Kyiv Chaos: Lost in Translation (and Laundry)
okay, so i just landed in kyiv. the flight was…an experience. a whole lot of recycled air and questionable airplane peanuts. but hey, here we are. the numbers i keep seeing - 1267031 and 1356696980 - are just swirling in my brain. maybe they're coordinates? a phone number for a good pierogi place? honestly, who knows?
The weather here is… interesting. i just checked and it's a persistent, damp hug. there's a stillness in the air, almost a quiet anticipation. the temperature is hovering around 29.93 Celsius, feels like 28.44. humidity's a whopping 26, so you’re basically swimming in your own sweat. the pressure is 1011, which i don't totally understand, and the ground level is 974, so i'm feeling pretty grounded.
i’m staying in a little apartment near *Pyscha Misia - supposedly a great little cafe. someone told me that the coffee is divine. i’m still trying to figure out the public transport, which is a whole adventure in itself. apparently, the Uక్రinie app is your best friend. i’m going to check out some of the local markets, hoping to snag some cool vintage finds. i heard that the Podil district is the place to be for that kind of thing. TripAdvisor - Kyiv Restaurants is a good place to start looking for food if I get hopelessly lost.
The neighbors are… well, they're incredibly friendly. mostly older folks, quietly going about their day. i saw a woman hanging laundry out to dry on her balcony - a whole rainbow of clothes flapping in the breeze. it was strangely peaceful. if you get bored, Lviv is a gorgeous city just a few hours away by train.
so far, the food's been amazing. i had varenyky (dumplings) last night, and it was pure comfort. i'm planning on trying some borscht - apparently, every family has their own secret recipe. i'm hoping to walk along the Dnipro River* later and just soak it all in. i keep thinking about all the history here. it’s palpable.
i'm trying to embrace the chaos, you know? letting go of the itinerary and just seeing where the day takes me. it's a little scary, but also really liberating. i’m definitely getting a lot of curious stares - probably because i look like i’ve been awake for three days straight. i’m trying to learn a few Ukrainian phrases. 'дякую' (dyakuyu) for 'thank you' is a good start. i've heard that finding a decent bakery is a mission, but totally worth it. Yelp - Kyiv Bakeries
Someone at the hostel said to be careful of the street vendors - apparently, some of them aren't always honest about prices. Good advice, i guess. ”
A local artist told me don’t expect things to always run on schedule here. Go with the flow, he said. Easier said than done, but good to remember. ”
the air smells like woodsmoke and something vaguely floral. i'm sketching in a little notebook i picked up at a flea market. it's terrible, but it’s fun. i really need more sleep though. and maybe a decent cup of coffee. my caffeine levels are critically low.
i'm planning on checking out some of the street art tomorrow. Apparently there's a really cool scene popping up. Maybe I’ll post some pics. And definitely need to find a good place to get a massage. My shoulders are screaming. Local Kyiv Tours might have some options. Anyway, gotta go. Kyiv is calling, and i’m pretty sure i’m starting to love the organized disarray of it all.