We were snowboarding in Bukovel, which is the third largest ski resort in Eastern Europe and the biggest ski resort in Ukraine. Joshua Brandenburg (photographer at JAB Photos) and I plotted our course to end the night. The problem was, neither one of us are great at directions, which would haunt us later. We went down one path and connected to another. We were supposed to be at the ski rental office at 6pm and we were quickly approaching that time.
Our plan was to snowboard down one path and then take a lift in the center of the mountain back up, and then go down another path which would take us to the base of the mountain. When we got to the lift, it was closed for the night. We took a different path and coasted down the mountain.
Once at the bottom, we checked the time and realized we had time for a quick beer. I wanted to experience other aspects of the resort for a future story. We saw we were near a parking garage we passed by when we arrived. We popped into a restaurant and ordered a beer. After downing the beer, we walked over to the parking garage we passed by. Then, we realized there was a big problem; it wasn’t the same parking garage.
Time was ticking, and we had to get to the ski rental quickly. We asked some other skiers if they knew how to get to the ski rental and they tried to tell us how to get there. Running in our heavy snowboard boots and carrying our boards, we galloped our way down a street. This made us even more lost. We asked another person for directions and realized we were on the other side of the resort, far away from the ski shop.
My phone rang, and it was our contact Sasha from the Rebuild Ukraine Foundation. I told him what had happened, and he shared he had a similar experience and advised us to take a taxi. We looked around and didn’t see any. There was a hotel nearby and so we figured we could probably find a taxi near the hotel. After another kind person gave us directions, we found ourselves outside a taxi stand.
The taxi driver asked us where we wanted to go and he knew exactly where the ski rental place was located. He told us the rate, and we agreed to the terms. We stepped into the taxi with our enormous boots and sat our tired behinds on the seats. As we drove down the snowy street, he looked into his rearview mirror and asked, “American?”
I’ve traveled all over the world and often, there is a negative reaction to Americans. The rest of the world sees Americans as being loud, arrogant, entitled, and a plethora of other negative opinions. That was not my experience in Ukraine. Everywhere we went, Ukrainians were exceptionally hospitable and treated us with the upmost kindness.
Looking at his reflection in the rearview mirror, we admitted to being Americans. Then the taxi drivers asked a question we heard a lot, “Why are you here?” We had our answer down pat. Joshua and I explained to the driver that we were here to show a different side of Ukraine. The world only saw the war, but there’s more to Ukraine than a war. There’s a large area in the west that’s relatively safe and we were there as a journalist and photographer hoping to generate tourism. The driver nodded and there was a pause. Then, he said, “We’re thankful for Americans.”
For the next 10 minutes. The taxi driver shared his love for America and Americans. Ukrainians appreciate the aid the United States has sent. The driver shared that without aid; he doubts Ukraine could have lasted long. He thanked Joshua and me for the aid, as though we had something to do with it.
Throughout the time the driver was speaking about his appreciation for America, I couldn’t help but feel guilty. There has been a lot of discussion about whether the US would continue offering aid to Ukraine. Currently, the aid is being held up because of debates over the southern border in the United States. Without aid from other countries, the Putin war machine will push its invasion further into Ukraine.
The taxi drove up to the ski shop, and we hoisted our heavy feet out of the car and onto to the snow. The driver exited his door and began pulling our skis out of the back of the vehicle. While rummaging through my wallet to grab the money, he lifted his hand and waved, “no charge.” Joshua and I tried to pay him, but he refused. “This is my gift to you. Thank you for what you’ve done for Ukraine.” We tried to convince more and Joshua said, “We want you to take it. We want to pay for the services.” The man shook his head “no,” and his eyes began to tear. His voice shook a little with emotion as he said, “No, thank you for what you’ve done for my country. I hope your trip is a success and more people will know Ukraine.”
We shook hands with the taxi driver and he drove off. It was one of the most touching travel experiences of my life. We stomped our way into the ski rental and met up with Sasha. After sharing what had happened, he responded, “That’s Ukraine.”
“That’s Ukraine” is a perfect response to kindness we received. Everywhere we went, we encountered great service and hospitality. I’m always in search of kindness and, at times, it’s scarce. It wasn’t hard to find it in Ukraine. In fact, shortly after the taxi driver drove away, we encountered more outstanding service at the ski rental. The guys at the ski shop helped us with our gear, kind words, and great service. It seemed like I was constantly making new friends at each stop during our trip.
I hope the US continues to support Ukraine. It’s a beautiful country made up of incredible people. Ukrainians go the extra mile to make others feel welcome. The rest of the world should take notes.
Our Ukrainian host with the Lviv government organized our trip to show that Ukraine is open for tourism. We felt completely safe throughout our time in the Lviv Oblast region. We had many sumptuous meals and were entertained throughout our time. (Follow Lviv’s tourism Instagram and Facebook accounts for more information)
Our American/Ukrainian contact, Sasha Vosk, was born in Ukraine and looks to help build Ukraine through tourism. He founded the organization, Rebuild Ukraine Foundation, to help build up the Ukrainian economy and help inform the world of all that Ukraine offers. One doesn’t need to wait till the end of the war to visit the country. It’s ready for tourists now.
I also visited Ukraine with Joshua Brandenburg, a photographer from New York City. You can visit his website here and follow him on Instagram here.
Hear are more stories abour our time in Ukraine:
Where is God During War: A conversation with a Ukrainian Priest
15 Reasons to Visit Western Ukraine Now
Defeating Darkness with Art: Touring Park 3020
Getting Naked in Ukraine
Rebuilding Ukraine by Rebuilding Children’s Lives: My interview with the staff of SOS
Emily Resort and Spa in Lviv, Ukraine is a Luxury Paradise with Family-Friendly Activities
Visiting Ukraine During the War
Representing America in the Back of a Taxi in Ukraine
Promoting Tourism in Ukraine During the War
Visiting Ukraine During the War
Snowboarding in Ukraine
Tips for Americans Visiting Ukraine
Visiting Truskavets’ Healing Springs and Spas
Horseback Riding in the Carpathian Mountains
Visiting Kamianets-Podilkskyi: Remembering the Past and Building to a Better Future
The Show Must Go On: The Lviv Opera House is Open Despite the War
Traditional Ukrainian Drink Uzvar Recipe
Kyiv Mule Cocktail Recipe
Other travel adventures:
| Central America |
| Honduras Hugging Sloths in Honduras |
Great post!
I actually teared up as I read your taxi driver’s appreciation of our countries aid. I would definitely put Ukraine on my bucket list if ever I hoped to visit Europe again. This particular trip surpasses all the other adventures you’ve shared since I began following you. Thank you.