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The original was posted on /r/ukraine by /u/misaka-imouto-10032 on 2023-09-06 07:06:59+00:00.
I'm living in the US but I'm not American (need a visa to go everywhere); just obtained my Ukraine visa and getting visa for Poland now. I wanted to visit Ukraine ever since mid 2022 but I didn't have a chance until this year. I got some questions regarding travel planning and food, and I thought where would be a better place to ask other than reddit?
I bought the ticket from Przemyśl to Lviv and am waiting for my Schengen visa; depending on your advice, I'm thinking leaving by taking train to Przemyśl or to Budapest via Uzhhorod/Chop.
- My visa is single-entry and I want to visit both Lviv and Uzhhorod. I will most likely travel by train if I want to visit both places, but the Укрзалізниця website is down and the app requires a +380 number which I don't have. Can I just go to the train station and buy tickets? (or is there any way to get a +380 number?) How safe would it be to travel by train from Lviv to Uzhhorod, and would a foreigner who knows no Ukrainian get into some trouble if riding domestic UZ line?
- I heard speaking English wouldn't be much of a problem in Lviv; I'm sure people from Uzhhorod and Chop are kind but I'm unsure if speaking English there is possible - aside from English I speak very limited Polish and Russian (which I think would be a bad idea to speak), so wondering if you have any suggestions on making sure I don't get tripped by the language barrier (or, should I only visit Lviv in consideration of the unstable situation)
- Are there any must-try restaurants in Lviv?
- I saw an amazing Ukrainian food named сало when I was 14 and really wanted to try it, and now I'm 26 😂 can I just find it in an ordinary store, cut it up in my hotel and eat it? Or do locals eat it in some other ways...?
Thanks! Looking forward to visiting these awesome cities; I hope I could spread what I see and feel in Ukraine to those around me and let them know more about this beautiful country during this terrible war.
PS: the staff at consulate-general of Ukraine in San Francisco is very kind, but I gotta complain that they issue visa a bit slow... Plus, every time I go there I see upset Ukrainians who are trying to renew their passport complain the appointment system is terrible
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My plan changed since I promised to help an Ukrainian friend who's moving back; I probably have 0.5 or 1 days of free time after helping his cousin, the question on language and сало remains......
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