How to save on a trip to Japan.
As is often the case, the idea of waving somewhere in May was born spontaneously. And as it happens infrequently - the author of the idea to go to Uzhgorod to admire the miracle - amazing - the flowering of sakura in Transcarpathia, was not me.
HOTELS
It was decided that we were going about a month before the trip. Having previously studied the issue and found out that the choice of living somewhere in Uzhgorod, Mukachevo is quite large, I for some reason was rather careless about the fact that the trip coincides with the May Day holidays, and find housing (and if possible decent, but budget, with parking and breakfast) will probably be quite difficult. As a result, in the evening of April 6 (ie 24 days before the trip) choose something in the price range of 300-400 UAH. and the possibility of staying in one hotel for 2 days in a row from 01 to 03 May was no longer possible.
Interestingly, booking immediately honestly reported the absence of budget places on our chosen dates. Although some search engines reported the availability of vacancies, but when calling hotels directly, it turned out that the information was incorrect, not updated, and others. etc. In several hotels it was possible to book only one day, and then there were no seats.
However, communication with Uzhgorod hoteliers at the booking stage brought a lot of pleasant minutes (even despite the lack of seats). Everyone responds to calls quickly, they seem to communicate very nicely, they regret that they can't accept you now, but maybe you will call there by number, maybe they will have something for your dates….
Well, I don't know, I'm still moved by such things, because there's a sin to hide, more often (even in private hotels) it's still such a "scoop" attitude, usually your phone is cut off "No seats", and as they say chao- cocoa.
And here…
Of all the views / calls, several hotels approached, but each option had its nuances. In the end, on the advice of friends, they booked a country private hotel "Dubky" right on their website. Briefly about "Dubki": we really liked it. Now my dream is to come here for 7-10 days, just to live, breathe and walk.
Summary: Hotels, guest houses, finally hostels full, for any wallet and mode of transport. But if you go to Uzhgorod in the tourist "peak" - you should take care of housing in advance (2 months or even 3 months). If you are traveling for the first time - either look at the map of the hotel location, or check with the hotel administrator.
Because thanks to me we almost went to live on the Slovak border : ).
PLAN
Well, a lot has been written about TurPravda's dreams of "pushing the uninhabitable" : ). I was no exception.
And as a gypsy with cards, all 3 weeks before the trip I planned and rescheduled something like that, something, something. As a result, the following picture emerged:
30.04. 2015 - departure from Berdychiv (afternoon), overnight in Stryi
01.05. 2015 - Stryi-Mukachevo, Mukachevo, moving to Uzhhorod, overnight in "Dubki"
02.05. 2015 - Uzhhorod, overnight in "Dubki"
03.05. 2015 - Uzhhorod, Berehove, departure, overnight in Rivne
04.05. 2015 - return home.
Not even half of them had time to watch, and, in particular, they did not go to the thermal springs in Berehove. But still had a great time, and got a chance to come back again and again.
Summary: I do not claim the truth in the last resort and agree with all those who rightly believe that after such a long journey, you need to see as much as possible. But here for me other format is more convenient.
I like to take a leisurely walk, be there or seven as much as I want, go back to a yard again, sit in a cafe and drink coffee slowly, watching the local life ...In general, do not chase after spectacles for the sake of spectacles, but enjoy separately and authoritatively every minute of every hour of every day: ).
REALITIES
In our connection of two travelers, I usually play the role of navigator. And this time - for the first time! - The so-called navigator gave the go-ahead. With the help of a road planner, it turned out that the way to Uzhgorod from my native Berdychiv via Lviv is a bit longer than the road via Ternopil.
With a secret dream to see, albeit by road, Ternopil region, I easily persuaded the "personal driver" to take not only a short, but also a picturesque road. And ha-ha-ha (now there was a Homeric laugh), how wrong I was! Let's start with the fact that in the Ternopil region we have already snuck in at dusk.
Stealing is not in the figurative sense, but even in the literal sense. Because the road from Ternopil to Stryi did not exist at all. No, she was on the map, of course, and even the navigator scoured her. But! Her appearance unobtrusively made it clear that during the reign of the "crooked suckers", despite the lively reports about only 42 km of unrepaired roads in the country, given all that, in Ternopil region, all these shortcomings remained. And you can ride them only at a speed of 15-20 (!!! ) Km per hour. Otherwise - or without a wheel, or without a car at all. Therefore, we bravely covered the distance of 154 km in 5 hours!
It was no longer an admiration for the beauty of the landscape. Although the gnashing of teeth of the unfortunate "helmsman" was sometimes interrupted by phrases: "Oh, look, the mountains have begun! "Or" He, look what a house by the lake. " But I, of course, was not up to it. I was in sorrow and grief, because I chose this terrible road.
When we finally arrived at the first hour of the night extremely exhausted, we arrived at the pre-booked Stryi hotel
(discussion about it here: http://www.turpravda.ua/ua/striy /Star-h36164-r110971.html ), the host, despite the late hour waiting for late tourists, was just surprised that we stumbled on the road, "which for six years no one rides. " Who knew!
Summary: Don't go to Uzhgorod via Ternopil for anything. The Kyiv-Chop route is a bright path to the land of wonders, full of sakura, wine, cheese, mountains, rivers and… Eh, so what!
GREAT. Day one.
I somehow openly do not understand people who have depression in SPRING. Well what is it like? ! ! ! ! For all my inherent shortcomings, I believe that I have one undeniable dignity: I am a lover of life. And for me, spring is a time of stormy energy, dreams, whips, etc. And it was on this trip that my zest for life simply "whipped over the edge. "
Because even while we were going there, the enthusiasm was endless. From the indescribable, just incredible and wild beauty around. Carpathians, because you can't describe them. They should be looked at. They need to breathe. Enjoy. Admire.
In short, under the continuous clapping of the handles, my ahi-ohi were captured, with the patient from the continuous twisting of her from side to neck, we finally arrived in Mukachevo. Well, immediately rushed to look for "sakura : ).
Sakura is known to be a Japanese cherry.
And in Japan there is even such a special holiday - Hanami, the festival of sakura blossoms. First, the whole country is watching the beginning of the sakura flowering season. And the flowering of these trees is becoming a national event for the Japanese.
In Tokyo, a special headquarters is set up every year to monitor when, in which part of the country sakura blossoms are expected to begin, and to inform the Japanese where and what festive events are planned. That is, if you wish, you can travel all over Japan from south to north, enjoy the flowering of sakura trees along the entire route and take part in various celebrations dedicated to it. The official opening of the festival takes place in Tokyo's Central Park, the event is sure to be attended by leading Japanese politicians, celebrities and even the imperial family.
Of course, we are far from the Japanese scope.
And our "imperial family" has completely different problems. And in general, people's heads are occupied by others. Therefore, in the spring in Transcarpathia, the people in their mass just go "by chance". And here as someone is lucky. We were unlucky.
And seeing only a few flowering trees (and the color of them has already fallen), and whole "clumps" of pink sakura "snow" under them
Of course, a little upset (I mostly).
He was later comforted by the comments of the manager of the hotel where he lived: “Guests do not understand that Sakura cannot wait for the long May weekend in the country. And it blooms as defined by nature. And people come and are terribly offended that the whole holiday is over. " Very accurately noticed.
Although again, the Japanese to delay the flowering time (and the growing season especially - because sakura is most beautiful when the abundant pink color has not yet appeared green leaves, and sakura trees look like huge lumps of pink cotton candy in this period), so in Japan, the trunks of sakura trees are specially covered with blocks of ice. And we, unfortunately, have no one to do this.
Of course, this year, thanks to the delayed spring, and the period of flowering sakura was later. But just on the eve of the May holidays, Transcarpathia was struck by a storm, and the delicate pink flowers were ruthlessly blown away by the wind ...
Hence the summary : it should be understood that sakura blossoms usually occur in mid-late April, and do not always coincide with long weekends in the country. So you need to either plan a trip for a more appropriate period, or not be upset that it has faded long ago…: )
Although in addition to sakura in the spring in Transcarpathia is full of any other flowering beauty: here you and magnolias, and lilacs, and some unidentified yellow flowers and acacias:
Bare-grained vines look especially beautiful in the yards of private houses - graphic, strict, built in straight rows "in front" : ).
And again - sakura, which symbolizes the fragility and ephemerality of life. Which? ! !
I'll tell you, contemplation of all these beauties adjusts to the "snout". And that's why you somehow understand that
There are no strangers between us!
We are all brothers
Under the cherries in color.
Kobayashi Issa
We took a little walk around Mukachevo . Nice, cozy old town.
The historic center is small, more or less attractions - within walking distance (except for the famous castle Palanok). By the way, I used to think that Palanok is a plural noun. numbers in the genitive case, such as the castle of whom? whose? Palanok. No, it's a proper name, palAnok is an oak fence that used to protect the castle.
Unfortunately, this time they did not have time to visit the castle, they postponed it for the next visit. But they admired the emerald color of Mukachevo City Hall:
The chimes on the Town Hall tower have been ringing every quarter of an hour for 100 years.
Then we respectfully kept silent near the monument to the founders of Slavic writing Cyril and Methodius:
Admired the chapel of St. Martin. XIV century just in case:
Martin is the patron saint of the city, depicted even on the coat of arms of Mukachevo (which is very rare in heraldry). Near the chapel is a Roman Catholic Gothic cathedral also in honor of St. Martin.
Built in 1904, it is interesting because it has a musical organ with 16 registers.
And under the church there is a crypt, in which famous citizens and their families are buried in several rooms. Unfortunately, both the chapel and the cathedral were closed, and it was not possible to see what was inside.
And another interesting architectural object. The house with Hermes on the roof is a former printing house of the entrepreneur Greenstein. According to legend, Greenstein won a million in Europe, either in a casino or in a lottery, and used this money to build a printing house. At that time it was one of the most progressive printing houses in Transcarpathia.
Cathedral of the Pochaiv Icon of the Mother of God, a new building, built in 1993:
Interestingly, there are painted beams on the ceiling inside the temple:
Reformed Church, 16th century:
On the spire - a rooster:
Here is the monument to the chimney sweep:
He (the monument) is a little taller than a man of average height. And the prototype - Mukachevo chimney sweep Bertalon Tovt - in life twice less (! ). And how else will you get into the chimney? ! ! I don't know if it's a fable or not, but they say that when the city authorities asked him to create a monument in his honor, Tovt's only condition was that the monument be of normal growth.
Chimney sweep is alive, and, despite his respectable age (he is already under 70 years old), to this day he continues to clean the chimneys of citizens. It is believed that to meet him alive and grab him by the button - to success: ).
Well, just the city and its inhabitants:
“Soul to God, heart to the lady, honor to no one, life to the state! ». Great life credo, isn't it?
After admiring and being inspired, we moved on - to the hotel.
Here we lived (our balcony):
And this is the view from the window on the other side. Well, in which city hotel will it be?
Thank you to everyone who read and watched to the end. And then there will be…
