Winter Draws On

Loads of snow deep and crisp and even average temp -7 thaw not yet set in so walking on it is not unpleasant, sea is frozen. interestingly the city has not ground to a halt, couple of dodgy days but for example the refuse lorries were working 24/7 to clear the backlog after the Hols, I saw them twice outside the flat at 2 and 3 in the am on a Sunday no less.

Yesterday had to go out for something. There were on one road gangs of 30 or so workers breaking up the impacted snow clearing the pavements.Trams buses and trains all have kept running, snow and bad weather doesn't appear to be a big deal here. A slight inconvenience maybe, of course I can only speak of what I see in the city how things are further inland I don't know But, from scenes on the telly people just get on with it. I do know the cold has brought problems folks do freeze to death gas main do fracture the incidents of traffic accidents does increase, but then there are stupid carless drivers in UK too.

Verhovina, Chernivtsi and Home

Yesterday was a quiet one for Genny and I, we spent it exploring Verhovina, the rest of the party went skiing again. It's an interesting place nestled in the mountains, a large partially frozen river cuts through it, not so deep but very wide fast running. This is an ideal place for summer activities hikers,walkers,trekkers love the mountains and woods, Kayak and canoeist find the river challenging.
Close to Polish border this town has very close ties to that country both in dress and customs, a visit to the museum showed a rich culture going back many centuries, the exhibits give a very good feel what life must have been like, my one abiding memory was this sink hewn and hollowed from a single log, it was used for everything from bathing the newborn,to bread making,washing clothes and so forth,also to see the way a hollowed branch was used to provide accurate measure for flour or sugar, filled to level it produced 1 kg of either, scales at the time having not been invented.

The following day we travel to Chernivtsi to get the train home. A Dodgy journey some 3hours in length we departed early, slipped and slid our way out of the valley, following the river back to our destination. A good driver got us there with time to spare, so it was decided to have a guided tour. An interesting very old town, we visited the usual churches and squares but then arrived at the university. This building was over 300 years old having been designed by an Italian architect. The area had been for a long time under Austrian rule, so the building was very influenced by them, in fact a brick factory was set up to produce the finest brickwork and tiles, the best craftsmen were employed in its construction.
For the next 250 years it was without parallel, that ended with the retreat of the Germans in the war who set fire to the library, some of the most beautiful wooden ceilings were destroyed. However the towns folk came in their hundreds to save as much of the artifices and building as they could, this they did thanks to the attention to detail in its construction the fabric withstood pretty much intact.

The bishop had removed a lot of the fine art before the war and managed to get it to America with the promise to return it when it was safe. This he did,but by now the country was under Russian rule,the artefacts ended up in a museum in Moscow, "That's a surprise" I said to the guide "will the ever return here?" "Ah!" she said with a knowing look "we have an understanding with Russia."
Sympathetically restored where needed The building is set to be a world heritage site in the near future. I think a very good decision.

And so we returned home some 18hours on the train. No sooner were we settled than the food and drink was produced

Bukovel

So off we go again, this time to the ski slopes at Bukovel, 1hours drive away, “Very!” convenient. “Ha!” Kids have gone to the slopes, it's a decent enough day but there are snow blowers everywhere, lots of ski and snowboard runs. I do my usual thing sit and watch; Genny and I find a small cafe. As I write this we are drinking good espresso and excellent brandy, I wonder how long we can stay here before we have to order food? “Well!” We have not been worried, no odd looks, so we sit a bit more.
Sometime later we go for a mooch round,look at souvenirs, go and take in the scenery, and take a few pictures.

It’s a shame the slopes are just to inaccessible to me, I would have liked some photos of the children skiing. But I can't have everything; anyway they will have taken many themselves so we should not miss out. Poor old Tolik fell over and broke a ski,he didn't have as long as some of the others and was doing well, he says “Tomorrow is another day I can try again”; sensible lad.
4pm we are all piled into the bus,feet,face,and fingers glowing, tired and pretty happy I would say. The cameras are out and many giggles heard as photos are checked.

A long drive back,the driver puts on the film Avatar,no idea how he got hold of a copy so soon,OK so it was in Russian no matter it’s very visual therefore easy enough to follow.

A tasty dinner is soon on the table when eventually we return. Afterwards we sit around chatting drinking good coffee and vodka. “Now!”bed.

Winter Break In Verhovina

Here I am on a train bound for Chernivitsi we left Odessa on time, a 14 coach train. Phew! I am in our compartment, “Ira” has spread out a feast on the table and 2 large thermos flasks I thought coffee? But No! wine, or vodka. Always! be prepared. Soon other folk arrive we are sharing our fayre with them. Now waiting for tea boy to arrive, I am full and steadily warming up after our wait on the platform in Odessa. -3, the family determined we would not be late. Well fed and watered we have about an 18 Hour journey ahead. Great!

We arrive at the stationing in Chernivitsi, it's snowing hard, no worries; there’s the mini bus. soon be warm in hotel, “Big” mistake!. 3.5 hours later after sliding, bumping, and at breakneck speed, we debus in Verhovina, very cold and stiff, I had sat with my knees up under my chin that's how cramped it was, But hey! This is Ukraine what do you expect? Here's the thing, the scenery is stunningly beautiful, this is, the Carpathian Mountains. The Hotel? isn’t, it's a large Chalet all pine wood panels etc but well appointed and clean, I settle in for a sleep not having done much on The train. No. That’s not going to happen we are called to lunch.

Absolutely smashing, all food is locally produced and much more, the meat is raised and cured by mine host, it tastes so good. After lunch the youngsters opt for a walk, not me. I like the idea of forty winks, just an hour will do, ah! bliss!! Time for exploration and skiing tomorrow.