Anyone else traveling Ukraine this week, and question re corruption

[stbarnett]

I'm currently in Krakow, Poland. About Friday I'll be heading to Lviv, then Kiev and Odessa. Anyone else traveling around these parts that would like to meet up?

Also, what's the latest on police scams and corruption on the roads in Ukraine? I've heard it can be pretty bad. I've traveled all of South America and dealt with the cops there, but since I speak Spanish never had any real problems. Not so for Ukrainian. Advice?

[duibhceK]

Originally Posted by stbarnett

I'm currently in Krakow, Poland. About Friday I'll be heading to Lviv, then Kiev and Odessa. Anyone else traveling around these parts that would like to meet up?

Also, what's the latest on police scams and corruption on the roads in Ukraine? I've heard it can be pretty bad. I've traveled all of South America and dealt with the cops there, but since I speak Spanish never had any real problems. Not so for Ukrainian. Advice?

We were there last week. We did just Zakarpatia (Uzhgorod - Sinevir - Bukovel - Truskavets) and actually only encountered one corrupt cop who was after some "coffee money". I ended up paying him about 7EUR for an alleged speeding infraction, just to get the hassle over with. I would be more patient and not pay him again next time .
If I were a smoker I might just have offered him some cigarettes.

We do speak more than a word of Russian, as do they, but when I encounter these guys I am just a stupid tourist that does not understand a word he is saying.

Also, when crossing the border into Poland upon exiting Ukraine one of the border guards kept fishing for some "gifts". But he was a friendly guy and we had a nice chat. In the end we just taught him how to say "I love you" in French to one of his pretty blond co-workers. He was very happy with that .

Just keep in mind that Motorcycles are considered "heavy vehicles" in Ukraine and thus have the same speed limits as trucks. No faster than 80km/h anywhere.