Arrival in Kyiv (Kiev).
Well, I am now on the plane to Kyiv. I’m landing at midnight and I have no place to sleep so far. I’m studying my travel book for hotels close to the bus stops between Borispol airport and Kyiv. The closest affordable hotel seems to be 15-minute-walk away. But, as we’re flying over Kyiv, I realise that streets are poorly or not lit. Walking alone with my big backpack won’t be safe :-(
After a customs procedure that dates back to the Soviet era (do you have prints? medicines? means of communication ? – I later learnt that I didn’t need to fill this form), I’m released to the main hall, where people are waiting for friends and relatives. A young couple displays a “Hostel Kiev” sign. This is the main HI hostel in Kyiv. It’s worth a try!
They don’t speak English, but they are waiting for two Belgian people, one of which speaks Polish. After a short conversation made out of French, Deutch, English, Polish and Russian, I join the “taxi” to the hostel.
My guidebook writes: “A drive in Kiev cures atheism”. Well, it does. The young “taxi driver” has a powerful car and a girlfriend to impress; he’s driving at 220 km/h on the 2*5-lane highway.
Next step, the hostel elevator. The kind of elevators you only see in your worst nightmares. They cure atheism, too. Someone should place an icon in the elevator, just like in buses and aircrafts. It’s narrow, dark, dirty, worn-out, bumpy and makes awful noises. Well, my backpack is heavy and there are 9 floors, so I have no choice.
The hostel is almost empty. I get a 3-bed room for myself. There is no light in the bathroom. I didn’t expect to use my Maglite so early in the travel.
After a customs procedure that dates back to the Soviet era (do you have prints? medicines? means of communication ? – I later learnt that I didn’t need to fill this form), I’m released to the main hall, where people are waiting for friends and relatives. A young couple displays a “Hostel Kiev” sign. This is the main HI hostel in Kyiv. It’s worth a try!
They don’t speak English, but they are waiting for two Belgian people, one of which speaks Polish. After a short conversation made out of French, Deutch, English, Polish and Russian, I join the “taxi” to the hostel.
My guidebook writes: “A drive in Kiev cures atheism”. Well, it does. The young “taxi driver” has a powerful car and a girlfriend to impress; he’s driving at 220 km/h on the 2*5-lane highway.
Next step, the hostel elevator. The kind of elevators you only see in your worst nightmares. They cure atheism, too. Someone should place an icon in the elevator, just like in buses and aircrafts. It’s narrow, dark, dirty, worn-out, bumpy and makes awful noises. Well, my backpack is heavy and there are 9 floors, so I have no choice.
The hostel is almost empty. I get a 3-bed room for myself. There is no light in the bathroom. I didn’t expect to use my Maglite so early in the travel.
posted by Juliette at 00:00
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