September 3-15, 2019

A one-way Ryanair flight ($204.71) from Athens to Kiev, Ukraine, a ₴394.35 (Ukrainian Hryvnia) Uber from airport, and I was at DREAM House Hostel ($14.45/night). I loved this country for its affordability, beauty, and ease of getting around. Majority of the locals’ English level is low, but it’s safe, and with the help of the internet, it’s a blast. I hope I have the opportunity to return soon. 

If you’re curious, here’s an excellent article on how to pronounce the capital of Ukraine.

Here are some things to do:

• I went to the dentist. I highly recommend Dr. Yarema Miklosh (068-479-97-77 or email [email protected]). His business hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm, and Saturday 10am to 3pm. A cleaning was ₴1400 ($60). 
• Traveling around Kiev is so easy. You can use Apple Pay on the metro, or take a Uber, each trip ranging from ₴56-94 one-way.
• Get a glass of cherry wine at Drunk Cherry (П‘яна вишня).
• No surprised but I had the best chicken kiev in downtown at a place aptly named Chicken Kyiv. I love the pop-up menu with photos.
• Get beers and groceries at Silpo, and have an impromptu “picnic” at the square/park across the way, Сквер Сагайдачного.
• Puzata Hata (Пузата Хата) is a chain restaurant all over Ukraine. It means “Hut of the Pot Belly.” It’s a cheap place to sample traditional Ukrainian cuisine in a cafeteria setting.
• Kiev has a beautiful downtown with dramatically colored cathedrals. And, yes, Sofiyska Bell Tower is worth paying to walk up to the top for the view.
• Cross the bridge (which you can also bungee jump off of!) to Trukhaniv Island (Труханів острів). Gorgeous, especially at sunset, and you can drink beers while sitting on the sand.
• Chernobyl tours are quite popular, starting at €79. The tour routes in the Chernobyl Zone and Prypiat town are designer to grant absolute radiation safety. To control radiation safety, each group has a Geiger counter on the route. You can also order a personal dosimeter for yourself. It makes the radiation level “visible” and shows your exact radiation dose at the end of the trip. I was told that a one-day tour radiation dose is equal to the dose of a 1-hour airplane flight. 
• I took an overnight sleeper train from Kiev to Odessa (₴656.15) and then flew back (Odessa to Kiev) one-way (₴967).
• It was ₴810/night for a private room at the nearly empty DREAM mini Hostel Odessa. This location will likely be closing soon. 
• Zheto (Жето) is a quaintly decorated cafe to have coffee and cake. 
• Take an Uber to Arcadia Beach, pay for exclusivity at a club, or just dip your toes in the Black Sea – up to you!
• Lots to see in the town centre, such as the Odessa City garden or Potemkin Stairs.
• I was eating late night fast food wraps called VLavashe at the 24/7 chain, ВЛаваше. Don’t knock it ‘til you try them; they’re addicting.