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      What about going to Ukrainie and seeing Krym.Our eastern neighbours are bad regarded. So, we decided to chack out, if it is the real truth.

      What about going to Ukrainie and seeing Krym.Our eastern neighbours are bad regarded. So, we decided to chack out, if it is the real truth. We ware ready to go just after finishing our study matters. The main aim was Krym with all its walues and the Black See.We ware discouraged from going there by many people.They said it is just dangerous country, you could be kidnapped, stolen or even killed. It is possible to turn out to be the worst country, have you ever been to before. The preparations endured not too long, just setting the equpiement, car, tent, gas bottle and food supply up. We had looked up for some information in guide, but it often proves to be useless. It is batter to discover the new places on your own, without rush and advice from other people. The expedition by car, of course the other way of travelling was imposible in our place.


      We started the adventure on 10th of July 20'03 .Jewpatori on Krym was sat to be the beginning, our tank was full and 1400 km ware waiting for us. It was the first trip of us to the east, so we ware quite afraid. In spite of that fact all we ware in good mood.


      There was no problem at Madyka border, they just asked about the our trip direction and what was our aim, as they usually do. One hour later Ukraine was our most exciting challenge. The road was not too bad, even wide and without any holes. We ware approaching to Lwow. The entrance of the town was tragical, becouse of the bad surface condition. Our enthusiasm has disappeared, we don't like widespread towns at all, so we left it quickly. If you ask for the way people usually reply in polish And what is more they greeded us warmly.


      The time was going quickly as we ware wondered miraculous fields and meadows. It is characteristic of this country, the place where the watermelons fields are only. In Poland there are fewer and fewer places to make your mind up and consider the beauty of free expanse. We arrived to Winnica, we also asked about the way. We ware extremely startled as the woman answered in polish. The unknown person answered in polish although we ware more than 420 km far away from home. We ware also asked to pick her up, becouse of the same direction. But when she noticed that there was no place in the car, she just gave us different direction and went away. She just wanted reached her home, so? all manners are possible to reach the aim.


       The first adventure we had in Uman with DAI Police.We ware accused of having been driving faster than it was allowded. I smiled widely when I looked at the Police radar. It must be popular to accuse the driver for doing nothing. I didn't excuse myself for a long time, just gave them bribe. What was more I was informed where the another patrol could stay. We are continiuing our trip. Short after one hour the next stop was. Of course, we ware stopped by DAI Police once more. They accused us of having overtaken at the continua line. I understood but ther was the road warking vehicle moving slowly rather than fast. Pleasant police demanded 20 euro bribe. After short negotiations, the pround and satisfied trafick-wardens ware given 40 hryvien bribe.


      Exactly 140 km further, we sow another police patrol that ordered us to stop.We waren' t sure of our fault, becouse the traffick-warden showed it in undecided way. We ware driving slowly and carefully when the newest Honda CRV unexpectedly skipped in front of us. The other patrol it was. We ware taken documens ond ordered to fallow them. They strongly climed that our bad behavior the escape on way demanded fine. They would have like us to be taken to court or inprison.Of course, we knew that it was the matter of time and money. At least, we explained everything to nice man, he said it had batter give him money rather then go court. My mistake cost us 10$ and 100 hryviens. But it didn't occour to my mind, how would it finish in any other country.


       At about 3 a.m. we crossed Krym border. It is good to remember that Krym is the autonomous republic ,what you can notice easyly. The living condition of those people is much batter than others who live in different parts of country. It is one of the spacious and the biggest touristic part of Ukraine. It has not only beautyful views, but also valuable coulture.


       We reached Eupatorii or Jewpatorii before 5.00. We took a nap nearby the beach. We woke up at 8.00 and went out for searching the accomodation. This Krym town was described to be worth recomanded as the place of the rest and sightseeing. It seemed to us to be the place characteristic for old ladies, who offer the accomodation.The ladies usually offer free rooms at hers friend's houses rather than at their own ones. It came out that finding room for one night is much more difficult than for whole week. It's just as the wonder. The old lady was running around the town to find the room for us but in the end she accepted our price. We gave her 4$ and went to the beach, there was extremely hot. I only remamber to have been so exhausted with heat and accomodation prablems that I felt asleep. We left dirty, socialistic Jewpatori and decided heading to Jalta.


       The road is at the europen standar but there are some distances with no asphalt surface. Simferopol is the capital of the country and has many conections to many parts of the country. There are all main roads at one place. That's why the town is busy and crowded. Sewastopol was another town we have visited. It's the town whre the bklacksee nawy is stationed. The monument of floated ships is well worth seeing. Moreover Sewastopol is famous for average 300 rapes annually, especially in port districts. We ware heading to Jalta while the driver in front of us was trying to overtake another car aside. We could have crashed with each other. Trying to avoid the accident we approached to 30 cm high pavement. I was blinking my eyes when I heard the stuk. My first fouhgh: what our car looked like than. I was sure that it was the end of our journey. Few minutes later it came out that just side mirror was broken down. But much more serious problem was that the glass had fallen into our car and sticked into my skin. It took us 30 min to clean up the car ,puritied the arm- chairs as to be ready to go. If somebody usually uses mirrors it's hard to drive without any, but it's possible. We ware lucky to be alive and had car in working order. We drived ahead.


       You could like Jalta but for me there is too much haos. Too many people, concretel beaches where you must stand up, there is no place. We spent that night at old ladie's house, that cost us 20$/2 persons, we overpaid for sure.In spite of that fact it was the most entertaining and tourist town. At old ladie's house there ware 2 rooms. We occupied one of them, gradnchildren the other one but where the lady slept nobody knew. I am afride she spent that night at the balcony. We must have demanded to have hot running water at the bathroom. After 3 minutes she opened few valves and everything was in correct order, we had running and hot water. A least, we slept well. After breakfast we decided to go away from the city. The most siutable place for us was seeside. What was more, we to catch to buy mirror glass, repaired it and sticked with isolation tape. The journey wasn't comfortable than but more safety in final.


       The first stop was at Slonecznogrodskoje. It's nice and tiny town at the seeside. In addition there is marvellous but quite clear beach. You should remamber that in Ukraine is rather dirty then smart. We ware sunbathing for 2 hours, than we ate just can of meat and started to searching for accommodation place for some time to sihgtsee Krym.


       Morskie is called the place where the camp was at captivating beach. Generally the atmosphere was friendly, and there was safety. It is usuall to sleep at the beach 20 m, far from the waving see.You are awake at 7 o'clock in the morning by the rising Sun. The accommodation cost about 10 to 15 hryvien. We staied there for several days.


       We met there Tatar man. He used to sell sweet handmade wine. He told us many interesting stories and feed us with See cabbage parched from seeside. It is salty and good for throat prablems. He was vary nice and honest man, who told us all his story and Krytm story.


       While time, that is tipical of us we went to Alusza. There is not only beautyful promenade but also asmany people as in Jalta. We have visited fortress called "krepst" that is situated above the town. What was more, we found out the restaurant that is served traditional local cousine. It is cheep and delicious. Abundant dinner usuallu costs about 30 hryvien per 2 persons. It is hard to go not mention to sightsee monuments after such good meal. In Sudak you can, as go for a walk at seesiede,as buy some souvenirs at local stalls. At first fought Sudak isn't too atractive, but if you go around more and more, it could tourned out to be nice town. There is also aquapark, but the prices are much more higher than in Poland, what is more you can enter there only for half a day. There doesn't egzist daily tickets. There are so many visitors that you must stand in long line for everyone slide. In general the only Sudak's attraction is its Genuenska fortress on the coas. This place is well visible, so you can reach it easilly. It depends on service, but usuallu it costs 5-8 hryvien. There has survived defensive walls and 14 towers. It is not only pictuesque place but there is also fabulous view of Black See. If you would like to complete supplies it's worth to visit Teodozja. There is one of the biggest bazaar. You can also visit remains of mosque. I strongly recomed you to pay attention on medieval system of sources next to the Surb Naszan. At the top of the hill there is water cointainer from which wather is poured with ceramical pipes into sorces. Every sorce has its own characteristic features for e.g. power or reason. We have been also to Kerczu, big city in east of Krym. Approaching to the city it is worth to rourn into sideways county roads It's definitely different experience from Jalta There is poverty, lack of roads, elecricity and running water. In spite of that fact people are easy-going and open-minded. We have seen Mitrydades mountain and the hill covered with ancient ruin of Pantikapajon. You can climb thare up by the monumental stairs, contined with 316 stairs. If you haven't got enough power and strength to hike there you can also find sideway road and reach the hill driving there by car. There is another tourist attraction nearby, tiny country-Imperial Kurhan that has 17 m high and you can go there by 36 m tunnel. Inside there is inconspicuous chaber sized 4m x 4m. Frankly speaking it's hard to go into raptures about it has nothing common with Egipcian pyramid. Cost of fee is about 6 to 10 hryvien. Local people usually pay 2 hryvien.


       We left Kerczem and went to Azowskie See. There is piece and quiet, see water is as clear as in Black See but much more warmer. Certainly you can rest there. We ware looking for accommodation for 3 hours, finally we fund motel becouse there is no campsite. If you would like to rent room it costs 60 hryvien but there live many spiders, pillows are tough and what is more beds are intensely uncomfortable. Thery is the only one bathroom on each one flour. Hot water is available just after running the special vehicle not earlier than at 6 o'clock in the morning.


       We spent another few nights nearby beach under stars. It was idyllic time, we ware strongly tanned by the Sun and the water was so warm tahat you can spęd all day in the see, if you just wanted. We made decision to visit Bakczysaraj, 3 hours later. We chose way through Aj Petri. It is 70 km way and 1200m. high. If anybody vomit during yourney, I strongly advise not to go there. We ware moving so slowly just at the first gear and what is more the car was dubbing at the surface. The beautyful views on Jalta and Black See from 1500m are well worth seeing Bakczysaraj walcomed us great heat, abort 40 C. Thousand of tourists ware in the town not only but also from Poland. We don't like crowded places so we hale just looked around Can palace but we didn't reach Skalne miasto. There ware too many people. We came back another way, in spite of it's lenght 200km instead 100km., we arrived much more faster than 2 hours.


       Comming back home we have also visited Odessa. It is big city but another parts are dirty. First we dinned at Mc Donald's and than we went to the beach. It was late, so we had some problems with finding accommodation, finalny we decided to stay at campsite. The tolilets ware full of worms. It had batter to use forest as a toilette rather than that place. It was built with two boards over. We leaved that places in the morning, right after cleaning front -glasses by Jola. Unfortunatelly just after starting, the worms ware on our new cleaned glas again, so we must have forgotten about clear front-glass. We ware heading to our home. The journey wasn't too long and too stresfull. In spite of having the road by local people at the border. They ware waiting for our attempt but fortunatelly there was bus stop which helped us to overtook. We would have had serious prablems if they had regarded us as wealthy people. They ware quite disappointed and startled our behaviour. Being near to the border propabely is much more dangerous than in any other place sof country. What is interesting close to Poland. Few minutes later we arrived to Medyka. It was pleasure for us to visit Krym and Ukraine. We hope we will go there once more. We haven't noticed any disorders of car in spite of 6600 km way. Ukraine is beautyful safe and hospitable country. It has many opportunities to as well economical as coultural developments. Ukrainian community has astonishing ideas what is more they aren't yellous in contrast to Polish people.

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Translated by: Bartek Fabiański.