The Arabat Spit. If there is a paradise on earth, it is here

Henichesk and the Arabat Spit became a real discovery of 2016 for me.

Dolishne. A Stryi-Area Village and Its Wooden Church

To the village of Dolishne in the Stryi district I went to see the youngest wooden church in the area.

Bratkivtsi. A Pysanka Chapel in a Subcarpathian Village

Bratkivtsi — what a name! In this Subcarpathian village I wanted to see the pysanka chapel.

Banya Lisovytska. The origins of the Morshyn resort

The village of Banya Lisovytska, in the Stryi district of Lviv region, got its name because here there were wooden buildings for evaporating salt from brine — banias. As far back as the 16th century these parts were suppliers of this necessary product. But later it was noticed that the salt had turned bitter, and it ceased to be in demand. On the other hand, the healing properties of the brine, which contains rare minerals, contributed to the development of the Morshyn resort, whose suburb Banya Lisovytska became.
On the border between these settlements, by the Lviv — Ivano-Frankivsk highway, a chapel has been built.

Vyhoda. A Logging Centre and the Carpathian Tram

The settlement of Vyhoda, in the Dolyna district of Ivano-Frankivsk region, arose in 1883 thanks to the development of logging. I do not know how the locality got such a name, but the settlement has an advantageous location at the confluence of two rivers, the Mizunka and the Svicha, as well as a railway link with Dolyna. I came to see this settlement after I rode on the Carpathian Tram, whose terminus is located here. The timber that was harvested for the mines of the Donbas was in demand, and after the Second World War came the peak of development both of the industry and of Vyhoda. Sadly, other times have now arrived. The administration of the timber-processing plant used to be in a building that is now let out to shops, banks and pharmacies.

Vyhoda. The Carpathian Tram Through the Boyko Land

If you want to see the beauty of the Carpathians while expending a minimum of physical effort, take a ride on the Carpathian Tram through the picturesque corners of the Boyko land. Boarding begins in the village of Vyhoda, in the Dolyna district of Ivano-Frankivsk region, by the monument to this environmentally clean form of transport.

Bolekhiv. Heritage of a Town in the Boyko Land

The town of Bolekhiv, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, with a population of only 12 thousand people, has been known since 1370. There are no other such towns in Ukraine. The Lviv — Chernivtsi highway divides it into two parts. An endless column of international buses and huge lorries, of course, breaks the quiet and spoils the environment. And the bridge over the river Sukil is simply not designed for such a flow of traffic. If you want to learn more about the town, you need to go to the museum. That is just what I did, having come to Bolekhiv with a friend from Morshyn to take a walk and spend some free time.

Pavlovo and Ploske. Zakarpattia's Velyka Pynia Valley

The day before, I had been in Yakivske of the Svaliava district, and the next day I set off for the neighbouring Pavlovo and Ploske, which I had also seen from the mountain, laid out before me as if on the palm of my hand.

Yakivske. A Mountain Village in Zakarpattia

The small mountain villages of Zakarpattia are notable for lying in the valleys between the hills, along the rivers, often having a single street that stretches for several kilometres and runs down like a little brook from the mountain, while along its banks stand handsome houses with wonderful flowers in their front gardens. Yakivske, in the Svaliava district, is just such a village.

Uklyn. A Mountain Village with a Rare Landmark

I had long known that in the village of Uklyn, in the Svaliava district, there is a small wooden church of Saints Peter and Paul. While holidaying in Zakarpattia, I decided to go and see it.