Nikolaev Ukraine

Apartment Complex in Downtown Nikolaev

If Nikolaev were its own country, an independent fiefdom, the UN would rank it between Liechtenstein and Monaco. The city is Eastern Europe's crown jewel. Unemployment is low and crime is non-existent. Nikolaevite's leave the doors to their posh apartments unlocked! Cars are parked overnight with their windows down and the keys still in the ignition. Residents live by an old folk saying coined by their ancient Slavic ancestors: "Dom Slavyanina otkriti dla vsex".

The city is small and laid out in a traditional Soviet grid pattern. Streets are wide and rarely ever clogged with traffic. Mini buses, known to locals as "Marshrutki" criss cross almost every district of the city. A ride costs only one grivna, which is about 25 euro cents. Taxis are also available and charge a flat fee of $5 to any part of the city. Many taxi drivers will refuse money from an Englishman because of the great love and respect they have for our country. I rode free for almost a month!

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