Ukraine 3 - the long stay (Winter is coming)

We had a few changes of plans to our journey. The vehicles we were going to help drive over from the UK to Ukraine were not ready in time. Our bus from Krakow yesterday was delayed and then broke down, and we missed our lift on the other side of the border. But today everything went smoothly; we took the bus from Krakow to Lviv and had the quickest ever border crossing of only 1and 1/2 hours.

There is a marked change in the seasons now, from the sultry heat of August to a cloudy, chilly September. The leaves are changing colour. The fields that were full of vibrant, yellow sunflowers are now full of dry, brown stalks and heads. 
Some things haven't changed. The contrast between Poland and Ukraine as soon as you cross the border - houses more ramshackle, most in the countryside having a small plot to grow vegetables. Lots of pumpkins now so we have a clue as to what will be in the markets! 

There is also the slight quirkiness of Ukraine that is hard to describe but ever present. For instance, Bob spotted a man cleaning a pram at a carwash!

There are still road blocks at the entrance to Lviv - a reminder of the fear and chaos there must have been when Russia first invaded. And also a reminder that there is no guarantee of safety anywhere. 
We love being back in Lviv, with the cobbled streets and rickety old trams. We have a more comfortable apartment, although cheaper, but the same reassuringly wonky wooden stairs!

People are still welcoming if they hear us speaking English. A young university student on the tram with near perfect English, studying international relations, asked us where we are from and why we are here. He said that he has relatives in London who he would like to visit, but now he can't because he's turned 18. An old homeless man, carrying his home in bags, but still cheerful, came up to us in the rain. He managed to ask where we come from in England and cried, "Slava Ukraina!"

Life is so different, depending on where you are in the world.

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