Alive in Lviv

Lviv, Ukraine. Oct 8 2015 11:30AM

I'm back in Lviv, Ukraine. I got (maybe) a total of 1 hour of sleep in the overnight flight to Vienna from Baltimore and a just maybe 5 minutes on the following flight to Lviv. I arrived in a daze and almost tipped over walking on the sidewalk in town.

My old smartphone sim card from Ukraine no longer worked so I had to get a new one ("Life" card is best for data here). Did that right away so I could email family about safe arrival.

Other changes since I was last here?   Airport was VERY busy.  I asked airport info lady why. More tourists? Are people discovering what a great place this is?  She thought it is seasonal. (Last time I was here was in the Spring). Not sure that makes sense. Will further check this out later at Tourist Info.

Another big change is heavy construction on the road in front of my hotel replacing/upgrading cobblestones on this main road.  My hotel is in the centre overlooking an historic square.  Glad I saw it before construction. But it's really not too bad although the air quality is a bit affected by the construction dust.

They welcomed me back at reception.  Nice to be where they know you.  Like TV program Cheers. "where everybody knows .... your name". This is my third time in Lviv and at this hotel.

Another big change it's cold.  41 degrees now. High 50 today.  I planned on this and have lots of layers - so I could travel light .. like with packable down vest, fleece sweater, turtle neck, T shirt, and shell jacket. Found this works great and takes up very little room in carry on bag - essential to avoid checking bag which is a no no for me.

I began to wonder last night what I would do here this time.  I'll be here in Lviv for 3 weeks. Is this too long? However, I woke up after a great 8 hour sleep and am feeling great and excited about being here. So much to do.  Nice to be here in one hotel for 3 weeks and can really settle in, unpack and make myself "at home".

I'm going to check in with the two Universities.  Ivano Frankivsk University, to see if they want me to attend some English classes as a "sample native American English speaker".  I decided I didn't want to take on the time commitment and responsibility of teaching English here, but would still like to help out if I can be of use. "American" English is much rarer here than "English" English which accounts in large part I think for their eagerness to have me teach in spite of my lack of qualifications to do so.

The other major thing I want to do is pursue my mobile app development ideas with the professor at the Politechnic University whom I met last year and with whom I discussed working  on one of my app ideas.

And then of course there is the pure joy of living and experiencing in this beautiful city with such a great cultural environment of classical music, architecture, etc. All at bargain rates and without the crush of tourists in comparable but much more "discovered" cities like Vienna and Prague.

Even the Post Office here is beautiful.  I found this out quite by accident when I wandered into it as I passed by on the street.  Always a good idea to wander down streets and into buildings on a whim when traveling.

I feel very fortunate to be here and Alive in Lviv!