Hi from a magical Lviv our West cultural capital which is often called a soul of Ukraine for its beautiful architecture and atmosphere of old town. It's been really snowy this week here. One day was especially wonderful. It was snowing in the morning. It was snowing at lunch, snowing at midday, afternoon, evening and night. Basically everytime I happen to look into window or go outside the little tender snowflakes were dancing around. Something Bing Crosby once sung about- "White Christmas" is so real now in Lviv.
While the lights are glittering on the big Christmas tree near magnificent Opera House I would also like to tell about a few characters that are often seen on the streets of Lviv giving that feel of familiarity as only small town where everyone knows each other could offer.
First shall we mention an angel. See her wide wings on the picture that she likes to use flirting with men, using wings for slapping the ones she chooses for a chat. A good looking lady in her late thirties or early forties, always on her roller skates, which she is mastering on the level the Olympic champions of figure skating would envy. She is earning her living by making henna tattoos so quite often could be seen somewhere in the center with her henna gear ready for a job or chat.
On Christmas time Lvivanians could often see a newcomer. A grey haired foreigner to my guess from some Scandinavian country. On the Rynok Square, he makes his performance with a guitar as he plays a big Santa toy so the deal is one need to turn him on with few grivnas (local currency) and he is playing electric guitar for few minutes and stops before next one volunteers to put more cash into it. Obviously he is wearing red costume, colours of Santa.
Rynok Square is the central square of the town filled with all sorts of venues to amaze tourists. Starting from the best coffee/chocolate in the world to nice stand-up stalls to test cherry liqueur in good company and have a laugh. During the day young ladies in last century outfit are going around to give candy sticks, from a local independent candy crafts, again super tasty.
A Turkish singer always in a black brimmed hat and black coat with his guitar gathering quite a crowd on one of the corners of Rynok Square by his moving performance of Elvis Presley songs.
A cleaner, who is always wearing thee working gear of local services but who in fact is not working for them but seems to be self-employed to clean city from garbage that comes with tourists.
One of my favorite characters is the "socks lady", babushka- an old lady wearing countless layers of cloth for chilly weather. She is always sitting on the corner of one of the central streets selling the warmest handmade socks in the world. I have got a pair myself. Very useful when it gets from minus 10 to minus 20 Celcium (not to worry that cold gets only on February).
So yes for someone ready to new destinations to celebrate second Christmas (we have it on 7th January), check Lviv that came one of the top 100 destinations last year.
And to cheer you up here is a Christmas Lullaby by Andrea Pinto definitely another distinguished character - an Italian living in Lviv.
Merry Christmas to those celebrating it and best wishes to all the rest of you..