Odesa August 2022

[redroo]

Just in case anyone is even remotely thinking of a visit to the old summer party town during the War.

This morning had 3 air raid alerts. Now everyone seems to ignore them unless they can actually see trails..

Lot's of traffic jams around the Security Checkpoints. Soldier are heavily armed, and nervous.
Not so many tank "hedgehogs" around the CBD streets, other than around the "stairs" and Parliament area. No photos allowed of anything Military now, since too many people forget to turn off geotagging!
One wall of the Opera House is still sandbagged. Concrete Blocks protecting a few extra roads downtown than before.
Deribasovskaya is almost deserted in the mornings. I was flat out getting any persons into photos today.

Trams, Taxis, Urklon/Uber all running as before the hostilities.

While the beaches are closed for swimming or sun bathing, all the usual suspect "Beach Clubs", (ie: Ibiza, Itaka etc) are open on a pool only basis. None of the Lovelies ever got into the sea anyway over the past few years due to slime/weed. Both places seemed to have only 10% occupancy. The Country is at War after all.
I've noticed there are still a few of the drastically "over endowed/over lipped/over heeled" swanning their way down Acardia Walkway with a "walking ATM/Bankomat" beside.

A good 50% of the shops and restaurants are closed....Looks permanent for places like SteakHouse and it's cheaper cousin next door. The 4 Maccas are closed.
The Strip Clubs are about 90% gone.
Noticeably less PYT's walking around, I guess they are all in Europe if they could. Although in saying that, many are now returning. Buses are full both directions at present.

The official exchange rate increased from about 28, up to 36....but you easily get 40 or more from the money changers. Everyone only sees UAH getting worse as the War drags on, so looking for Euros or Dollars to hold.

There are still opportunities to help out, both inside and outside of the Country if you're so inclined.
Do expect to get a thorough once over though at the Border, unless you've got an UA Embassy letter welcoming you to the Foreign Legion. I probably should have said Journalist rather than Volunteer, but she was swayed by the multiple entry/exit stamps in the end  :-)

[Texan77]

I have no interesting in a visit, but it is nice to know what is happening on the ground. Thanks for the post. I have been to Odessia a number of times, so I have a picture in my mind of what you are saying.

[redroo]

Thanks Tex, yes that was the intent. When I get a few more free hours in a day I will upload some photos 
Had a chat to the NBC reporters last night. They're covering the grain shipping stories at present.

[Manny]

Was there no issues getting in as a tourist?

[redroo]

Well, I'm not a Tourist on holidays.

I had a choice of 2 "occupations" (well 3 if I wanted to join the Foreign Legion), Journalist or Volunteer. I'm a Medical Volunteer here, but quite happy to work in a soup kitchen or whatever else is useful. Plus I have a long history of 90 days on/off here, so it wasn't an issue once they looked through my passport pages, They just stamped me in.

No one in their right mind would be a Tourist here right now, but if you weren't "in your right mind" they would happily exchange your Dollars and Euros in the Hotels that are open and places that are working. Aussies (and a few others) get 90 day Visas on Arrival. I'm not sure the Embassies would process a Tourist Visa in your home country. I'm not alone as an Expat here. A few never left, and there are quite a few Journalists, Volunteers and Legionnaire. There was an American on my Bus in that was just accompanying his girl home to check on Mom and Dad. He didn't have any trouble at the Border either.

The Buses/Trains out of the country are fully booked aways ahead though, so a hasty exit is going to be hard if needed

[Steveboy]

If anyone in Odessa cant find what they are looking for.. I can give you Victoria's contact details ..



She/he/It is into all sorts of stuff 

[redroo]

 

[justadude]

Good report mate. All the best

[B.B.]

Was there no issues getting in as a tourist?

I entered via the Rava-Ruska – Hrebenne land crossing as it is on the most direct route to Lvov last week.  Zero issues. There were maybe 4 cars in front of us, and we proceeded quickly and easily on both sides of the border.  Going back, I expect more of a wait. My driver between Warsaw and Lvov told me that it took him two hours to pass the border coming from Ukraine.

I think technically you were supposed to have a VAX card, or negative test, plus Covid insurance still. I brought all three, but was never asked for them as I had been last autumn. Different times. 

In Kiev now.  Only one air raid alarm since I arrived. People are fairly blasé abt it, because the air defense in Kiev is quite good, now. There is a curfew (23:00) and restaurants and bars stop serving at 9pm - at least the ones I have been in. My favorite rib place will not seat you after 8 PM and they close at 9 PM. As I understand it, alcohol may not be purchased after 9 PM.  Life is actually as fairly normal as might be expected under the circumstances. I did see some rocket damage on the road into Kiev, but they’ve cleared most of it. There was a Home Depot type place that had been hit directly, and it was pretty   ed up.  There are also some checkpoints, although we were never stopped.

The man who drove me from Lvov to Kiev is a friend of mine, who is a dual US and Ukrainian citizen.  He carries both passports and advised that our US passports or at least mine if he had to show his Ukrainian one, would get us released and sent on our way in short order. 

Some Ukrainians have thanked me/expressed appreciation for me being in Ukraine for American assistance in the war which I have accepted on behalf of my country bc what am I supposed to say, you know? 

B/B