Breathe of the west

by Ann Solonitskaya (Ukraine)

Making a local connection Ukraine

I don`t know, how to start this story. Maybe from the moment, when I am in the train and my friend writes me, that she has some problems and I need to be in Lviv for a whole day. It is my first time in this fabulous city. From the railway station I decide to get on the cute yellow tram. It brings me in the heart of the city. There isn`t a main street, but а main Rynok square in Lviv. This square has a big white building called Ratusha. There are a lot of three-story houses OF different colors around the main building. Even tho it is a center of the city, it isn`t so crowded and noisy. As I Have a lot of time till the evening, I start walking by nearest streets of Rynok square. I enjoy narrow and quiet streets with paving stones under my feet. Looking on the bright and colorful houses I really feel myself like a lady of sixteenth century. Or, for instance, I feel like a princess of kingdom in central Europe. But at the same time anyone isn`t found like a destiny of this princess, so she stayed at the hometown. I breathe the air of the past. Step by step I get pleasure by looking around and suddenly I come to avenue. It is the first crowd and noisy street. There I firstly notice hustle-and-bustle of a big city, which somebody called western capital. Life talks, goes from one side to another, goes with speed and smoke on this paved avenue. On the another side of avenue I see a big Opera Theatre. This incredible building of sandy color in classical style with domed black roof impresses me in all ways. I start walking around this fabulous place and came to the alley near it. An old man is sitting on the bench. I come to ask him about directions to one church I have heard about. It is my first time in this city, so I want to explored from all corners and I want to speak with citizens instead of using Internet. Asking about directions I don`t expect starting a long conversation. Maybe, it makes me feel confusing because of stereotypes. This region is full of stereotypes in case of some historical and political occasions now south and west regions have cultural differences and wrong impression about opposite side. That’s why I am amused, when this old man starts to talk to me. He tells me about different interesting places and ways to them. Moreover, after naming places he starts telling me history of the place and his own memories, connected with this place. We have been talking around an hour, before I understand, that we are still talking. And I have to notice that we don`t speak about politics, news and so on. We have a conversation about a beautiful city with tearjerker and memories. Suddenly a woman in ages of my companion comes to us. She is his wife as I understand. I apologize and go away. They politely invite me to walk with them. But frankly speaking, it is uncomfortable for me to ruin their idyll. So I start my second promenade around Lviv, while I come across my new acquaintances three times. During my long ramble, I think about this conversation. Really, I don`t expect to find people here, who really can spend time on me. It is unusual for me to see people, who don`t hurry. But when I come into one cute café, I watch on locals. They have reasons to hurry, but at the same time this rush don`t strain them. Moreover, they enjoy every second of being here. They have a skill for calm and measured living. I am so excited about this discovery. I taste a delicious national cuisine and then I return to the old streets. I see different examples of renaissance and baroque architecture. Gorgeous decoration of this saint place makes me feel a small person in a grand old Lviv. It is breathtaking. After meeting with old man Lviv is reborn for me. And I make a decision to lose in this lovely historical streets.