I’ve been in Ukraine for 2 weeks. I am doing volunteering work, every day since I arrived, in 4 different locations doing 3 kind of volunteering work. I talked on my blog Why I’m back in Ukraine and also about the biggest russian attack since the war started, with 238 missiles and drones, which I sort-of expected to happen before I left for Ukraine. The resilience of the Ukrainians in the face of russian terror is incredible and this is what I’m talking about in the second post I mentioned, do read it if you haven’t. I will share a few pics from Lviv, where I’m staying, after talking about the Olympics.
I loved watching the Olympics. I mentioned what I want to see and what I boycotted. The new sports are just amazing, Breaking was so cool and interesting. I was disappointed by the comments made by the commentators, such as the medal count, saying that US is presenting it “creatively” (I’m paraphrasing) to show that they won more than they did. They were referring to the medal count on the right, in which all medals are given equal importance. In Europe only the gold medals matter, which is bonkers. All these athletes work so hard and some miss on the gold for fractions of a second and their work is not as seen as important. US does it better!
The countries I cheered for did well, GB got 65 medals! Romania got 9, one with a controversy with an American athlete, because apparently following the rules is racist in the minds of some in the US. I was proud to hear the Romanian anthem, read about it 170+ years old history on my Instagram. Ukraine got 12 medals, a remarkable feat considering that hundreds of their athletes died and others (e.g. the 2012 Silver medal winner in Javelin) are in the trenches defending their country. Ukraine won in Fencing and it was marvellous to see.
I should highlight Iryna Koliadenko, a Silver winner in Paris. Previously, she won bronze in Tokyo. The Kyiv region gave her an apartment in Irpin as a thank you. She gave her apartment to her coach as she said she couldn’t have done it without him. The mayor of Irpin gave Iryna another apartment, where she lived in, after the full-scale invasion she had to leave her apartment and move to a safer place. Such a sad story.
I will also highlight Georgia and Taiwan with 7 medals each. Moldova won 4 medals, which is great for such a small country, their best result so far. The Romanian Royal Family praised both the Romanian and the Moldovan athletes on social media and that was very special. I would love to see the Paralympics, but I don’t think it’s available at my hotel.
There are blackouts in Ukraine, meaning businesses are resorting to things like generators, but even those might not be able to keep up, depending on how long it takes. What’s interesting is that nobody is bothered. I was at breakfast with a fellow volunteer and we both were unfazed, the staff was unfazed and offered us what we usually got from the menu, the other guests had a quick chat and that was it.
The lift might function during blackouts in that particular hotel, but it was closed during air alerts.
While outside, people are enjoying a concert at about 7-8 in the evening, during a blackout. There is street lighting, which is important as there are so many people outside and it can be dangerous as people can trip and cars might not see pedestrians.
The Cat Cafe is lovely and only a few minutes away from where I am staying, so I visit them quite often, usually for only a 20 or 30 minutes stay.
Lviv must be the best place for coffee in the world. There are so many wonderful cafes and restaurants that are open during the day for people who just want a coffee and nothing more. The picture above is of a “regular” old town coffee shop in Lviv, the picture below is of fire coffee, which looks spectacular.
I’ve been to the Opera and I plan to see one or two more. I visited some museums and it’s likely that I will have more time to visit more in the near future as I am getting into a schedule with the volunteering. I am staying for 3 more weeks in Ukraine.
1. Deșteaptă-te, române!, the Romanian anthem. 2. Juicy Marbles ribs (100% vegan!). 3. Hotel. 4. YouTube documentary on Ukraine. 5. Flower from my garden. 6. Hare. 7. New plant. 8. The pocket door frame is installed. 9. Cute M&S vegan food. 10. Special request from Ukraine: Yorkshire Tea. 11. Closing ceremony at the Olympics. 12. Château Purcari. 13. Graffiti in Liverpool. 14. Liverpool. 15. Lviv. 16. First shift at the volunteering centre. 17. I took centre stage in folding a completed net at the volunteering centre while the Ukrainian anthem was being sang, it is done as a thank to all new volunteers. 18. Lviv. 19. Cat Cafe. 20. Volunteering. 21. Andrey Sheptytsky National Museum. 22. I bought a new Vyshyvanka. 23. Flag Day in Ukraine. I bought a bracelet from a child who was raising funds for a car for a military unit, most likely his father or brother were in that unit. 24. Independence Day! 25. Opera Lviv. 26. One of the biggest attacks in Ukraine. 27. Reconstruction of destroyed cities display. 28. Field of Mars at the Lychakiv Cemetery. 29. ‘Day Of Remembrance’ in Ukraine, a vegan fallen soldier was commemorated at a local vegan restaurant. 30. Volunteering at the train station. 31. New hotel room/flat.
Books in August:
Fatal silence by Robert Katz – 3 stars
A small town in Ukraine by Bernard Wasserstein – 5 stars
Mariupol 2013-2022 by Hana Josticova – 5 stars
War in Ukraine by Hal Brands – 4 stars
Well done to you for volunteering in Ukraine and doing something to help. Overall medal count does seem a better way of doing the medal table. Ukraine did amazingly well getting 12 medals. Lviv sounds like such an interesting place. I love that there was a concert going on outside during the blackout. The fire coffee looks very interesting. #project365
Well done with the volunteering, I hope all is going well for you. Adjusting to the blackouts must be something all toghether surreal.
I struggled to understand why Israel were allowed to compete at the Olympics. I struggle to understand a lot of things going on in the world.
I can’t imagine saying that only gold medals matter! As far as I’m concerned, even making it to the Olympics is an accomplishment. That in itself requires much training and skill.
I’m not sure I get the point of that fire coffee. It certainly looks impressive,if not a little scary.
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I fully agree, everybody worked so hard to get there. The British commentator, at the closing ceremony, read the names of the people who won gold. I think this kind of discourse is toxic.
The fire coffee had a purpose, I should have mentioned that. This is made with milk and sugar. The milk starts to boil and froth being hit with the high heat of the flames. The sugar is on top and it gets caramelized, like for a creme brulee. I would have liked to have a simple coffee with the flames for fun, but the waiter was appalled at the idea. :))
I didn’t see much of the Olympics as I was working, but I normally enjoy it. I did watch the diving though as love Tom Daley.
How lovely that you are volunteering in Ukraine, I wouldn’t be terrified, so amazed that everyone is just getting on with life
I’ve much to catch up on here and will read them all (even if I don’t comment!). I admire your commitment to Ukraine and your return to volunteer. The posts you have (that I need to read) look so illuminating so I’m anticipating that. I was loving much of the Olympics, too.
Thank you for all your comments. xx
I loved watching the Olympics and they all did so well to get their medals. Good on Ukraine getting so many considering they are at war.
It is good that people are unfazed by things like generators.
The coffee does sound amazing and that fire coffee, wow!
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