RECEPTION BOOKLET LVIV LC 1 WELCOME First of all we would like to welcome you in the name of the whole AIESEC-Team to our beautiful LVIV With this reception booklet we would like to give you some facts about Lviv to make your first days a little bit easier. 2 3 At the moment the LC Lviv consists of 80 people. The AIESEC-office is located in the center of the city near the Opera House. Every Monday we have our Local Committee meeting at 7 p.m. You are welcome to join us anytime! We use this meeting to give updates on current activities, do workshops and presentations. It’s good chance just to meet each other and have fun =) The easiest way to get to our office is by bus №66, 71, 65 4 1. Useful information for your stay……………...……………………………6 1.1 Before arrival - what to think about………………….……….…...…..6 1.2 First days in town………………………………..…………..…………..6 2. Lviv………………………………………………...……………..…………..7 2.1 Main facts……………………………………………………………..…7 2.2 Sightseeing and culture………………………..…………………...….10 2.3 About Lviv …………………………………………...……………..….12 2.4 Travelling in and around Lviv…………………….…..…………..…..14 2.5 Eating, drinking and clubbing in Lviv……………....……………..…14 2.6 Communication in Lviv…………………………...…..…………….....17 3. Ukraine……………………………………………….…………………….18 4. Most important things ....................................................................…….....20 4.1 Hospitals…………………………………………...…….……………..20 4.2 Police……………………………………………..……..………………22 4.3 Post office……………………………………………………………….22 4.4 Information about prices and useful words………………………….23 5 1.Useful information for your stay 1.1 Before arrival - what to think about Valid passport? Visa Proof for insurance(health and accident) Money for the first month Prescriptions for important medicine Information material (e.g. music, picture, special food and drink) about your home country for a global village party It would be good to have such things in your suitcase: Warm clothes Umbrella 3-4 passport photos Laptop 1.2 First days in the town If you are arriving to Kyiv airport noone there will meet you, because guys from Kyiv can‟t meet interns to all cities every day in the airport because it‟s out the city. But you schould have guide how to get from Kyiv airport to the main trainstation! There person from Kyiv can meet you and will help with a ticket to Lviv! When you‟ll arrive to Lviv you‟ll be meet by your buddy or someone from reception team and have a short sightseeing by the city for easier adoptation. 6 2. Lviv 2.1 Main facts King Danylo built Lviv city in 1256 for his son Lev (who was the first king of this city) that‟s why this city at start had name Leopolis (city of Lev). Our city had its anniversary 750 years in 2006. We have a lot of ancient streets buildings, museums, churches. The most popular places of interest, all tourists are going firstly to city center (square near Opera House, Rynok square (Market square), High castle, and a lot of others =)). A lot of different cafes, clubs, and excursions … will help you to spend your time really great! Everything you need (information) about the city you can find here: http://www.lviv.ua/en/. Here are few photos of our city for you: 7 8 9 2.2Sightseeing and culture In Lviv there are plenty of fascinating things to discover. After enjoying the historical sites and museums you can relax in one of the numerous cafés, bars or restaurants. The sun is shining and you still have some energy left? Climb up to the High Castle or enjoy the view from the top of the City Hall‟s tower. The following pages give you some ideas for your stay in Lviv. However, to stay informed about actual events, concerts and festivals, we recommend the following websites: Moreover, in many cafés you will find a leaflet called OT-OT. It gives useful hints and keeps you up to date about Lviv. Market Square The Market Square is the heart of Lviv. You can meet friends in the numerous cafés, restaurants and bars and enjoy the beautiful architecture. Moreover, you should climb the tower of the City Hall: The view is magnificent! Lviv High Castle It is the site of a historic castle located on one of the hills of Lviv. It is currently the highest point in the city, 413 meters above sea level and a wonderful place for walking and enjoying a gorgeous view. 10 The St. George Cathedral PloshaSv. Jurij 5 The Greek Catholic Archbishop‟s Cathedral of Saint George – magnificent Rococo architectural ensemble dating back to the 18th century (comprising a church, bell tower, metropolitan‟s palace and capitulary buildings) dominates the high hill over Lviv, beautifully blending into the urban landscape. The Armenian Cathedral Vul. Virmenska The Armenian Cathedral (14-15th centuries) is a unique monument of Eastern culture in Europe. It is a successful architectural combination of various styles: the typical Armenian sanctuary, the Romanesque-Gothic style of Western Europe, and the traditional Ukrainian Halychyna type. 11 Vernissage Vul. Lesi Ukrainky On this market you can buy all kinds of souvenirs and Ukrainian handicraft. It is worth a visit! 2.3 About Lviv Lviv (Lvov, Lwow, Loewenburg, Lemberg, Leopolis) - is the city in western Ukraine. Its population is approximately 800.000. It was founded in the middle of the 13th century by Prince Daniel Galytskiy, and named after his son Leo ("Lion") Leopolis. In different periods of its existence Lviv was a part of Poland, Austro- Hungarian Empire, Russian empire and USSR. Since 1991 it is a part of the independent Ukraine. There are a great number of places having historical, architectural and religious importance (some of them belong to the 13th century); there are more than 30 museums of history, ethnography, arms and art galleries. Lviv has always been a significant educational center of Eastern Europe – Ivan Franko National University, Lviv Polytechnics University and other higher educational establishments are located there. In 1998 the historical center of Lviv was included into the "List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage of UNESCO". We can name just a few places of historical importance: Rynok ("Market") square of Renaissance style (the 16- 18th century); Armenian Cathedral (the 14th century); The Latin Cathedral (the 15th century); The Boim's Chapel (the 17th century); Renaissance ensemble of the Church of the Assumption (the 16th century); The Church of Body of Christ of the Dominican Order (the 18th century); St. George Cathedral (the 19th 12 century); Lviv Opera House (the 19th century); Stryj park (founded in 1887). A lot of ancient fortification and religious buildings are situated around Lviv - Olesko castle, Pidgirtsi castle. Not far from Lviv there are balneology centers in Truskavets, Morshyn and Skhidnytsia, ski-centers in Slavsko and Tysovets 13 2.4 Travelling in and around Lviv Lviv has an extensive tram and mini-bus network. Mini-buses (2 UAH = 20 Euro cents) are known as marshrutky and follow a set route, but without a fixed timetable. To indicate a desire to board, extend one arm as the marshrutka approaches; simply ask the driver to stop when you would like to get off. Trams and trolleybuses cost 1 UAH = 10 Euro cents. You can purchase tickets from any news kiosk or from driver in tram. Ask for a "tramvainyibilet". Keep in mind that if you are carrying a piece of luggage larger than a backpack you will need to purchase a second ticket for it. Once inside the tram, be sure to validate your ticket(s) by punching them in one of the metal punches mounted on the walls. An inspector may come around to check your ticket - these people do not wear uniorms but flash a little badge. It's interesting to note that mostly all of the drivers of the trams and ticket checkers are women. Taxis are available throughout the city, and the city center is swarming with them at night. When they aren't equipped with a meter you must agree on a price with the driver ahead of time. It's usually cheaper when taxi do have meter. As usual prices around the city is up to 50 UAH = 10 Euros. We haven‟t night public transport. As usual it stops till midnight! 2.5 Eating drinking and clubbing in Lviv Kriyivka ('Bunker' in Ukrainian)You repeat the words over and over in your head as you wander through the main square. “Slava Ukraini, slava Ukraini, slava Ukraini,” You repeat. The phrase means, „glory to Ukraine,‟ and it‟s your ticket to this city‟s best kept entertainment secret – an underground unmarked bar called Kryivka. Kryivka basically means hiding place in Ukrainian and they‟re not kidding. But when you do finally find it, state the password to a man toting a prop vintage 14 machine gun, receive your shot of authentic Ukrainian medovuha, and descend the stairs into the cozy wooden dining room you‟ll be glad you took the time to find it. This Ukrainian independence themed bar is decorated with artifacts from Ukraine‟s valiant struggle to stay autonomous -- with guns, maps and posters lining the walls. You‟ll also notice the names of dishes on the English menu harken back to a military tradition stretching back to the Austrian Empire. Culinary highlights include a half-meter long sausage, pickles soaked in honey and some of the most savory vareniky in Lviv. There is also a bit of theatre during a dinner at Kryivka. One element of Ukrainian nationalism is the constant struggle against Russian imperialism. If you‟re lucky, a “Russian spy” may have snuck in to the restaurant during dinner, and the brave staff will turn off the lights, grab a flashlight, root out this spy and serve him a healthy portion of justice.