This is a very nice take on the country. I visited a few years ago (took an overnight train from Romania which was a blast, albeit not the most restful experience) and I would just say that there isn't all that much to see or things going on. Not to say it isn't a nice enough place, it's just not one I'd ever recommend as a tourist destination for people. If you want more Eastern Europe vibes I think Romania is just fine for that with much more going on -- if you're more adventurous Lviv and Kyiv are fantastic (I was just there in April, still gorgeous cities with great restaurants, bars, and art). And if you want old Europe with a post-Soviet flavor, nothing beats Estonia and the well preserved old town in the capital
Estonia’s old city is a treat to explore. Last time I was there was several years back during the winter and it was -30c or so out. Didn’t stop some drunk Brits from having a good time.
Why? Cheap flights and booze? I'd like to know in order to avoid such destinations. Drunk Brits on bachelor parties were by far the most annoying tourists in Spain or Greece. I thought my co-nationals were annoying until I encountered drunk Brits.
The funny thing is, coming from Washington DC, I felt about or more safe in Ukraine as I do here day to day. I wasn't worried about being carjacked, I wasn't worried about someone with mental health or drug problems robbing me, and I wasn't worried about being shot (as I write this it feels hyperbolic to say but I live about 10 mins walking from the capitol and in the two years I've been here there have been multiple carjackings and shootings in my neighborhood -- even a Congressman was held up at gunpoint next door to me). The idea that missiles could come raining down was scary, but there are shelters everywhere and it felt like the likelihood of getting hit was pretty low being in random bars/restaurants and not any government/military/infrastructure facility. Maybe I was calculating the odds all wrong in my head, but I didn't feel particularly unsafe while I was there (that said, wouldn't go further east or to Odessa right now).
They have hit apartments and hospitals before so its not only military/government/infra targets any longer. I'm surprised they haven't been sold an iron dome or a similar system by now to be honest.
They can't really afford to pay for such systems, the EU and US are propping up their economy right now. But also Israel refused to sell or give them the iron dome tech for rather bizarre sounding reasons: https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-rules-out-giving-ukr...
They've already been sold the whole suite of Western air defense systems in addition to the ex-Soviet gear they've already had. Patriot, HAWK, Gepard, etc.
Air sirens had already started so most people had moved down to the basements. Probably some people who couldn't, or who were caring for those that couldn't be moved were caught in the blast.
Brutal thing to do. At least they didn't go for a double-tap, just for the lulz.
Unfortunately the West can only provide air defense systems, not magic lasers that automatically shoot everything down every time. This is classic terrorism, where the defender has to be right every time, but the attacker only has to be right once.
Yeah, I've seen that (and some of it unfortunately is not directly from missile attacks but falling debris after missiles were intercepted) but apart from some horrendous cases, the likelihood still seemed relatively low that they'd target the bar/hostel/restaurant I happened to be in, and without enough time for me to get to a shelter. The only time I was really nervous was when an air raid siren went off when I was in the train station at Lviv and I wasn't sure whether to go to a shelter or the train (I chose the latter which was good because the train left on time)
Prague is fantastic if you can avoid the tourist crowds.
I lived there briefly with a Czech roommate who took me on tours through the "real" city. Also had a British friend there and we went through the usual tourist destinations now and then. The astronomical clock was neat, but the castle was so much more interesting and far less crowded than the old town.
Incidentally, I didn't drink before said roommate introduced me to Czech beer. What I wouldn't give for a nice frosty Kozel here in the states...
Man, I haven't thought of the word Kozel since I studied abroad in Prague 15 years ago. I must've drank two liters of Gambrinus and Kozel every day I was there.
The "dorms" for the School of Economics there were basically two large old apartment buildings 15 min out of the center by tram. One of them had its own bar inside. It was super small and dingy with a bartender who was this middle aged androgynous guy with pink hair. There weren't even tables, just assorted bean bag like seats you might find in a preteen's bedroom.
God that place was so much more me than Texas, and maybe the US, could ever be.
Not only is it delicious but it’s often 25% of the price or less than other European countries. I am not sure why beer is so cheap in Czech Republic specifically but every country that surrounds it is significantly more expensive
I was in Budapest last summer and it was terrific. Lots of historical places that have been well preserved. People were friendly and it was easy to engage with them.
What I have learned in a half century of travel is you learn a lot more about a place trying to talk to its citizens than you ever can visiting monuments or museums. Plus you can make some life long friends.
Bad news -- actually good for residents -- those socialist era trams and buses are gone by now. The typical "UV" trams manufactured between 1956–1965 have been retired in 2007. The Ikarus 260 and Ikarus 280 buses last ran in 2022 November.
OK, some old trams remain but they have been throughly modernized so that old feeling is basically gone.
