A few relaxing days in Kiev, walking around, enjoying some cheap beers, and one last message from Jasmin.
I enjoyed my time here, meeting new people and taking in the views, but it is time to move on. Odessa looks like the place for me and it is only a $30 dollar, 6 our train ride away.
Just before I go, here are some pictures of Kiev and the first one is of the coffee girl. I will miss her trying to teach me how to say coffee with milk, in Ukraine. I still can’t.
I now love trains, they are so much more comfortable than planes, even though they take a million times longer. The comfort makes up for it.
However, the comfort ends the minute the train arrives in Odessa. It is just after midnight, and as I walk out of the train station, about to walk the 2 KM to my hotel. I notice my phone’s screen is bright green. Odd! I turn it off and back on. Now it is somewhat green, with red and yellow lines going through it.
It quickly dawns on me. I have no idea where the hotel is, I no longer have internet, no more GPS, no more English to Ukraine translation. In a panic, I pull out the battery, and reboot the phone. Come on baby, not now!
Nope, its (Technical term) FUCKED!
Well, at least I remember the hotel name. I ask a taxi if he knows where it is. Nope, he has no clue. He asks around, no one else does either.
As I walk toward a group of people, this random, guy asks me if I need help. I said, Oh Yes!
He speaks English and is with two other people. All young, and all speak a little English.
They help me, and also warn me about taking a taxi from the street. They explain to him where my hotel is, and the girl tells me, she already told him 100 Ukraine is the price. I thank them, and the one guy takes my Facebook. They offer to show me around Odessa in a few days. I will take them up on this offer for sure.
Wow! People are too amazing, and this is why I travel. Too meet people like this.
So, the taxi takes me where my hotel should be, and it is not there. Oh yea, I forgot to mention. The group that helped me, also told me, that this is a shit part of town, and they would not stay here.
The taxi driver asks a group of drunks where the hotel is. I have no idea what they say, but they are all laughing. The taxi pulls around the corner to the only hotel in a really rundown area. He says this is it.
I hand him the 100 Ukraine and he yells, “NO, 200!”. I say, no we agreed on 100. He yells again, and hits the steering wheel. I debated taking this outside the car, then I thought. Fuck it, 200 UAH is only $10 Canadian and it’s 1 AM, in the middle of nowhere.
So, I pay and say, “I hope you enjoy being a useless human!” He has no idea what I am saying.
The hotel lobby has this extremely cute receptionist. I think her name is Anastasia. She tells me this is not my hotel and googles where my hotel is. It is a 5 minute walk away. I say thanks, to this overly cheerful, Ukraine girl.
The 5 minute walk to my hotel was a little sketchy. Picture run down buildings, no street lights, and a drunk, dirty couple making out on the ground behind a broken park bench. Yes, I feel safe!
I get to my hotel, and the door is locked. Mind you, I called earlier in the day to confirm a late arrival of after 1 AM, and they said it was OK. Looking at the hotel, I do not want to stay here either. As far as I can tell, it is a hooker hotel. Nasty as shit.
I walk back to see the very cute, Anastasia, in hopes they have a room at a reasonable price.
She does have a room, but even better she has a hostel bed at a fraction of the cost. Even bigger bonus, is the hostel room is empty.
While checking in, she tells me some fun stories about people she has met while working at a hostel. I like this girl, she is really fun.
I am finally checked in, showered, and ready for bed. Tomorrow I will be searching for, phone repair, or a new phone.
What a day of mixed emotions. Sad about my phone, happy meeting 3 cool Ukraines, pissed at a taxi driver, and then ended off with a big smile, meeting another cool Ukraine girl, and getting an entire hostel room to myself.