Ukraine's No. 2

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Took the night train from Kiev to Kharkiv last night. Almost booked out, I could only get a 3rd class ticket called "platzkarty". You don't stay in compartments, rather a whole waggon is one single compartment. It wasn't bad at all (ok, the bed only fits for people shorter than 1.80m). I only wondered why no one told the old lady not to shout in her cell phone at 5.30, 6.15, 7.40 - then she finally got off the train and I got another hour of slepp.

I went staight to Hotel Kharkiv. The only central hotel, located at a metro station at Svobody square, it seemed to be the best choice. But I should have been warned. LP reads: "Non-Russian speakers might have a hard time checking into the cheaper section." The hotel has two entrances, one for the renovated part and another for the rooms as they were built in the 1930s. This must have been a great building in past decades, best Stalin architecture! But since his death it looks like nothing has been fixed, painted etc. Therefore you will not find any hint for the "poor man's entrance", you can only try all doors. In case you didn't end up in one of the casions next door, you find a great entrance hall. The rooms are already in a worse shape and I spare you the rest.

Ukraines second largest city offers sights for a maximum of two days. Ploshcha Svobody is a large square, some 750m long with administrative buildings and a nice park at the sides.

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Photos

Hotel Kharkiv
The ceiling... no comment