The two dearest persons in my life are my daughter and my husband. And I wish we could spend time together more often. While we are hoping for better circumstances for family gatherings I still can spend time with each of them separately.
My daughter suggested that I come over and visit them while my husband is absent. She and her hubby lived with my mother but they moved to the rented apartment a while ago, so this could be win-win for all. I will not be alone at home, my mom will not be alone, and I will see my daughter whom I miss so much. And since I can work remotely, why not take a work laptop and spend there a few more days than a weekend? So I did.
It's not easy to plan when the war may change everything and turn it upside down. But on the 3rd year of full-scale war, sometimes I take the risk.
The closer to the day of leave the more I was looking forward to meeting everybody. I wanted to bring gifts for them, and put my ideas on the list. The list grows and grows so that when I started packing it didn't fit my luggage and I had to choose what to take and what to leave. I never had such a situation when I drove there in my car, besides my husband always took care of packing and carrying. But it's another thing if you must carry your baggage. Eventually, my things must have weighed a ton.
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Murphy's Law has worked. My hubby called to make my day, he said he was on the way home, in Kyiv already, but I was in a taxi on the way to the railway station. 😐
I took a night train after a working day. The car was very comfortable, surprisingly. I mean, there are 2 types or classes of tickets for night trains. Okay, even 3. But the cars might be slightly different, newer or older. If the car is significantly newer the price can be double for the same "class".
My ticket was cheap so I didn't expect a new carriage. It was rather old indeed, but what surprised me was the mattress and the pillow. I can't sleep on night trains, they are too noisy. Or maybe it's because I have problems with sleep. Anyway. I've seen a wide variety of bed dresses but this was so comfortable and well-designed that... I still can believe it, I slept on the train! I had a dream! Memorable trip, LOL.
After such a nice night everything looks beautiful to me. The station, the fog, the old taxi. I caught my mom before she went to work and was so happy to see her. She seems to have turned smaller since I last saw her 6 months ago... So nice to be home again...
When I look at the picture of my sweetheart smiling I smile in response. Always.😁 I love when they give me flowers. Like most women. My daughter seems to feel me more than my hubby.
She was busy (as usual) on working days, and I worked too, but we had a whole weekend before I left. In times like this, we need to support each other even more. We walked and talked a lot, and those days were eventful and long but still not enough.🙂 And I miss her already.
We walked along Nataly's favorite itinerary along old streets, through the park and around the city lake.
One Dollar on the pavement in the narrow street between old fortress' wall and the Arthur Burns Pub. 1970 is the year Arthur Frank Burns headed the US Federal Reserve. But he was born here, in the city of Stanislaviv, in 1904.
In addition, he was an economic adviser to President Dwight Eisenhower and President Nixon's economic advisor. Few locals know this story.
It was the first time in ages when I wasn't always in a hurry. I usually come for a weekend because I work and my family member works too from Monday to Friday and often on Saturday as well. So all we have is a weekend and I usually struggle to make time for everything - meet someone for a cup of coffee, or take a walk around the lake, or relax on a bench with someone in the park sharing our news, or sometimes in the kitchen at their place and so on and so on. Talking on the phone, texting, planning... So when I finally got on my train back home I felt like "Oh, I really need a rest".
This time, I did not hurry, and the weekend was perfect.
Nataly (my daughter) booked a table for an evening in Ambasada Restaurant. It opened recently and none of us was there but Nat came across this place on the internet and liked it right away. For me, it was just WOW!
After we placed our order, the waiter informed us that on this particular day they are celebrating their first year since opening, and to celebrate the occasion, the restaurant is giving away a glass of sparkling wine to its guests.
The interior designer did an incredible job. This building used to be a government office. They removed the original antique doors and replaced them with modern ones of poor quality. Before opening the restaurant, they found these doors in an old warehouse and restored it. The original tiles on the floor were also preserved and restored. I was delighted with this place and now it is my favorite.
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On the next day Nat and I visited a place that local call mountains but this is not mountains at all just hills on the edge of the city. I was here last 10 years ago maybe, and it changed a lot. The authorities arranged a swing for kids (or adults, why not?), a rest zone with tables and benches to overlook the town and the river and the valley, spectator area and a few Insta-spots.
Long ago, you could get here either by a long way around or by short way that only a good off-road vehicle could cover. Now there is a good road, and you can get here by taxi.
The day was windy but warm and without rain, a wonderful time for walks. Couples, families with kids were enjoying the spring air and warmth.
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We walked around and went down to the river.
I missed the noise of the water. This sound affects me like hypnosis... I live in Kyiv now, and we have Dnipro river running through the city. Dnipro is wider, and deeper so the flow seems slow. Mountain rivers are cold and their flow is fast. Their water level rises and subsides just as quickly. Also, the bottom is stony and there are no gentle sandy beaches along it so when we came here (ages ago) to sunbath or for a picnic we first looked for a spot with flat and small stones otherwise sitting would be literally a pain in one's ass. Old times, good times. 😅😊
Well, that's it.
I returned home, and now I count down the days to the next trip, or next her visit, what will happen first.
Thank you for stopping by and see you around!
