Little trip to the east – first stop Kharkiv

Kharkiv is an other important city in Ukraine. With its 29 university it is considered to be a student place. But it also is an industrialised place as so many Ukrainian cities. Most of those former state owned factories are shut down and abandoned.

From Kiev I took the Intercity which is the fastest connection to Kharkiv. The arrival was set for a quarter to midnight. Compared to the old Russian trains this one was totally different. Like a train from back home. Top modern including power outlets, food service and spacious at least in the first class. Unfortunately did the power not work but beside that great experience. And finally it was on time even to the surprise of my couchsurfing host.

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Since my arrival was during night and Vera – my host – and her friend had to work the other day they decided to show me around by night. For a student town the center was super quiet. Except the many police officer were not many people left on the street.

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Mr. Lenin, yaaa these monuments are still existing in some places. Once so powerful now so weak and police has to take care on him. Lucky him and unlucky me. While I was taking pictures of the monument some nearby officers showed up and wanted to see the pictures. My host managed the situation successfully and I only had to show them the pictures. They were afraid to be recognised on it. Anyway, at the end they tried to get the number from the girls. Even better was that there were a two other girls which they already tried to pick up before. I guess a quite boring job to take care on Lenin!

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For me this picture represents quite well a part of the soviet stereotype. The people here really eat a lot of meat. In the supermarkets you can find mountains of sausages and even at the metro station are some sausage mini markets.

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Kharkiv is home of some big factories such as the Malyshev Factory which in the beginning produced locomotives and later on tanks and other heavy machines. The main plant is in the center but a more interesting factory is in the outer skirts where they keep the broken tanks in a restricted and abandoned area.

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