random coords and a weird temp report: what i found in the middle of nowhere
so here i was, staring at a string of numbers that looked like someone mashed their keyboard: 694422 and 1804806030. i mean, what even are those? coordinates? some kind of secret code? turns out, they pointed me to a spot in ukraine-specifically around 44.605, 33.5225-and honestly, i wasn't expecting much. but that's the thing about travel, right? the weirdest leads sometimes turn into the best stories.
i just checked and it's 3.35°c there right now, feels like 3.35°c, temp min 3.35°c, temp max 3.35°c. yeah, that's not a typo-the weather data is basically a flatline. pressure at 1007, humidity at 60%, sea level 1007, grnd level 1003. sounds like the kind of day where you'd wear three layers and still complain, but also kinda perfect for moody photos.
anyway, i rolled into this little patch of land not far from yalta, and the first thing i noticed was how quiet it was. like, too quiet. no tourist buses, no souvenir stands, just wind and the occasional stray dog. someone told me that the best pierogi in the region is sold out of a garage in a nearby village, but i never found it. maybe it's one of those "you have to know a guy" situations.
if you get bored, sevastopol and simferopol are just a short drive away. locals said the roads are fine, but bring snacks-gas stations are a gamble. i heard that the bus from yalta to alushta is a rite of passage for backpackers, but also that it's packed with grandmothers who will judge your backpack size. fair.
i spent an afternoon wandering around, trying to find something worth writing home about. there's a small market where they sell pickled everything, and a guy selling hand-carved walking sticks who looked at me like i was insane when i asked if he took cards. spoiler: he didn't.
one night, i ended up in a tiny bar that smelled like old cigarettes and homemade vodka. the bartender, a woman named nadia, told me that the best time to visit is actually in late september, when the tourists leave and the sea is still warm. i believed her because she poured generously. also, she said the local legend is that if you whistle at the cliffs at sunset, you'll hear an echo that sounds like your name. i tried it. it didn't work, but i got a great photo of the sky turning pink.
so yeah, that's the story of how a random string of numbers led me to a corner of ukraine i'd never heard of. no big monuments, no viral attractions-just wind, pickles, and a bartender who might've been right about september. if you're into that kind of thing, maybe check it out. or don't. either way, i'm glad i went.
for more on ukraine's hidden spots, check out tripadvisor's crimea guide or yelp's local eats if you're brave enough to wander off the beaten path.
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/how-i-learned-to-ride-bogors-buses-without-crying-or-getting-lost
- https://topiclo.com/post/sticky-nights-and-salsa-knees-surviving-cali
- https://topiclo.com/post/networking-events-and-professional-communities-in-reynosa-dont-say-i-didnt-warn-you
- https://topiclo.com/post/job-market-analysis-most-indemand-careers-in-osmangazi
- https://topiclo.com/post/best-afterschool-activities-and-youth-sports-in-niamey-a-drummers-beat