This week I’m “liveblogging” my trip to Ukraine. Unlike traditional reports, these posts will be shorter and more frequent.
Breakfast has been interesting at the Hyatt Regency Kyiv, with the hotel clientele ranging from media to mercenaries. I almost felt like Ernest Hemingway at Hotel Florida…
I hope to put up a full review of the Hyatt Regency Kyiv later today, but my stay has been very pleasant. Staff are (for the most part) excellent and the breakfast spread is really delicious (just as it was 12 years ago the last time I stayed here).
But what I found most interesting were those sitting around me at breakfast.
The BBC is here…this makes a lot of sense considering the central location of the hotel in Kyiv. There is also some French and other British media.
Far more interesting was the man from Scotland and his associate from Australia sitting at the table next to me the other day.
They were mercenaries. Maybe? It is not clear who was paying them–or whether they were just full of hot air trying to impress the pretty blonde girl seated on the other side–but they claimed to have just returned from the front lines in The Donbas.
These both appeared to be hyper-masculine “Alpha” males, with menacing figures, tattoos, and stories of war and conquest from around the world.
Maybe they weren’t even mercenaries (though they claimed to “work” for Ukraine) and were just volunteer soldiers looking for an adventure?
One talked about his time in Iraq and Afghanistan while the other mentioned their clandestine operation in Transnistria (the pro-Russian breakaway region in Moldova).
Here’s what I know: secret agents don’t talk about their “clandestine” work.
So these dudes were enigmatic to me…and judging by her forced smile and uncomfortable laugh, the blonde British girl wasn’t impressed either.
Worse publicity stunt I’ve ever seen.
I love hearing about Alpha males! This blog needs more of that
Wannabes. Exactly what they wannabe is the question
This just seems weird and insensitive. I don’t think anyone is clamoring for a review of a Hyatt in Kyiv at this time. What an odd thing to do
I think any non-negative exposure / talk about Kyiv & Ukraine is a good thing. Perhaps, Matt will address the horrible Russian occupation while also reviewing the hotel.
I wish myself I could help Ukraine more, but most of us do work and support out families, unlike to what Matt does with his blog and travel. Given that he is an educated person who seems to care about people and the world, I think the Hyatt review there is ok as long as we (and Matt) do not forget how relatively unimportant a good / bad breakfast or room upgrade is in the unjustly war-torn country.
I agree and I hope that will be clear in the entire context of this trip report.
I hope you get a chance to buy a new stamp just released that is the Bansky with the judo figure.
Sadly, I missed it (if you mean in Ukraine).
Years ago I did Doctors without Borders in the Central African Republic and I ended up being assigned to a hospital in Bangui training local surgeons in Trama Surgery.
I ended up living at The Ledger Plaza Hotel and it was essentially the same sort of scene that you described.
BBC and iirc the French News Station were living at the hotel as well as a bunch of UN Peace Keepers.
Anyway the scene you described reminded of what I experienced in Bangui, except that I think Kyiv is in better shape to start with
Obviously doing this for attention. Thousands are being killed and you thinks it’s cool to to do a hotel review from Ukraine.
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