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The tradition here is no traffic in either direction passes a funeral procession. Even on the highway! This was a long slow up hill crawl!
https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8622/2...0213bdcc_b.jpgKamyanets UA CC-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Since we did not stop to get money yet we decided to try our luck at the Wog gas station. They have very nice cafes and we had “moo” burger with fries! https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8019/2...e60d70a0_b.jpgUkraine-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We did finally get to Stryi at 6 (it is 1 hour later here). When we pulled into the hotel and checked in there was a group of Ukrainian guys in the lobby having some drinks and snacks. One spoke English perfectly and came out to talk to us. He asked how we liked Ukraine and we said we did , but we had only been here a few hours. He noticed my panier with the flags and wanted to know why I did not have Ukraine on yet. I said I just go here and his reply “ you have had 3 hours” ha ha. He wanted a photo of me putting the flag on. Next they invited us for a shot of whiskey.
https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8825/2...7d98320c_b.jpgUkraine-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We walked next door to the restaurant and with no English help we managed to get soup, salads, and a nice lemon cake for dessert. Next time I might try my “point it” book. https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7648/2...b315ecd2_b.jpgStryi CC-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8746/2...dc9715fe_b.jpgStryi CC-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We woke to a rainy day. The plan today is to go 330 km to one of the oldest cities in Ukraine Kam’yanets-Podil’s’kyi.
https://c3.staticflickr.com/8/7561/2...acb6aab7_b.jpgScreen Shot 2016-08-12 at 21.18.58 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We first stopped at the auto insurance shop in town to see if we can but green cards. We had a hard enough time getting into this country we are worried that if we go to Moldova we might not be let back in. No luck however. The side stand on the 800 seemed a bit loose and on inspection the lower bolt was sheared off. Strike 2. We did zip tie and wire the stand to prevent any loss and headed out. Step 2 get gas ….no power at the station strike 3. They did have a money exchange to get some cash though! This came in handy about 45 minutes later when we drove by a motorcycle repair shop. https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8562/2...1fe86c4d_b.jpgKamyanets UA CC by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We stuck to the small roads, which much of the time were in very poor condition. At times they were a real mess. This plus the rain made for a pretty long day.
https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8889/2...2ca25928_b.jpgKamyanets UA CC-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8787/2...33580bba_b.jpgUkraine-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8761/2...9a4b6166_b.jpgUkraine-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8762/2...45c9a2af_b.jpgKamyanets UA CC-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8832/2...7105d0c8_b.jpgKamyanets UA CC-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8647/2...aaa270e3_b.jpgKamyanets UA CC-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8562/2...2ffc8b51_b.jpgKamyanets UA CC-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8571/2...6745dcfb_b.jpgKamyanets UA CC-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The last 100 km the drizzle finally stopped and the road surface improved.
https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8224/2...5ffce230_b.jpgKamyanets UA CC-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8147/2...a7576c38_b.jpgUkraine-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8620/2...e2e248b0_b.jpgUkraine-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We arrived to the city and the sun was now trying to come out. We did a bit of a walk around the old town and visited some of the many churches. There is a vey nice fortress here too.
https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8826/2...3277857e_b.jpgKamyanets UA CC-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8643/2...be876d2e_b.jpgKamyanets UA CC-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8226/2...69d5c0e3_b.jpgKamyanets UA CC-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr “Modern Kamianets-Podilskyi was first mentioned in 1062 as a town of the Kievan Rus' state. In 1241, it was destroyed by the Mongolian invaders.[4] In 1352, it was annexed by the Polish King Casimir III. In 1378 it became seat of a Roman Catholic Diocese. In 1432 King Sigismund I the Old granted Kamieniec Podolski city rights. In 1434 it became the capital of the Podolian Voivodship and the seat of local civil and military administration.[4] The ancient castle was reconstructed and substantially expanded by the Polish kings to defend Poland from the southwest against Ottoman and Tatar invasions, thus it was called the gateway to Poland.” https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8861/2...cfb98d04_b.jpgUkraine-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8582/2...361e1e46_b.jpgUkraine by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8763/2...a263d2c2_b.jpgUkraine-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
One of the many churches.
https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7747/2...288e4f39_b.jpgUkraine-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The Polish Gate. https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8795/2...c44d4cdb_b.jpgUkraine-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8324/2...2075b694_b.jpgUkraine-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The Fortress. https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8731/2...690aa689_b.jpgUkraine by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8611/2...22e738b4_b.jpgUkraine-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We wish we knew what the specials were?! We did manage to get some great Borcht and dumplings. This is the wait staff and several other patrons discussing in Ukrainian which is the best Ukrainian dessert Dan should order. https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8678/2...eacb7965_b.jpgUkraine-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8620/2...03110242_b.jpgUkraine-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8597/2...4f2bbbfe_b.jpgUkraine-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
It is a bit warmer today at 15 and the sun is trying to come out. We need to try to get insurance if we want to go to Moldova. There is one agency listed in this town. When we had the hotel call all we got was the answering machine. When we went to the address the neighbors say the place is closed down.
https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8004/2...36833b4a_b.jpgZhytomir UA CC by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Well decision made. We are headed towards Kiev. Today we will go the 280 km to Zhytomyr and this will take about 6 hours despite what google maps says. https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8856/2...07e5c007_z.jpgScreen Shot 2016-08-13 at 22.16.29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8557/2...70fdf9c4_b.jpgZhytomir UA CC-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The road conditions today on the H3, which is a said to be a “main” road are not too bad. They are mostly patch. This is exhausting after hours.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7593/2...fd7e3dd2_b.jpgUkraine-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8854/2...06690220_b.jpgZhytomir UA CC-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8023/2...2d9e5d27_b.jpgZhytomir UA CC-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8363/2...cb926fbd_b.jpgZhytomir UA CC-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8700/2...94a2810d_b.jpgZhytomir UA CC-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8683/2...19462b06_b.jpgUkraine-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We had a big day for tanks as well. The last 120 km there was very little civilization, but lots of farms and monuments.
https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8814/2...932196d9_b.jpgUkraine by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8644/2...8fe8ddd7_b.jpgUkraine-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8826/2...b6d59d2f_b.jpgUkraine-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8882/2...3db1e88b_b.jpgUkraine-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8745/2...d2c6445a_b.jpgUkraine-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The town of Zhytomyr itself is nothing special, but there is a nice orthodox Cathedral.
https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8870/2...a4d13775_b.jpgUkraine-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8712/2...d9d79c14_b.jpgUkraine-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8888/2...85af8258_b.jpgUkraine-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Today started out cloudy and gloomy, but dry. We only had 140 km to Kiev on the highway, which is smooth as silk, but decided on the 186 km route thru Fastiv. You go 30 km on the highway and then exit to the village roads. The first 20 km of these roads were pretty bad, but then improved since there was little traffic and no trucks. Check out the centre line.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8485/2...5d2f7549_b.jpgKiev CC by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8281/2...9ba0e0fe_b.jpgKiev CC-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8728/2...9fc72e53_b.jpgKiev CC-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8205/2...d2e3be16_b.jpgKiev CC-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8114/2...1bcc086f_b.jpgUkraine by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8088/2...656c5d87_b.jpgKiev CC-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Leaving Fastiv you do get on the P19, which is a major road under construction and the surface is pretty bad in sections. It is Sunday an a major religious holiday here so getting into the city was pretty easy. We had chosen an old school hotel right out of the Soviet era in design and Motel 6 cheap as well. https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8341/2...ef176aa3_b.jpgKiev CC-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8530/2...bfbd498c_b.jpgUkraine-32 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
The sun did come out for a walking tour of the city centre. We headed out to see the huge Independence square and grab traditional Ukrainian lunch of Borscht and dumplings!
https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8515/2...e93ebdb1_b.jpgUkraine-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c5.staticflickr.com/9/8638/2...37af758d_b.jpgUkraine-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8001/2...3bd3582b_b.jpgUkraine-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8403/2...0ebd9194_b.jpgUkraine-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8361/2...64a016ba_b.jpgUkraine-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8026/2...6e4fabbf_b.jpgUkraine-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8545/2...01271c1d_b.jpgUkraine-31 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
From the main square we made for the huge Friendship of Nations arch.
“It is dedicated to the unification of Russia and Ukraine within the Soviet Union. It was opened November 7, 1982 to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the USSR and the celebration of the 1,500th Anniversary of the Kiev city. On 20 May 2016 the Ukrainian government announced plans to dismantle the arch as part of its decommunization policy. In its place is planned a memorial dedicated to veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war.” “The monument consists of three sculptural elements an arch and two statues. 1.A huge, 50 m (164 ft) in diameter, rainbow-shaped arch, made of titanium. 2. A bronze statue depicting a Russian and Ukrainian workers holding up the Soviet Order of Friendship of Peoples 3.A granite stele depicting the participants of the Pereyaslav Council of 1654.” https://c7.staticflickr.com/9/8501/2...2581b63d_b.jpgUkraine-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
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