25.08.2017

The night at the hotel in Schytomyr was restless. The hotel is located on a six-lane road (without lane markings) and it is quite noisy. Closing the windows is not an alternative because there is a strange smell in the room.

Breakfast is announced from 7:30am. However, the 'breakfast lady' only arrives around 8:00am. It is also not possible to pay yet, as the receptionist is fast asleep on a sofa in the hotel lobby.

By 9:00am, everyone is awake and everything is taken care of. The only problem is that the card terminal does not accept my debit card. It doesn't matter, I pay for the room in cash. Later on, I also can't withdraw money from the ATM anymore. This makes me quite nervous. 1000km before the German border without a debit card would be really bad! And I also need to refuel before leaving the city. However, I still have about 50€ in cash that I can exchange if necessary. Fortunately, the debit card works at the gas station and also at another ATM. Crisis averted!

Now only 200 km to the next city to the east, Riwne. However, the weather is really good (sun up to 27°C), the road (E40) is absolutely top-notch, and I have seen a bit too many cities. I am currently suffering from 'sensory overload'. So I cancel my hotel in Riwne and leisurely drive the 400 kilometers to Lviv (Lehmberg).

The scenery is great. Shortly before Lviv, it becomes a bit hilly, maybe the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. The road remains fantastic but occasionally changes from 4-lane (highway) to 2-lane (country road).

In Lviv, however, it becomes catastrophic. The traffic is terrible, just like the road conditions. Oh dear! In a feat of strength, I concentrate on the road, the traffic, and the navigation system at the same time. When I finally arrive at the hotel, there is no room available for me. Only tomorrow, as originally planned.