[liff] Views Of The City Of Lviv, Ukraine

3369.

Here's a curve ball for y'all.

My beloved makes interesting friends online; she has an intellect that makes people open up to her. Recently she made the acquaintance of of a fellow in Poland who has recently made a sortie into the city of Lviv.

Wikipedia has this to say about the seventh-largest city in Ukraine:

Lviv is the largest city in western Ukraine and the seventh largest city in the country overall, is one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine. Named in honor of the Leo, the eldest son of Rus' King Daniel of Galicia. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia (also called Kingdom of Rus') from 1272 to 1349, when was conquered by King Casimir III the Great who then became known as the King of Poland and Rus'. From 1434, it was the regional capital of the Ruthenian Voivodeship in the Kingdom of Poland and was known as Lwów. In 1772, after the First partition of Poland, the city became the capital of the Habsburg Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria and was renamed to Lemberg. In 1918 in a short time was the capital of the West Ukrainian People's Republic. Between the wars, the city was known again as Lwów and was the centre of the Lwów Voivodeship in the Second Polish Republic. After the Second World War, it became part of the Soviet Union (Ukrainian SSR) and in 1991 of independent Ukraine. Administratively, Lviv serves as the administrative center of Lviv Oblast and has the status of city of oblast significance. Its population is 728,350 (2016 est.)

So, it's an important city of regional stature, kind of like a San Diego or a Twin Cities or Memphis. And it's seen a lot of history, and crossed more than one border more than once.

Since my chances of travelling that far are nil, we eagerly adore pictures sent by overseas friends. The following are sent by our correspondent Tomek Kurcz, and are posted with his permission. I find them most delightful. And since I don't have anything more to add, I'll let them do most of the talking:

How they do coffee in Lviv. Tomek would feel quite at home here in Portland, I think,
though I've never seen a coffee around here as delectable as a parfait.
(copyright Tomek Kurcz, used with permission)

Slack time at the kitteh cafe.
(copyright Tomek Kurcz, used with permission)

Strollers on a cobbled Lviv street.
For what it's worth, the demonym of a Lviv resident is Leopolitan; the
Latin name of Lviv was Leopolis. It's the city of the lion.
(copyright Tomek Kurcz; used with permission)

Just a beautiful old building in Lviv.
(copyright Tomek Kurcz; used with permission)

This one has a surprise. Look directly out from the POV at the red tile roof in the middle
distance; then just above and to the left of that on the roof of the building just beyond,
notice that there is a car chassis on that roof. And there are people dining there.
I believe that's suppose to be a rooftop cafe. Classy.
(copyright Tomek Kurcz; used with permission)

Lviv streetcorner; note directional sign in center.
(copyright Tomek Kurcz; used with permission)

Another Lvivian roadsign. (copyright Tomek Kurcz; used with permission)

That's it from Lviv, Ukraine. Thanks to Tomek for sharing these delightful photos. Until such time as we can actually travel to Europe, they'll do.