Beautiful Ukraine!
Developed by: Krzysztof Danielewicz, 21.08.2012
Part II – Ivano-Frankivsk.
After a fewer days spent in Lviv, I decided to take a train journey to Ivano-Frankivska. The acquisition of the ticket alone is about 25 PLN. I had to choose a compartment category, prove to be a passport, and my name was on the ticket itself. The wagons were marked with the Arabic numeral, the Roman compartment, and the place was followed by the Arabic numeral. Despite its age – possibly the sixties/seventies of the 20th century – the wagon gave comfort, the air conditioning worked. The train was slow enough, due to the fact that I had almost 3 hours of defeat between the lions and Ivano-Frankivsk. The journey itself was very comfortable, but the views were limited, mainly due to the bushes increasing along the tracks.
In Ivano-Frankivsk we are greeted by a beautiful railway station, behind which stands quite a few alleged routers, delivering people in different directions. Unfortunately, these are old buses, very clean, but unclimated. Traveling at 40°C is simply a real challenge. mostly Ukrainians choose trains to travel, which despite their age and longer journey are a more comfortable means of travel. That's why it's frequently so that you can't buy a ticket on the date we requested due to the deficiency of seats. Marts are usually faster, but the deficiency of air conditioning at advanced temperature scares any travelers.
Ivano-Frankivsk is simply a erstwhile Polish provincial city of Stanisławów, founded in 1662 by Polish hetman Andrzej Potocki, named after his father – Stanisław “Rewera” Potocki. From the beginning, the locality privilege assumed the observance of the spiritual rights of its future inhabitants, i.e. Roman Catholics, Russians, Armenians and Jews. In 1663, King John Casimir confirmed the locality privilege and gave the city the Magdeburg law and fair privileges. As the influx of settlers developed districts – Poles occupied the western part of the city, Rusini and Armenians – east and Jews – northern. The merchants in 1664 were taxation exempt for 20 years. Since 1908, Polish paramilitary organizations began to be established there, which in 1911 became teams of the firearm Union. Their associate was, among others, the later hero of planet War II – General Stanisław Sosabowski.
From 1918 to 1919 the present Ivano-Frankivsk was a disputed area between Poland and Ukraine. As a consequence of the Polish offensive launched in 1919, Ukrainians withdrew east of Stanisławów and the city was overrun by Poles. In independent Poland, Stanisławów became the capital of 1 of the 3 provinces to which east Galicia was divided. The population grew rapidly, which in 1939 was over 70 thousand, of which 46% were Jews, 36% were Poles, 16% were Ukrainians, and 2% were another nationalities, mainly Germany. It is presently the capital of the Ivano-Frankiv region and is inhabited by 240-250 1000 people.
Ivano-Frankivsk is simply a centre of machinery, metal, wood, light and food industries, as well as an crucial communication hub with the global airport. It has 5 large universities, respective colleges, theatre and philharmonia. Due to its valuable monuments, the town is besides a tourist centre and a centre focusing on the year-to-year tourist movement, headed towards Huculszow and the mountain massif of the Black Horn and Gorgan. Today, according to various guides, it is called the Karpat Wall. It is simply a good place to travel to Kolomya, Tarnopola, Jaremczy, Lviv or Chernivtsi.
In the city, it is obligatory to visit a completely restored market, any of the erstwhile defensive walls, where there is now a very nicely renovated and run buying centre, with shops offering many conventional Ukrainian products – specified as porcelain or conventional folk clothes. Practically all the streets around the marketplace are beautifully well-maintained. In the Town Hall there is simply a tourist information point where you can find out what in the city deserves a visit, which is interesting to see around the city, etc. Unfortunately, there is no tourist offer of the kind of trip, nor can you buy a map of the area in English. In turn, the city map will be obtained in Polish. The town hall besides offers the anticipation of entering the clock tower, from where the view of the full city is extended.
An interesting historical place is the city park, located just behind the Nadia Hotel. Until 1980 there was the oldest and most valuable Polish cemetery in Galicia East. This year he was razed to the ground, and in his place the City Park was created. presently in its rear are the quarters of Ukrainian soldiers and fallen in the east of Ukraine during the last war with Russia.
Apart from the main marketplace and its side streets, it is essential to take a walk on the street of Independence. At the end there is simply a large fountain, while on both sides there are many buying points or shops. The street, serving as a pedestrian, besides gives shade thanks to many trees increasing here. If anyone likes fish, with all my heart I urge the restaurant Anchousna large Black Sea, which is located at the address of the Boulevard Independentsti 8, www.chernomorka.ua. A well-styled restaurant, with first service and air conditioning, makes it very good to taste sea food here, sipping wine. Even if individual does not talk English or Ukrainian, 1 can approach the table with natural fish and choose what seems appetizing to us. The prices are very attractive: a plate of large black sea shrimp 200 g costs 268 UAH, 150 ml dry white odski wine – 45 UAH, delicious beer 400 ml – 50 UAH.
One of the most interesting restaurants located on the marketplace is simply a panoramic restaurant located on the 5th level of the Legend Centr buying centre, marketplace Square 18a, www.legenda.if.ua. Apart from the fact that the restaurant offers large cuisine, we besides have the chance to take beautiful pictures of the city center. Prices: Caesar salad – 105 UAH, board of cold smoked fish – 131 UAH, tea – 30 UAH.
In the city there are mainly buses and trolleybuses, where ticket prices vary depending on whether it is fresh or old rolling stock (i.e. air-conditioned or not), from 5 to 10 UAH per journey. We can pay on the bus, but let's not anticipate a ticket. We just go in the first door from the driver, pay for the ride and take the seat. Very inexpensive are besides taxis, practically in all place we will arrive at a price of about 10 PLN.
Ivano-Frankivsk can be freely compared to large and modern Polish cities. They do not quit on cleanliness, beauty, or the atmosphere. Being there, man wonders how the Ukrainians were able to do this without financial support from the European Union and additionally conducting an armed conflict on their east borders. However, despite this charm, beautiful marketplace and side streets, the city is not suitable for a longer stay.
