Stranded in Lviv

Lviv is a beautiful city.  Just as well as we are stranded, unable to catch a train onto Poland!

We arrived on Friday night, planning to leave on Sunday or even on Saturday night on the sleeper.  We finally secured a berth for Monday night, departing just before midnight.

We have a hotel on the side of the old town so from our room we can see the Opera House, three csthedrals, several churches and two palaces as well as the passing parade of life through the central plaza.

What to do when stranded in Lviv?  Yesterday we visited Rynok Square in the centre of the old town.  It is surrounded by museums and old palaces.  We also visited the 'Latin' Cathedral and the Armenian Cathedral where we stayed for a wedding.  We have never seen so many brides on the one day - what a shame it was drizzling with rain.

On the way to the main train station to negotiate our tickets, we saw the sign to the Lychakiv Cemetery so got off  the bus(like a HOHO!) and spent over an hour exploring the old cemetery.  It was reminiscent of the famous one in Buenos Aires but this time we did not know the famous authors, poets, playwrights, politician and generals who were interred here.  They certainly had impressive headstones and vaults.

After securing our tickets, we returned to the old town on a more direct bus and after lunch visited the markets of handicrafts and antiques (junk). 

We dined in one of the more upmarket restaurants for the cost of a café lunch in Australia.

Today we plan to explore more of the city, check out the shops and attend Don Quixote tonight at the Opera House.  We couldn't get tickets to last night's opera and couldn't even work out what opera it was.  We think we are off to the ballet tonight!

Lviv, known as the 'Paris of the East', is a good spot for an enforced rest.

The 'Latin Cathedral'.

 Two impressive memorials at the cemetery.

Wedding at the Armenian Cathedral.

Dual or duelling brides at the Opera House Fountain