Wasteland | Roman (was) in Ukraine

I took this photo near L’viv’s city center. On the right is a bank, a center of commerce, and on the left is a vacant, fenced-off lot.

Lviv abandon lot and bank

I’m told that after the bank was built, a big legal battle ensued in which some city officials wanted the structure torn town because it didn’t match their vision of “historical.” On a completely, 100%, totally, positively unrelated note, no one can figure out why no entrepreneurs are willing to build in the lot on the left side of the photo.

The attempts at having the bank torn down could easily be another typical Ukrainian shakedown of business by government officials, but let’s take it at face value.

This is historically NOT approved:
Lviv abandon lot and bank

This is historically approved:
Lviv abandon lot and bank

Any questions?

Many people say that the level of petty corruption in L’viv is the worst in all Ukraine. On the other hand, however, there are many more small entrepreneurs here than in Kyiv or eastern cities.

I had the idea to send a cell phone back to the United States to ease the upcoming visit of a friend. Using their website’s store locator, I couldn’t find a Fed Ex in L’viv, so I wrote an email to the Kyiv office.

They promptly replied with a contact here in L’viv, whom I just called. She answered the phone with “hello?”

After a huge amount of frustration and confusion — she shouted “HELLO!?” every time I paused to think for more than half a second — I learned that to send a cell phone, I’m going to need a receipt and a photocopy of my passport.

I could not figure out how I would pay, or anything else, and I got sick of the woman, so I hung up.

Maybe I’ll try Meest.