Ukraine

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How long?
I took the train from Moscow to Odesa - but I must have misread the time table because a trip that I thought was going to take 12 hrs ended up taking more like 36!

I visited Ukraine back in 1996, I spent a few days in Odesa on the Black Sea coast and then took the train up to Kiev.

The highlight of my time in Odesa was my trip to the Opera - I spent two dollars, and managed to get one of the best seats in the house, in a box dead centre of the stage. The trouble was I didn't have enough time to go back to the hotel to change my clothes. As I walked in the Opera house with my cut down jeans, the lady selling the programmes looked me up and down, and started shaking her head - but I gave her a few dollars for the programme, and told her to keep the change - she then let me in!

Opera House, Odessa

When I arrived at the box, a very well dressed German couple were sitting in my (front row) seat - but I didn't have the heart to kick them out, as there was a spare seat - and I wasn't exactly well dressed! I started to chat to them, and it became apparent that they were on a tour, and got their ticket from a travel agent - and they had paid over 10 times the amount I had! Always deal direct - it's the middle men that will fleece you!

The programme I bought was good for a laugh - I went to see "La Traviata" but it was translated into "lady with fireplaces"

While riding on one of the crowded local buses I was leaning against the concertina door, and as the bus was going around a sharp corner the door started to open, and I started to fall out. My travelling companion quickly grabbed the back of rucksack and dragged it and me back into the bus.