Now we are really roughing it, in a small suite at the VIP Hotel in Izmail in the Ukraine. We had to go through 3k of Moldova to get to the Ukraine, so 2 border crossings, close on 5 hours in total. It was made a lot easier however by a young, very pleasent female Moldovan border guard who came over to the Ukraine side to translate for us and then made us tea whilst we waited to be searched.
As we arrived at the first border point we had to queue in blazing sunshine, by the time we got into Moldova an amazing dust cloud preceded a huge thunderstorm with torrential rain that lasted almost into the Ukraine.
The first few miles of Ukraine is like a wasteland, with roads considerably rougher than Romania in parts, and the parts that aren't are even more dangerous as you never know when a huge pot hole will appear. The last hour or so was completely dark as there was nowhwere to stop with swamp land both sides of the road.
Izmail is spread out in large 'blocks' and is poorly lit and the Tom Tom, that has been superb up to now, had a fit was directing us all over the place (trying to reach the centre) and after getting us within half a mile suddenly wanted us to do 7.5! After disapearing off in various tangents and through various craters we eventually came across a Hotel, they had no parking but directed us to one that did and whilst it has blown todays budget we were glad to get in a room. By this time it was 10pm but with the help of a young local we found a retaurant and had a suprisingly pleasent meal.
It is now another sunny morning and the forecast is good to the next 10 days!
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Mick & Chris
Intrepid for 10 Minutes
Married in 1980 we had both travelled before we met. Me overland to India. Chris overland from Singapore, after working in New Zealand for 18 months and finally been given 24 hours to leave after repeated attempts to extend her visa.
We both vowed to travel again, once we were able and whilst we have recently made short trips to Peru, Sri Lanka, Nepal(Mick) and Vietnam (Chris) this has simply fuelled our desire to travel (without having to rush round in 2 weeks).
In August 2007, returning from Slovenia with our caravan, we met Jeff & Jean who were in the first Landcruiser with roof tent that we had ever come across. Over a few beers they told us about their two trips to South Africa, down either side of the continent (see Gonewandering.co.uk) and their plans to ship the Landcruiser to the point of South America and drive to Alaska.
And that was it! by the time we had left we had given ourselves 4 years to be on the Road.
In October 2007, we made a quick trip to Morocco for a last attempt to get some sun before winter. Chris wanted to be intrepid and travel round by bus and Grand Taxi, but with thughts of waiting around for hours and trouble finding accommodation, I hired a car instead.
We stayed in the Hotel Panorama in Azrou (one of the few places we could get a beer during Ramadan) where we met Dave and Sue (over a beer). They had hired a guide for a walk the following day and invited us to join them. Before starting, Dave confirmed the rules to the guide - no walking on roads and back by 4pm.
It was an enjoyable walk until, at 4pm precisely, we arrived at a road, with a sign that said 'Azrou 4k'. After the toys had been firmly thrown from the pram Dave sat on the bank and said 'It's 4 o'clock, that's a road and I have finished'. As he said it, a Grand taxi stopped just down the road to drop someone off, our guide flagged it down and the driver promised to be back in 5 minutes.
So Chris got her trip in a Grand Taxi. During the short trip Sue recounted varous experiences in long bus journeys in stifling heat where dogs had died and numerous children had thrown up, and a 6 hour trip in a Grand Taxi, wedged between 3 large ladies in stifling heat so she could hardly move and after taking a sip from her water bottle, the large woman next to her took the bottle, drained it and threw it out of the window.
We both vowed to travel again, once we were able and whilst we have recently made short trips to Peru, Sri Lanka, Nepal(Mick) and Vietnam (Chris) this has simply fuelled our desire to travel (without having to rush round in 2 weeks).
In August 2007, returning from Slovenia with our caravan, we met Jeff & Jean who were in the first Landcruiser with roof tent that we had ever come across. Over a few beers they told us about their two trips to South Africa, down either side of the continent (see Gonewandering.co.uk) and their plans to ship the Landcruiser to the point of South America and drive to Alaska.
And that was it! by the time we had left we had given ourselves 4 years to be on the Road.
In October 2007, we made a quick trip to Morocco for a last attempt to get some sun before winter. Chris wanted to be intrepid and travel round by bus and Grand Taxi, but with thughts of waiting around for hours and trouble finding accommodation, I hired a car instead.
We stayed in the Hotel Panorama in Azrou (one of the few places we could get a beer during Ramadan) where we met Dave and Sue (over a beer). They had hired a guide for a walk the following day and invited us to join them. Before starting, Dave confirmed the rules to the guide - no walking on roads and back by 4pm.
It was an enjoyable walk until, at 4pm precisely, we arrived at a road, with a sign that said 'Azrou 4k'. After the toys had been firmly thrown from the pram Dave sat on the bank and said 'It's 4 o'clock, that's a road and I have finished'. As he said it, a Grand taxi stopped just down the road to drop someone off, our guide flagged it down and the driver promised to be back in 5 minutes.
So Chris got her trip in a Grand Taxi. During the short trip Sue recounted varous experiences in long bus journeys in stifling heat where dogs had died and numerous children had thrown up, and a 6 hour trip in a Grand Taxi, wedged between 3 large ladies in stifling heat so she could hardly move and after taking a sip from her water bottle, the large woman next to her took the bottle, drained it and threw it out of the window.
When we arrived in Azrou I said 'OK, are you satisfied now that you have been Intrepid for 10 minutes'
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