By far the best away day, p*ssed all over Brugge and Bordeaux. I left Stansted 2300 via Istanbul, 3 nights and back Saturday at 2300, hotel at Stansted then train up Sunday morning.
Probably s**** and not interesting, but here's a quick view of my trip.
Stansted airport - couple of quiet pints and couple of photos with all the Newcastle fans (About 30 of us)
Flight to Istanbul - Majority tried to get a couple of hours sleep. Quiet until the end and a few songs started.
Istanbul airport - hilarious. Beers carried on and a lad called Jonny was hammered, kicking off with a bloke from Burger King and airport security ended up coming over but all was good, he was hilarious the full 7 hour wait.
Flight to Kharkiv - more drinks and a decent laugh, few more songs which p*ssed off the stewardesses and one puff steward.
Day/night one - walked out of airport and had taxi blokes pestering me, said no I already booked one but they didn't understand and were having none of it. Instead of waiting we went to this blokes car and the police came sprinting over and pushed this bloke and told us not a taxi...we thought great what a start to Ukraine.
Eventually got a proper taxi and dumped bags, hotel was spot on and from then on got reception to book taxis into Freedom Square for us. Worked out at £5 for a 15 minute ride, bargain.
Few toon fans dotted about but the Irish Bar was s****, 4 of us who travelled went to some ukranian student bar. Started off quiet, locals staring and we were getting louder and louder drinking bottles of vodka. Within a couple of hours everyone started talking to us, making a fuss and having a crack on, singing and dancing on tables etc. generally loving our company and complimenting us, saying thanks for visiting city. Ended up staying with couple of locals and they took us to a Mexican bar, met a couple more toon fans and was hammered by this point. By the end we were in a 24 hour cafe/bar type thing and these two birds and their gay best mate (double of Gok Wan). my mate bought a parmo and wouldnt shut up about it, went it arrived it was a plate of cheese! hilarious at the time. The Ukranians ended up at our hotel. No we didn't get bummed or bum Gok, however I'm afraid I woke up with the female on my right hand side, turned over and their was Gok.
Matchday - had a couple in a different Irish Bar, was also s***. Saw a group of 4 lads walking around for Toon fans so stayed with these and Took them to this little student type bar we were in the night before, had a couple of Ukrainians in but not many, bar staff recognised us and was spot on. Ended up getting photos again with locals and they were loving it. No-one seemed to know where any Toon fans were at this point, was about 3/4 o'clock. Finally found out where most fans were, went there a few hours before kick off and it was bouncing. Easily 120 or so Toon fans in. Beers flowing, songs going and everyone having a good time. IIRC left around 5/5.30 for metro to match, all was good with a decent group of us (about 30). Got off, walked around corner and their Ultras were waiting. Couple of punches thrown, people running in different directions, I went back towards train station just as some fat meathead ukranian chased me, only bother I saw. Could've been much worse but not what you want on any journey. Finally got in the ground and it was slowly filling up. Great atmosphere, tonnes of police. Very strange as we shared bogs with their fans. Only reason I could think of is no segregation and as we had such a small allocation their were no other bogs for us to use. After we got kept in for about 30 minutes then walked outside and directed to stand near the Thomas Cook flight bus. The coppers were spot on and put us on local buses and escorted us back to the bar we were all in before the match at Freedom Square, apparently their fans were waiting at the metro but that may have been a load of s***.
The bar after was amazing, great crack and a good sing song. Everyone was steaming as expected, taking the p*ss and singing about Moscow. Bar staff were videoing us and taking photos so they were enjoying it too. No trouble at all, a couple of their fans come in apparently wanting an arranged fight but as we said no they were fine and stayed with us drinking all night. Seemed to be getting on with everyone they spoke to. Within a few hours we all went next door for a karaoke bar, lasted two songs (Coloccini and he's magic) before the coppers come in with AK47s because people were banging on TV, smashing glasses and stuff. This is when majority scattered around Kharkiv so never stayed all together.
Day after match - 99% had went home, us 4 went to their ground for club shop, walk around the city which was canny and cured my hangover. Ended up in a wine bar type place for a few, we were welcomed even though they didn't speak much English. Ukrainians spoke to us again, very friendly. Ended up back at that student bar and about 8 Ukranians recognised us and spent the full time in their drinking with us having a laugh. Good crack.
Overall I'd say excellent city, dirty and definitely s*** standard of living but best city I've visited probably. Locals are great however limited English. Very cheap and would recommend anyone visiting if we somehow ever meet them again.
