21.12.2015
As in previous days, we wake up to the sound of church bells and the sound of the canal jumping over its typical sound after every other car passes. Today, however, we don't mind it so much. It's our last day here and our bus doesn't leave until 7:20pm local time so we don't have to rush too much today. We start the day with breakfast. We indulge in our last egg omelet, say goodbye to the babushkas who have taken such good care of us and return to our room. The advantage of Ukrainian accommodation facilities from Czech ones is that you have to leave the hotel before 12 o'clock. We take full advantage of this and after packing up we are still lounging in our room until 12 o'clock.
Our incomplete score during our stay (two bottles had already been thrown away by the cleaning lady)
When the time comes, we return the room keys and head into town. First we explore the streets around the hotel, which we haven't visited yet, and then we walk along the Korz to the river, this time heading downstream to the right, which is flanked by what is said to be the world's largest lime avenue.
Užhorod - ulice Korzo
Uzhhorod - Linden alley and view of the river Uz
There are many reasons to walk along this avenue, firstly there are many houses with the first republican Czechoslovak architecture and the jubilee Masaryk school, which has its bust here. Also here we find the Medical Faculty of Uzhhorod University and the building of the administration of the Transcarpathian region.
Uzhhorod - Masaryk Jubilee School
Uzhhorod - bust of T.G.Masaryk
We visit all these places and after taking a photo at Masaryk's bust, we do not continue across the river but go further downstream through the Student Embankment. There is nothing of tourist interest here. After a few hundred metres we leave this street and continue further away from the river, where we reach a sports centre. We walk through this and turn back to the Masaryk bust through the side streets.
Užhorod - nejmenší socha vojáka Švejka na světě
Uzhhorod - The Footbridge over the river Uzh
After finding this prop, cross the river on the footbridge and continue towards Korzo. The plan is to have lunch at Korzo 10 restaurant, again recommended to me by a work colleague. Here I have a delicious Zakarpattya Zakuska, which is not a dessert but a full meal consisting of roasted potatoes, homemade sausage and pickled cabbage. If there's one thing to taste in Uzhhorod, it's this.
Uzhhorod - Transcarpathian desserts in restaurant Korzo 10
After lunch we still have plenty of time, so we head towards the castle, where we visit the museum of Rusyn culture. Entrance fee here costs 25 UAH. The funny thing is that instead of one ticket worth 25 UAH, we each get five tickets worth 5 UAH. The open-air museum is extensive and there are many different types of dwellings and their evolution over time. Most of the dwellings are also decently equipped in terms of furniture and common amenities.
Užhorod - ,,jedna" vstupenka do muzea
Uzhhorod - an open-air museum of Ruthenian culture
Even after this visit we still have plenty of time left, so we decide to visit the ladies from the Irish pub Egan, where we had dinner last night. Unlike yesterday, it is much less crowded and we find the place easily. After three beers and time spent discussing the trip so far, the time has come and we slowly move to the bus. On the way we make two small detours to a souvenir shop where we buy a matryoshka, magnets and ribbons in Ukrainian colours with Ukrainian slogans. The second detour is to buy provisions in Vopak (local supermarket).
Uzhhorod - sleeping dog in Vopak supermarket
Loaded with souvenirs, a liter of vodka, two bottles of Kagor wine, a coffee and two packs of cigarettes, we make our way straight to the bus station. After my experience in Košice, I prefer to arrive an hour earlier, but this time it's for nothing because the LEO express bus arrives from Mukachevo early and leaves Uzhhorod on time. So we say goodbye and promise to come back at least in the summer.
After about 15 minutes of driving, we arrive at the border, where everything goes quickly on the Ukrainian side and after about 20 minutes we continue to the Slovak part of the border. Here it is not so fast. As we are entering the Schengen area, we have to unload all our luggage and bring it in for inspection. It should be noted that Ukrainians are much more thoroughly checked than EU citizens, who linger at passport control for about a minute.
After an hour and a half of checking, we are finally on our way to Košice, where we will change trains for Ostrava. Despite a lengthy check at the Slovak border, we have an hour's reserve for the change in Košice. About 10 minutes before departure, we are let on the train. After six hours of a tiring ride, all broken and sleep-deprived, we arrive in Ostrava at 5am, where we finish our journey.
Useful links:
Užhorod na www.dusekarpat.czRestaurant Korzo 10 at www.tripadvisor.com
LEO express
Hotel Atlant on Booking.com
