The dreaded has actually happened and im ill. A severe case of man flu is all i need with the trans siberian five days away. Stupidly i had left Kiev in t shirt and shorts as for the fourth day in a row it was over 30 degrees. I think more in hope than anything else i believed St Petersburg to be at least similar. Arriving i was severely disappointed it was like winter, dark sky, heavy clouds and torrents of rain. Perfect for walking round for hours on end. To be honest though St Petersburg really isnt that amazing a few things were ok like the hermitage museum which is like a mini louvre but apart from that i dont see what the fuss is about.
The whole of ukraine was baking hot perfect for seeing the amazing sights it has to offer but not quite so good for long journeys. Sevastopol to Lviv - 25 hours and officially my longest journey so far. Unfortunately the only tickets remaining were for 3rd class, essentially a vodka fuelled 50 person free for all. I had pretty much the worst bed right at the top in the corridor, no where to sit upright, nowhere to put my stuff and about three people to climb over everytime i needed to get up. The ipod and pot noodles were rationed as essentials to stave off madness. Unlike most other trains the ones in eastern europe only have two windows per carriage that open and at points it is unbearably hot which is why lots of people sit unabashedly half naked.
The train wasnt in truth that bad and lviv really was worth it. As i have said to people here if Lviv was anywhere in western europe it would easily be the most visited attraction. As it was there were a few tourists but essentially authentic. The city itself has hundreds of amazing churches which on a sunday were all packed to overflowing. Most days were just spent wandering around enjoying the weather and cafe culture but before my night train to kiev i got to go shooting with the guy from the hostel. Five different soviet era weapons with five bullets for each. They ranged from the rubbish pistol, to an ak-47, a sniper rifle that nearly took my shoulder off and a semi-automatic shotgun with solid slug. In most countries the ammunition and guns are all banned but you can shoot here with no training. I love eastern europe.
From Lviv to Kiev it is only 8 hours so on board the train sleep and your there. The hostel i was staying was very highly rated and i can see why. The polish owner cooked amazing food, it was a great location and was packed. As soon as i arrived i received a full day tour of the city from this ukrainian guy who was staying there. I think we did pretty much everthing including the cave monastery with the mumified monks. This is the number one thing to do but a minutes worth of cadavers is really a highlight for me. The rest of the time i spent looking through the flea markets. Its amazing what you can find. The stuff you were looking at in the museum you can buy out in the street. I have so far managed to get a Heroes of Stalingrad Medal and one from Sevastopol as well. The australians and i at the hostel also found out the secret to ukrainian drinking as well as there low life expectancy. Pig fat. All shots are quickly followed by a slice of fat that suprisingly tastes amazing as well as leaving no traces of a hangover. Somehow i dont think this will take off in the UK.
Anyway train to moscow leaves in two hours so have to get my stuff ready.
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