 5 chocolates for 96 cents!!! Here in Donetsk simple 80g Milka costs 3,5UAH, so 5 of them would make 3,45$! Or do they lower prices specially for foreigners?

[Bruno]

When I read trip reports, I just wonder – where do people find such prices? First in Kuna’s report it was a taxi for 25 UAH in Kiev, now it’s 5 chocolates for 96 cents!!! Here in Donetsk simple 80g Milka costs 3,5UAH, so 5 of them would make 3,45$! Or do they lower prices specially for foreigners?

Milka is not a Ukrainian brand... it is expensive because it is a foreign product... Foreigners visiting your country buy Ukrainian chocolates, these are more cheap !

[Nat]

Milka is not a Ukrainian brand... it is expensive because it is a foreign product... Foreigners visiting your country buy Ukrainian chocolates, these are more cheap !

Ah, yeah, right, I haven't thought of this... But still 5 Ukrainian Svitoch chocolates would make something around 2,7$ in Donetsk

[Makkin]

Hello,

  The supermarket on Dura...Street was where the best prices where for me. The Europa mall was located next to McDonalds and(supermarket) was on the lowest level of the mall.
   McDonalds had Ice cream cones that sold for 1.50 or 3 for 90 cents American. The combo meals with a drink cost about 10-30 less than my local area of Houston. In the Irish Pub also located 200 meters from Mcdonalds had good meals as well as internet sevice. Coffee cost 9 or 1.80 US.
   I wanted to buy a nice winter jacket of leather and fur but could not find what I wanted. I saw all the people wearing them but could never find the place to buy them..lol I ran all over the place to no avail. Maybe I just had poor luck on that but I was ready to buy one without being able to find em.
   Visited a casino and played roulette as well as blackjack. My frind won about 100 US but I lost 100 US..lol The casino was really nice and drinks were free like the Vegas casino so maybe you can save on drinks or like me you can pay 100 for a few drinks..lol

Makkin
 

[Makkin]

Hello,

  Gonna post some pictures here as soon as I get them copied from my friend who has them all at this time.There are over 400 pictures as well as 3.5 hours of video.
  I have enough pictures to point a trail around the main street as to aid anyone who may be planning a trip to Odessa. I think the way the pictures were taken it will really help give you an idea of the area and also show how close many places are.

  Makkin