The End

So that's that, then. The end of the travels. 5 weeks around Poland, Ukraine, Moldova, Transnistria and Poland again. Fiona and I have travelled around a lot of Eastern Europe in the past from Romania to Albania. We are only yet to visit the Baltics, Belarus, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Kosovo and Czech Republic. The rest are ticked off the list.

I can safely say, however, that the most challenging has been Ukraine. It feels more 'Eastern' than the rest. The western regions carry a scent of Central Europe, with their nationalistic and folklore pride and cafe culture. But, the east and south still feels like a cousin of Russia.

It is definitely a divided country, split down the middle. The easteners look to the east, holding onto their mother tongue of the Motherland and sharing their politics and assets with Russia. Whereas the west looks increasingly towards Europe. The orange flags can still be seen occasionally and so can the odd, controversial EU one.

If travelling outside Kiev, L'viv and Odessa be prepared to be lost in translation. Officials rarely speak any English and aren't exactly forthcoming with solutions to your backpacking problems. All said, though, isn't that what you want from travel? If everything was set out and easy, wouldn't things get boring? Probably. It's nice to be kept on your toes sometimes and have your personality tested. Even if it does lead to extreme frustration, dodgy situations and bad decisions.

Travelling on a whim is never easy, but it's good that it's not, because if it was, everyone would be at it. And as it stands right now, you can travel to countries like Ukraine and often be the only westerners in a town. Which means that in order to travel, interacting with locals is paramount. There are no fall-backs and sometimes no consulates or embassies.

And it is this kind of travel that is, in my opinion (at great risk of sounding like an over-privileged, poxy, snobby, opinionated, "ooh, I write a blog", middle-class prick ) the only way the best way to experience a country and its people. Where nothing is hidden and you are in it. Through the good times and the down right shit.