Grand Pettine Hotel Odessa

... instead. All 500000000 of them. Yes, and I'm not exaggerating. We were breathing a little heavily by the tiime we got to the top, and our legs had a bit of a burn on, but we knew that if there were 50000000 more steps, we could easily carry on with twice the load. <br>As we were lying on our bags in the shade of an impressive looking quarter-circle of a building two minutes later, we decided that we will get a taxi back to the hostel. Our hostel turned out ...

... by to show off their meager language skills. Since Louise isn't settled into her apartment yet and still lives with a host family, I signed into the local hotel or rooming house (shared baths). We found a wildly decorated - white &amp; red satin table cloths and chairs, fake white roses on the tables, multiple glasses and plates, mini lights etc. It looked like it was all dolled up for the Jr. Prom or ...

... the the highest point. I'm not gonna lie, it scared me. The first thought in my head was, oh my goodness, there is no way they will be able for them to come and get us. We will be stuck up here for days!!! But after a few minutes it began again. It was well worth the three bucks. Lesson two on what to expect in Eastern Europe. This is something that really confuses me. The money system. It is really easy because all the amounts are ...

... later...another bag!! Where did you find that one!?!? Well eventually they gave it all back to the ladies after they paid the taxes on the goods (they said it was taxes they had to pay...I'm sure where that money ended up...) Well we all got back on the bus and headed off to Romania. Due to our extended stay at the border we arrived in Timisoara late and I asked if we could all split a hotel room to save on money. We did and went out drinking (i was with ...

... to the person, they accuse you of stealing and threaten to take you to the police unless you pay them $10. Not knowing Russian and knowing you'll be unable to defend yourself, you hand over the money. Finally, another guy in our hostel was punched out after withdrawing money from an ATM and his cash and card stolen. The next day, he had to go to the hospital for stitches. I had no problems in Odessa (I credit a good chunk ...

... Hrivne, some 200 US Dollars. Cell phones are the communication tool number one among them. 30 per cent live with about 100 US Dollars a month. The other 30 per cent have Western salaries and even more. Today there are more than 51 million subscribers of different mobile services operators in Ukraine ...

... else but, eat. Off to the beach next for a fun time in the cold and gross yet refreshing water and king of the mountain on the moss wall before I obliged like a sucker, for the promise of both chocolate and beer, to be buried, mainly so the gnats would have an easier time buzzing my face, making like I was an air traffic control tower and they were each Maverick. Then, back at home, we ate. And I played the piano. Until Vera made us eat again. One of the ...

... skin drums -- I have no idea -- and accompanied by the cries of cats in heat in the alley below, which to my foggy brain filled with dissolving dreams sounded like babies howling. I lay there in the dark listening to a night from another era and it felt like if I stepped to the window I'd see gentlemen in linen suits smoking cigars and sipping cognac under the chestunt tree below. This morning at 10 I met Stanislav in the lobby, a very friendly 37-year-old English-speaking ...

... in a red dress with a beautifully clear voice. She made the Gypsy music come alive, but did less justice to Elton. You could watch them perform or by just slightly turning your head, catch the bear in the surf again (the video was all one esoteric loop). My driver on the way home was younger guy and very friendly. He pulled over abrubtly just out side the city center. An older man handed a leather case through the window and my driver gave him some money and we ...

... I am sure you can imagine 5 people overflowing 2 bus seats--for a 15 hour journey!). To their credit...the family of 4 was polite and agreeable...UNLIKE most Ukrainians you meet along the way! So...in Odessa I am! On the Black Sea Coast, Odessa is a fairly large city...and...it turns out...is 210 years old on Sept 2nd! (I arrived just in time to celebrate the City's Birthday!!!). A night stroll through the city ...