Daily "Check In" Thread For Us

[Smith1776]

Local yummy things.

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[Smith1776]

Ukrainian coffee

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[Xan]

Ukrainians use the word "coffee"? In the Latin alphabet even?

Are your relatives members of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Ukranian Orthodox Church, or something else?

[dualstow]

Probably just to stamp their logo into the toast.

I think “coffee”, from Arabic, is one of those words that sounds pretty much the same — well, identifiable — around the world. “Taxi” — same.

An English name for a bar, coffee shop or restaurant is still pretty faddish in far-flung regions. Not always good English— in Taiwan, I remember a shop called “Locally Beef” with an English sign that said that.

In Moscow, I used to eat at “Patio Pizza” — English sign, and a strong preference for U.S. currency, but that’s another story.

[vnatale]

Local yummy things.



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Not what one would be led to believe what to expect to see in Ukraine.

[Mountaineer]

Are we going to have anything to discuss once Smithers gets back from the Ukraine?

Gotta go get my cup of coffee now ,,,,,,,,

[Smith1776]

We just arrived in Lviv. Closer to the war front than before in Mukachevo but, still reasonably safe. Air sirens happen regularly here, but actual damage is relatively rare.

I’m in another cafe, but will post more substantively when I reach the hotel.

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(Just updated with a couple more pics )

[dualstow]

Cool station (вокзал is the same in Russian: train station; terminal).
Lviv has sooo much history.
Stay safe, Forrest.

[Smith1776]

Ukrainian coffee is AMAZING.

Why did I picture you typing this from the coffee shop bathroom?

Because your intuition is impeccable.

[Smith1776]

The missus and I just got up to our first beautiful morning in Lviv after a wonderful stay in a local hotel.

This city is genuinely gorgeous, and the locals are displaying such strength in carrying on their day-to-day responsibilities despite the perpetual threat of destruction. Every city block has signs pointing to the nearest shelter, in which case you need to rush their as fast as possible if the air raid siren goes on.

Lviv is similar to Mukachevo in the tone and tenor of living, but it is clearly much more metropolitan and modern. Today we are doing a shopping day and picking up souvenirs for friends and family back home. Anyone want anything?

Also, more coffee today.

[dualstow]

(Just updated with a couple more pics )

That transparent roof is neat! I know a guy who doesn’t like to sit at outdoor cafes because he’s worried that birds will drop something in his cup or some kind of plant detritus will fall in there. This would work for him

[Smith1776]

(Just updated with a couple more pics )

That transparent roof is neat! I know a guy who doesn’t like to sit at outdoor cafes because he’s worried that birds will drop something in his cup or some kind of plant detritus will fall in there. This would work for him

It's definitely a cool cafe. On the left side is a stage which apparently has bands that regularly play, in addition to stand up acts.

[Mountaineer]

Smithers, thank you for the daily updates on your activities. Every morning I look to see your posts, both for the content and as evidence that you are safe. The pictures are beautiful. Thanks again.

[dualstow]

+1

_ _ _ _ _
The lunar lander ended up sideways
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/23/world/od ... index.html

[Smith1776]

Posting while on the go again. Will share what we were up to today when I get back to my fiancé’s parent’s place.

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[Smith1776]

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[dualstow]

Great fake ID, Mr Trump

I love the rubber duckies in the tub. What is that, soup? My wife wants to know.
I thought maybe the sign by the pizza (right-hand side) meant little cake* but Google translate says Galician? Galician legend? Interesting.

Thank you for taking the time to post these

Edit: oh, i see the word for pizza above the pizza with the 79.00

[Smith1776]

Smithers, thank you for the daily updates on your activities. Every morning I look to see your posts, both for the content and as evidence that you are safe. The pictures are beautiful. Thanks again.

Thanks for having interest! This is my first time travelling through Europe in any way at all, so it’s definitely a landmark time.

We just got back to Mukachevo from Lviv. Overall the trip by train is about 4 hours. Which isn’t too crazy, especially if you through a nap in there. Our next visit will be Vinnystia. There we will stay another couple of days and get my fiancé’s dress sized, in addition to our wedding bands.

The experience in Lviv was very eye opening in terms of how other people and cultures are just different. Coffee culture is abound. Manners and etiquette are unfamiliar. Hardly anyone owns a car.

[Smith1776]

Great fake ID, Mr Trump

I love the rubber duckies in the tub. What is that, soup? My wife wants to know.
I thought maybe the sign by the pizza (right-hand side) meant little cake* but Google translate says Galician? Galician legend? Interesting.

Thank you for taking the time to post these

Edit: oh, i see the word for pizza above the pizza with the 79.00

Hahaha the Trump ID was a buck, so I said what the hell. I'll make sure it gets its rightful place in my wallet as my new driver's license.

The bathtub/rubber duck thing is actually a latte served at a cafe called Holy Moly. Originally that serving style was only meant for cocktails, but we finagled them into doing it for something non-alcoholic. We treated the people sitting at the next table to the cocktails.

I've been told the pizza here is legendary in Ukraine, but so far we've had soo many other things to eat, we still haven't gotten to it.

Lots of restaurants seem to use the word "Galician" as part of their name or vocabulary. I had never even heard the word before coming here!

[boglerdude]

Whats the narrative about Trump there, considering hes the "no more wars" guy here

[dualstow]

Very generous of you to treat strangers to cocktails. I like it.

Bottom photo, img_4383 галерея пряників = Gingerbread Gallery // matches the gingerbread man in the sign
but I misspelled a vowel at first and google translate said ‘Gallery of drunkards’

So is the local hotel full of colorful blankets that look like grandma knitted them, or do the furnishing look like a western hotel?

[Smith1776]

So is the local hotel full of colorful blankets that look like grandma knitted them, or do the furnishing look like a western hotel?

I originally wasn’t going to share this, but since you asked I can’t resist. This is the hotel room my fiancé and I ended up staying in in Lviv.

No, I’m not joking. And yes, it was fun.

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It’s a little gimmicky, but well worth the laughs and uniqueness.

https://www.masochhotel.com/en/

[dualstow]

bahahahhahahaha!
Grandma did not make that.

[Smith1776]

bahahahhahahaha!
Grandma did not make that.

Maybe she did... if so, that's a seriously fun grandma hahahaha.

[dualstow]

Our next visit will be Vinnystia.

I keep telling Vin he needs to return to the town he founded and clean that place up, but so far no answer.