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Arrival in and departure from Kiev
Kiev has two airports: International Airport of Borispol (the code is KBP), and national airport of Zhuliany (IEV). Most of international flights arrive at and depart from Kiev Borispol airport. Most of major European airlines have flights to/from Kiev, such as Lufthansa, Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM), Air France, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, LOT Polish Airlines etc. Most of Ukrainian airlines operate flights between Kiev and European cities as well (i.e. Ukraine International Airlines, Aerosvit airlines). If you intend to travel to another city of Ukraine, traveling through Kiev might be a good option for you. Ukrainefare.com offers services for traveling between cities of Ukraine, and depending on connections available, we may offer flights, car transfers, or train fares. To travel to the most of cities in Ukraine you will need to take a ride from Kiev Borispol Airport (KBP) to Kiev Zhuliany National Airport (IEV).

Transportation in Kiev (Kyiv)
Public transportation is well developed in Kiev. Usually the fastest way to travel between different locations of Kiev (Kyiv) is the Kiev Subway. However, you should consider that the Subway stations may be at some distance off that point in Kyiv you need to get to. The cost of subway ticket is 0.6 UAH (about USD $0.10). The other widely used transport is trolley buses that cost nearly the same. On the trolley bus you can usually get closer to where you need in Kiev. The bus service is also well organized in Kiev, the cost may vary, usually it is as twice as higher than trolley or subway. When in public transport, beware of pocket-pickers. Undoubtedly, the most convenient way is a taxi. The taxi cost can vary depending on the taxi service used. You can also stop taxi right on the road or hitch a lift. Many local residents can give you a drive for a price less than taxi but it is not very safe though. You should be careful. Taxi-drivers usually charge foreigners as twice or more higher than they charge Kyiv residents. Ukrainefare.com offers a driver service at a fixed price in Kiev and by ordering our service you will make sure you are never over-charged.

Money in Kiev
They use mainly cash in Kyiv. However, there is a lot of ATMs available for credit card holders. Most ATMs give out Ukrainian National Currency Hryvnia (UAH). Most ATMs have menu in English and other major languages. You can easily exchange your currency in many currency exchange offices and exchange points located everywhere in Kiev. Most of currency exchange points operate with United States Dollars and Euro. Many of them do work with GB Pounds and other currencies used in Ukraine.

Odessa
Odessa (in Ukrainian spelled as Odesa) is one of the most exciting southern cities of Ukraine, that is very popular as a resort area for Ukraine. Odessa also attracts many tourists worldwide. The population of Odessa is 1 million people, plus another 1 million non-residents who live temporarily, study, work, or come on business. Odessa is the largest city along the entire Black Sea and the 5th largest city in Ukraine and arguably the most important city of trade. Many years ago, Odessa was once the 3rd leading city in old Russia, after Moscow and St. Petersburg. Odessa looks more like a city located on the Mediterranean, having been heavily influenced by French and Italian styles. Odessa has always had a spirit of freedom, probably gifted to her by her location and by her ability to accept many different peoples. The city has a wide variety of people including Ukrainian, Russian, Moldavian, Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian, Caucasian, Jewish, Turkish and Vietnamese. Odessa is one of the major ports and an important centre of industry, science and culture. Her mild climate, warm waters and sunlit beaches attract thousands of tourists year around. Its shady streets, gorgeous buildings and pleasant squares gives the city a certain manner of closeness and understanding. Odessa is simply charming with its stunning architecture. The city proved itself fertile ground for various architectural styles. Some buildings display a marvelous mixture of different styles, and some are built in the Art Nouveau Style which was in vogue at the turn of the century. Renaissance and Classicist styles are also widely present. Today Odessa has a total population of about 1.1 million people. The city's trades include that of shipbuilding, chemicals, oil refining, food processing and metalworking. Odessa also has a naval base and several fishing fleets, which adds to the cities economy. Odessa is beautifully situated on green rolling hills, overlooking a small picturesque harbour. The best time to visit Odessa is during summer, when everything is in bloom and absolutely beautiful. The summer is especially favourable for those who are looking to tan on one of her tranquil white beaches. Russian is the primary language spoken in Odessa, however Ukrainian is the official language and many advertisements and signs are written in it. English is the most widely used tourist language.

Arrival and departure
There is an International Airport in Odessa with Airport Code ODS. There is a number of airlines that fly to and from Odessa: Austrian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Malev Hungarian Airlines, Lot Polish Airlines, Aerosvit Airlines (Ukraine), Aeroflot Airlines (Russia), Moldova International Airlines (Moldova). Sometimes it is hard to find connecting flight to get to Odessa though. In case connecting flights are not available Ukraine Fare offers solutions which includes flying through Kiev (KBP) airport and using internal flights from Kiev to Odessa.

Sightseeing
Odessa has some world famous sightseeing, such as Potemkinskaya Stairs, The Opera and Ballet Theater, Archeological museum. Ukraine Fare has a great selection of sightseeing tours in Odessa. Besides the famous sights we would also recommend excursion to the Belgorod Fort, excursion to the arts museum, and Excursion to the catacombs (the quarters of guerillas movement during the WW II in Odessa).

Places to visit
For souvenirs the best place to go is Odessa open air exhibition at City Garden that is located on Deribasovskaya Street. If you have someone in Odessa asking him or her to help is a good idea, as the artists who exhibits in the City Garden can name as twice or three times higher price rather than they would sell to a local resident. Odessa has a huge number of shopping malls and world standard stores that you would find convenient to use. Most of the accept major credit cards. Odessa has several high standard modern cinemas, so if you know some Russian, we would recommend you visiting. The best in the downtown are "Rodina", "Moskva", "Utochkino". Night life in Odessa is very active. At wintertime we recommend to visit YO night club, "Rio", "Amsterdam", PALLADIUM. At summertime the best place to visit in Odessa is "Arcadia" entertainment area. There is a number of great night clubs along the beach area, restaurants and bars for all tastes and ages. So if you are in Odessa in summer, this is something that is a must to visit and experience.

Lugansk (Luhansk)
The city was known as Voroshilovgrad from 1935 to 1958, and from 1970 to 1990, after the Soviet military commander and politician Kliment Voroshilov, who came from the city. The name was changed on November 5, 1935, to honor General Voroshilov. It was changed back to the historical Luhansk on March 5, 1958 during the repudiation of Stalin's personality cult. Then, on January 5, 1970, following Voroshilov's death, it was changed back to Voroshilov. Finally, on May 4, 1990, the name was returned to the historical name of the city by decree of the Ukrainian parliament. On September 7, 2006, Archaeologists in Ukraine claimed an ancient pyramidal structure, which they allege outdates those in Egypt by at least 300 years was discovered near Luhansk. The stone foundations of the structure, are said to resemble Aztec and Mayan ziggurats in South America.The current estimated population is around 445,900 (as of 2004)

Lvov (Lviv)
Founded in 1256, Lvov has long been and important center of commerce in the Ukraine. The city is responsible for the manufacture of electronic equipment, cars, agricultural machinery, chemicals, processed food and textiles. It has under a million inhabitants and a number of people commute from the surroundings suburbs daily. The winter is fairly cold and the summers are mild. The city sees a lot of cloud coverage. Lvov is also one of the Ukraine’s leading cultural centers. The first high school in the city was founded by King Jan Kazimierz in 1661 and today the city is the proud home of the Lviv State University. It also boasts a number of theatres and museums. It also happens to be the seat of the Roman Catholic Ukrainian Orthodox and Armenian Orthodox archbishops. Two of its churches date back as early as the 14th century. When touring Lvov, one might considered visiting the historical city centre. The center is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is fascinating to see. It includes the Ploscha Rynok Market Square with its Black House, the Armenian Cathedral, the Greek Cathedral, the Latin Cathedral, the Dominican Abey and the Boim Chapel. Or you can walk to the top of the Vysoky Zamok hill which overlooks the historical centre. This is where the Union of Lublin mound is situated. For entertainment, the Philharmonic orchestra and the Lviv Opera and Ballet Theatre are a real cultural treat. On a more macabre note, the Lychakivskiy Cemetery is one of the biggest and more scenic in the region. Lvov is and inviting and interesting place to visit. The cultural scene is constantly changing while history abounds and relics of the past remind us of what once transpired many hundreds of years ago. Book your ticket for Lvov today and enjoy the city’s timeless appeal for yourself.

Yalta
Yalta is an administrative and resort centre in Crimea, on the coast of the Black Sea. You can reach the city by car, bus, train or boat or you can fly to Simferopol and then take a taxi or bus to Yalta. The place is known for the 1945 Yalta conference, sometimes also called Crimean conference attended by President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and Generalissimo Stalin. Aside from that it is the most popular summer destination. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Yalta has struggled economically. Many of the nouveaux riche started going to other European holiday resorts, now that they had the freedom and money to travel; conversely, the impoverishment of many ex-Soviet citizens meant that they could no longer afford to go to Yalta. The town's transport links have been significantly reduced with the end of almost all passenger traffic by sea. A main form of transportation to and from Yalta is the Crimean Trolleybus line, which runs from Simferopol toYalta. In recent years, Yalta has staged a recovery, as economic conditions have improved and tourists have returned. It is still  almost entirely frequented by Russian and Ukrainian tourists, with relatively few visitors from Western Europe. Today, Yalta has a beautiful embankment along the Black Sea. People can be seen strolling there all seasons of the year, and it also serves as a place to gather and talk. There are several beaches along the embankment where people relax and go swimming. Some hardy souls even do this in the winter. This embankment is also the site of several hotels, sanitoria, and amusement-park-like rides. In addition, the city has several movie theaters, and many restaurants and cafes, as well as a large open-air market.

Famous attractions within or near Yalta include:
Yalta's Sea Promenade (Naberezhna), housing many attractions and being recently renovated (2003-2004);
Armenian Church, built by V. Surenyatsky;
A Roman Catholic Church
Yalta's Cablecar, taking visitors to the Darsan hill, from which one can see Yalta's shoreline;
Renovated Hotel Taurica, the first hotel in the former Russian Empire with elevators;
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, constructed by the architect Krasnov, which also constructed the Livadia Palace;
Former main corpus of the Ministry of Defence resort, built in the style of a Gothic castle;
Palace of Yemir Bukhara;
Yalta's Zoo;
Yalta's Aquarium, housing small dolphins;
Park-museum Polyana Skazok (Field of Fairy tails);
House-museum of Anton Chekhov's;
House-museum of Lesya Ukrainka;
House with Caryatids, where the composer A. Spendiarov lived

Poltava
Situated in central Ukraine on the Vorskla River, Poltava is a city in Poltava Oblast. It is easily accessible by road from the Kiev-Kharkiv highway as well as by train. The city is of a reasonable size and owes most of its industry to the rich black earth which characterizes the region. It is also involved in a number of other industries and exports a variety of goods. Poltava is probably one of the oldest Ukrainian cities as it was a Slavic settlement in the 8th and 9th centuries. It is only really historically documented from about the 14th century when it was under Lithuanian control. About two centuries later it was taken over by the Polish administration and in 1648 it was captured by Polish magnate Jeremi Wisniowiecki. By that time it was the base of a distinguished regiment of Ukrainian Cossacks. Poltava only became part of the Russian Empire in 1667. The most memorable battle in Poltava’s history is the ‘Battle of Poltava’ which took place on the 27th of June, 1709. It was at this battle that the Russian tsar Peter the Great, with some 45 000 troops, easily defeated a Swedish army of some 29 000 troops. The memorable battle has lived on in the expression ‘Like a Swede at Poltava’ (he is totally helpless), which continues to be uttered by both Russians and Ukrainians down to this day. The battle marked the decline of the Swedish power and the rise of Russia as a great power. Today Poltava is mainly an industrial center and an important rail junction in the region. Besides food and tobacco which is grown in the rich, fertile soil, Poltava also exports items such as machinery, railroad equipment, building materials, tractors, automobiles, leather goods, textiles, wood products and footwear. It is a bustling city and is also home to the gravitational observatory of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences – something well worth looking at if you have the opportunity to visit this busy little city.

Kharkiv (Kharkov)
The second largest city in the Ukraine, Karkiv (also known as Kharkov) is situated in the northeast of the country and serves as one of the main industrial, cultural and educational centers in the country. The country’s industry and research has been focused on arms production and machinery for many years. Today the city is home to such mega-companies as the Morozov Design Bureau, the Malyshev Tank Factory, Hartron and Turboatom. These companies specialize in fields such as tank and turbine production, and aerospace and nuclear electronic research. Kharkiv was founded during the 17th century and has had a university since 1805. From 1917 – 1934 it served as capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. Perhaps Karkiv’s most notable increase was during the Holodomor famine of the 1930s which saw many people arriving at the cities in search of food. It was a sad time and many lost their lives and were secretly buried by surviving relatives. It went on to suffer further tragedy when, during World War II, it was not only the sight of several battles but was captured by Nazi Germany. The Nazis and the Red Army continually struggled for control over the city until August 1943 when it was liberated. During this period of struggle many tens of thousands lost their lives and the city suffered extensive damage. Today Kharkiv has a lot of attractions to be enjoyed by the average visitor. Kharkov’s Freedom Square is the largest city square in Europe and is second in the world only to the Tiananmen Square. It is a great place to start your sight seeing. After that, you may wish to visit the Gosprom, the Mirror Stream, the Militia Museum, the Memorial Complex, the Shevchenko Monument and the Shevchenko Gardens. The Uspensky Cathedral and the Pokriv Cathedral are quite dramatic and look great in photographs. If you manage to fit that all into your trip, the Cable Road is another interesting place to stop. Make Kharkiv one of your stops while visiting the Ukraine and take the opportunity to learn more about the country’s turbulent history.

Donetsk
This southeastern city is the historical capital of Donbass, Ukraine's famous coal mining and industrial region. Founded in 1869 as Yuzivka after the Englishman D. Yuz, it rapidly developed, after a number of factories and mining complexes were built to exploit the local coal supply. Most of city's population is Russian, and it traces its origin to the workforce brought in to develop the mines and factories during the tsarist and Soviet periods. In 1924-1961 the city's name was Stalino. Modern Donetsk remains one of the largest metallurgical centers of Ukraine.

City population: 1.065 mln
Distance to Kiev: 729 km
Regional area: 26,500 km2
Regional population: 5.06 mln
Region's urban population: 90.2%

Kherson
Kherson has a current population of about 400 000 residents and is situated on the Dnieper river and seaport. Kherson was founded on June 29, 1778, on the site of former fortification Oleksadrivs’kyi Shanets ruined by the Turks, by Rince Potiomkin. Kherson was named in honour of Chersonesus of Tauris founded by the Geeks in the 5th century before Christ. Later the town became the center of the Kherson Province and in 1944 it became the capital of the Kherson Region. Kherson is a city filled with industries, education and culture. Kherson’s main industries are ship-building and mechanical engineering. It is home to some interesting theatres, museums and monuments of architecture, such as the Greek-Sophia Church which was built in 1780, the Gates of the Kherson fortress which was built in the 18th century and the Holy Spirit Churh with the Bell Tower which was built in 1836. The Kherson Region includes 18 districts, 9 towns, 30 settlements and 677 villages.

Zhytomir (Zhytomyr)
Zhytomyr is a major transportation hub. The city lies on a historic route linking the city of Kiev with the west through Brest. Today it links Warsaw with Kiev, Minsk with Izmail, and several major cities of Ukraine. Zhytomyr was also the location of Ozernoye, a key Cold War strategic aircraft base located 11 km southeast of the city. Zhytomyr lies in a unique natural setting; all sides of the city are surrounded by ancient forests through which flow the Teteriv, Kamyanka, Yaroshenka and Putyatinka rivers. The city is rich in parks and public squares. The current estimated population is 277,900 (as of 2005).

Dnepropetrovsk (Dnipropetrovsk)
The third largest city in the Ukraine, Dnipropetrovs'k is perhaps best known for its role in the space industry. For many years the city was closed to foreigners because of its role in the military industry. One of the key centers of the nuclear, arms and space industries for the former Soviet Union, it is understandable that only natives were allowed access to the city. Today thinks have changed somewhat. The city is open to any and all who wish to visit and the space industry heritage of the place is proudly on display. Dnepropetrovsk is still home to the major space and ballistic missile designer Yuzhmash, but things are much quieter now than they were in the early nineties. The city has a well-developed transportation system so getting around to see the sights is quite easy. Many of the streets near the city center are long, wide and lined with decorative buildings. While many original buildings have been destroyed, the current architecture has been standing for roughly 150 years. Interestingly enough, the largest street here is named after the German Karl Marx. It is bordered by some impressive 18th century architecture which is most beautiful to behold. As you make your way through the city you will also find the majestic Katherine II Cathedral which was built in 1787. The Museum of History, the Diorama and many beautiful parks are also a treat. The Taras Shevchenko Park with its Monastyrskiy Island is full of curious history. Most visitors really enjoy a trip to the Rocket Museum and the Musical Fountain. The Dnieper River flowing alongside keeps the climate mild and enjoyable. The river skirts islands, parks and hills and adds to the beauty of the town and region. Whether you take a walk down the streets in the heat of summer or brave the cold of winter, you can be sure that Dnepropetrovsk will enchant and delight you.

Sevastopol
The unique geographic location and navigation conditions of the city's harbours make Sevastopol a strategic important naval point. It is also a popular seaside resort and tourist destination, mainly for visitors from the CIS countries. The trade and shipbuilding importance of Sevastopol's Port has been growing since the fall of the Soviet Union despite the difficulties that arise from the joint military control over its harbours and piers. Sevastopol is also an important centre of marine biology research. In particular, studying and training of dolphins has been conducted in the city since the end of World War II, initially as a secret naval program to use these animals for special undersea operations. Administratively, Sevastopol is a municipality excluded from the surrounding Autonomous Republic of Crimea (see Subdivisions of Ukraine for more details). The territory of the municipality (in yellow on the map) is further subdivided into four districts, or raions. Besides the City of Sevastopol proper, it also includes 3 towns - Balaklava, Inkerman and Kacha, and 29 villages. Due to its military past, most streets in the city are named after Russian and Soviet military heroes. There are hundreds of monuments and plaques in various parts of Sevastopol commemorating its glorious past. The population of Sevastopol is 342,451 (2001), making it the 15th largest city in Ukraine and the second largest in Crimea (after its capital Simferopol). [1] According to the Ukrainian National Census, 2001, the ethnic groups of Sevastopol include Russians (71.6%), Ukrainians (22.4%), Belarusians (1.6%), Tatars (0.7%), Crimean Tatars (0.5%), Armenians (0.3%), Jews (0.3%), Moldovans/Romanians (0.2%), and Azerbaijanis (0.2%)

Sumy
Sumy is the capital of the Sumy Region in Ukraine. It is a twin town of Celle in Germany, since January 17, 1990. Sumy Oblast is an province in the north-east region of Ukraine. Sumy is the capital of Sumy Oblast. The area of Sumy Oblast is about 23,800 square kilometers and its population is about 1300 000. The sumy oblast was formed in 1939. Hlukhiv, is a significant city in the Sumy region of Ukraine, just south from the Russian border. A capital of the small principality in the Middle Ages, the town was revived by Peter the Great who transferred the hetman's capital from Baturin here in 1708. Under the last hetmans of Ukraine, the town was remodeled in the baroque style. Subsequently it declined in consequence of frequent fires. The town has a rich musical heritage. It was once home to famous composers such as, Dmytro Bortniansky and Maksym Berezovsky.

Simferopol
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Simferopol became the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea within newly independent Ukraine. Today it has a population of 363,600 (as of 2004) who are mostly ethnic Russians. There are also significant Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar minorities. The city has a railway terminus, serving millions of summer tourists each year, and the Simferopol Airport. The world's longest trolley bus line connects Simferopol to Yalta on Crimea's Black Sea coast.

Zaporozhye (Zaporizhzhya)
The town of Zaporozhye is situated in the south-east of the Ukraine on the both banks of the Dnieper River. The town itself is about 200 years old though stone age remnants excavated in the area show that the are has been inhabited for much longer than that. History tells us that Scythians, Samatians and Slavs have all had a chance to make a home on this beautiful little spot by the river. However the last remaining Slavs fled the area by the end of the 15th century for fear of the Golden Horde Invasion. It was only in the 16th century that the Zaporozhye Cossacks made their way past the rapids of the Dnieper River to this idyllic spot on its banks. The Cossacks immediately saw the advantages of the Khortitsa Island which was virtually impregnable and made it the center of their civilization. The town that serves as the starting point for modern day Zaporozhye was founded some time later when a fortress was built at the mouth of the Mokraya Moskovka. The fortress was built by Prince Alexander Golitsyn of the Russian army and the small town that sprang up around it was initially called Alexandrovsk. Not long afterwards, the Zaporozhye Cossacks founded a large village nearby this fortress. Growth of the city was slow as plague and war caused hardships but Zaporozhye stood firm on its foundations. Today the city has over a million inhabitants and it stretches some 30 kilometers along the sides of the Dnieper River. The residential areas are large and spacious, with plenty of greenery and light. A work down Lenin Prospekt – Zaporozhye’s longest road – will take you down to the Dnieper River. However, if you are visiting to see the sights, the most remarkable attraction surely has to be Khortitsa Island. The Island is now houses the Antiquity Reserve and Museum. While its historical treasures are immeasurable and intriguing, the surrounding greenery is a popular nature reserve with weekend visitors. All the while, production keeps booming and the city keeps growing quietly in the background. Of course, in a city of this size you will find ample activities to enjoy such as going to the theatre, enjoying a movie at the cinema or even taking in a puppet show. The circus is another popular attraction, while night clubs will keep you entertained into the early hours of the morning. Visit Zaporozhye and you’ll find yourself with no shortage of things to do and see in this great city.

Mariupol
Today Mariupol is the second city on value in Donetsk oblast (after Donetsk), the tenth on a population in Ukraine. Has an old history (Mariupol is the first settlement in territory of Donetsk oblast which has received the city status, in 1779. The population is 477.9 thousand person (on November, 1, 2006).

Nikolaev, Mykolaiv or Nikolayev
Today Mykolaiv is a major ship building center of Ukraine (as, earlier, of the whole Soviet Union) and an important river port. The city has 3 major shipyards some of which are capable of building large navy ships. Other important industries are mechanical engineering, power engineering, metallurgy and cosmetics. Population 514,000 (as of 2001 Ukrainian Census).

Rovno
Rovno, also called Rivne, has a population of over 250 000 people, it is a provincial city and is also the capital of the Rovno Region. The city was founded in 1283 and was known as a town of the “Halytsia-Volyn” Principality. The town was named this because of its position on the plane surface. It became a Polish town, after the Liublin Union of 1569. It was united with Russia in 1793 as part of the Left-Bank Ukraine. Then the town was under Polish rule from 1920 until 1939. The town was then united with Ukraine as part of the Western Ukraine and as the capital of the Rovno Region. Rovno is one of Ukraine’s biggest industrial, cultural and educational centers. Its leading industries include machine engineering, large-panel construction and furniture-making. This city is home to three Institutes, theatres, the Philharmonic Society and the Museum of the Regional Studies, which includes the museum-reserve “The Cossack Graves”. “The Cossack Graves” are situated on the island of Zhuravlykha (Crane) in the riverhead of the Styr River. This museum was built in 1966 in honour of the Cossacks who fell in action in the battle of Berestechko during the Liberation War of the Ukrainian people in 1648 to 1653. It includes the Temple-monument and the wooden church which was built in 1650. The Rovno Region includes 15 districts, 10 towns, 18 settlements and over a 1000 villages. It also has some very interesting and historical architecture which includes the Assumption church with the bell tower.

Uman
Uman is situated in central Ukraine, at the meeting place of the Karnenka and Umanka rivers. It has a current population of about 100 000 people. It is mainly a rail junction and produces plants with scientific values. The city of Uman has very fertile ground and is surrounded by thousands of square miles of beautiful, flat farmlands. When driving by the countryside you will find many stalls of the farmers selling the freshest fruit and vegetables. Uman is also a very lively college town, with two universities within its boundaries. As you drive through the city, you will see large numbers of students milling about. Most students of Uman will walk where they want to be as it is very rare for students to own their own cars. Uman has a very varied and striking architecture. Most of the buildings in the city are very old. Reflecting perhaps, the invasion route that Ukraine has been throughout history, buildings took on a variety of appearances. Moorish, Gothic, Islamic, Medieval, and the least attractive, Soviet, are all represented in Uman’s buildings. Uman’s hospitality is unmatched. The people of Uman will greet you in such a manner that it will almost feel as if they are holding a homecoming for you, to a home you have never seen before. As any other Ukrainian city, Uman’s most productive output by far is food. The size of the portions and the variety of the food is breathtaking. Simply stated, most Ukrainian meals consist of two or more main dishes, 8 – 12 side dishes, at least two kinds of bread, water, wine, and of course lots of vodka. One of Uman’s proudest landmarks is their magnificent Sofivka Park, similar to New York’s Central Park or San Francisco’s Gloden Gate Park. Sofivka Park is over 200 years old and has a long and very interesting history that is essentially a love story with soap opera subplots. English books describing the Park’s history, are available to anyone who is interested. Uman has a huge selection of beautiful, comfortable hotels and it is the perfect place to go and relax and to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

Uzhgorod
Uzhgorod (Uzhhorod in Ukrainian) is a city which is situated in the Ukraine on the Slovakian border. It gets its name from the Uzh River which flows through the middle of the city and divides it into two. On one side of the river lies the old section of the city and on the other side lies the new. Roughly translated, Uzh means eel and horod means city so the name could be literally translated as ‘eel city’. However, the city was named for the river that runs through it and not the creature which populates its waters. It is commonly thought that the earliest founders of the city were the White Croatians – a Slavic tribe – who settled here in the second half of the first millennium. By the 9th century Uzhgorod’s fortified castle was beginning to be transformed into a fortified feudal town-settlement. In 903 AD the fortress came under attack by Hungarian tribes and the town’s inhabitants were defeated. Hungarians settled here and the town began to grow. It met with more calamities in the form of Tatar warriors who burnt the settlement. However, it kept growing despite setbacks and sometime after 1318, a stone fortress was built where the modern castle stands today. This continuous growth was only checked during the First and Second World War, but has continued at a reasonable pace during most times of peace. In the meantime, Uzhgorod gained factories, status and wealth. Today Uzhgorod may be the smallest and westernmost regional capital in the Ukraine, but it is still distinct. It has a State University and is the center of the Zakarpatska oblast. The old half the city is immensely interesting and well worth exploring if you have the time. Uzhgorod is not a big tourist spot, but for many that only adds to the city’s immense charm.

Ternopil
The city is the administrative center of the Ternopil Oblast (province), as well of the surrounding Ternopilsky Raion (district) within the oblast. However, the Ternopil is a city of oblast subordinance, thus being subject directly to the oblast authorities rather to the raion administration housed in the city itself. Since 1991 Ternopil is a part of independent Ukraine and along with over cities of Galicia is an important center of Ukrainian national revival. The current estimated population is 221,300 (as of 2004).