Eros woke up…this morning earlier. His dream-fantasy made him exhausted, his body and brain flooded with pleasure. He had been wrung like a sponge. He hardly stirred from his bed. Eros was curious why a short message on his birthday from someone he even does not know made him lose his head. His life was so calm and stable, he got used to his bachelor’s life and did not let himself feel so stressed over women. Eros could not let him feel so confused and so helpless. He took himself and his emotion in hand, had a very cold (almost icy) shower and came downstairs for breakfast. Eros Clumsy had a usual lovely breakfast chat with his mom as if nothing has happened. He deleted this strange message from his phone and went to work. He was decisive and refreshed, ready to immerse fully into his adorable work. As a senior computer administrator Eros has been dealing with many software tasks at the UK Council in Ukraine. He liked his job and did it very well. He even received a diplomatic status and moved from country to country. Dolly always followed his son and enjoyed every new designation. They learn new languages together and exchange experiences. When he came to his office he was smiling until he found out that today will not be the same as he get used it. Immediately he should go for a business trip to L’viv to install some software. Surely he was not against some summer trip to a very nice city, but somehow he felt odd about his new task for today. Maybe was something in the air or it was because of his sleepless night. Eros got to his car and started the engine…A few seconds later the door of the car burst open and a woman’s silhouette slowly slipped to the car saloon. As soon as he dropped his eyes on her Eros knew…she was Rose, a flower or a woman whose late evening message turned his life upside down…
“Good day, Mr Clumsy! I am ready to go!” Rose said cheerfully, closed the door and took off her summer glasses. While arranging her things and mini-skirt she recognized that she did not hear any reply back. She turned her head and looked directly at him. And the picture she saw was impressive. Eros was sitting motionless like a frozen statue, his eyes wide open and he did not breathe…at least it seemed to her. This view made her feel uneasy, she thought that he might not feel himself well. She slowly touched his elbow.
“Is everything alright, Mr Eros”, – she asked worriedly. Eros suddenly became aware of her touches and words. He jerked back his arm and pressed on gas pedal. They journey to L’viv was in silence. In the city Rose and Eros had a strange conversation based on some jokes from Rose’s side, however, Eros was in his most awful mood. Moreover, when he found out that she will be his boss and that from now on he will work with her and that this is not exactly a business trip rather a test for him he understood that he got caught…
This is a picture of an entrance to a very famous Coffee Mine in L’viv, yeah, you did hear me right, a mine. This picture was made in XIX century. You may guess that it is not a real mine, since we know too well how coffee is made, it cannot be simply dug out from the ground. Otherwise everybody who has a plot can try his/her luck. The owners of this coffee shop are smart enough to make their future clients intrigued and believe me it works.
Anyway, whatever one may think, this is not a simple coffee shop, but a real museum of coffee and its production. Here a choice of coffee will surprise you a lot because it is very diverse and for all tastes. I even do not mention the deserts that are so yammi.
Every time Rose was in L’viv she cannot refuse herself a very small caprice – a cup of Benderivs’ka coffee with strudel and ice-cream. However, today she ordered ice-cream for Eros to cajole him at least a bit. His attitude and behavior were so cold, she could not imagine that. She knew how odd he was, but that was even beyond her expectations. Rose pined her hopes on the delicious flavor of ice-cream that must melt his heart (literary and figuratively).
While they were siting and enjoying friendly atmosphere of this coffee mine Rose decided to try to find out what was wrong with him and she kindly asked him, “Eros, why are you so angry at me? Did I do something wrong? I confess that my style of testing my future employees is not so common and maybe even called unusual, but I prefer getting to know my colleagues in informal way, this is my know-how and…”, Eros abruptly stopped her with his gesture and quickly replied, “Miss Flower or…sorry, miss Rose, who can be happy to get such a strange message almost at midnight from an unknown person…it is not polite, did not your parents teach you the manners?”
“Oh, so that made you angry at me…I see” Rose made a sigh and smiled. “Then why do not you get your belt and give me a spanking?
“Very funny, miss Spice”, shortly admitted Eros and stared at her. She was too beautiful like from his dream, so he cannot be angry at her, but he was not ready to leave his guard off. He knew that as soon as he let her in he would not have peace in his life.
This coffee mine is a kind of shop as well. Here you can find very nice cups and kettles.
You should remember that L’viv is a city of lions, so lions will follow you everywhere whenever you go. It is said, Lviv, or as it is often called Lemberg, reminds Prague, Vienna or Krakow by its atmosphere. This is a city where every street, every cobblestone retains its legend. His majestic name tells a rich history of the city. According to legends of the old chronicles, Lviv was founded by Prince Danylo Galician and named a city after his son Leo Danylovych. However, citizens love to tell another romantic legend about the origin of the city.
Once upon a time, near the high mountains around the area of future Lviv city there were small villages. The mountains were covered with forests, where farmers successfully hide from attacks of enemies. But once a luck turned away from them – people began to disappear. It was found out that they were stolen by the king of beasts – the lion. He lies in wait for those who dare to walk alone in the wood, stun them by a big paw and eats victims in his cave. Panic swept all the villages in the district.
Once in the tavern appeared a brave knight, who promised to kill the predator. He asked to forge so strong sword and armor that none force could break or bend it. Village blacksmiths worked all day and night long without a break, but in vain. It seemed as inevitable bad luck.
A traveler who got lost somewhere has come to tavern to eat. He said he knew how to conquer the beast. Let all the young girls prick a little finger by needles, drop two or three drops of blood to a common Chan, where weapons and armor should be dipped.
The farmer did it. And the lion’s fangs and claws could not do anything with enchanted armor. Then mighty cut a head of furious lion by magic sword and exclaimed “People you are free!”. Since then, the mountain where this story has happened was called lion mountain, and the town that grew up under the mountain – Lviv.
If this story was real, or just imagination of the people, no one knows. But a fact is that Lviv city fascinates anyone who at least once visited here.
L’viv can be called a chocolate city, since every you step you see various chocolate shops and you cannot pass by…chocolate is too delicious and aromatic…meeting the serious demands of even the most critical chocolate fans. Legend has it that Chocolate from Lviv was well-known from the middle ages. In the 19th century, chocolate was exported from Lviv to aristocracy throughout Europe.
Here you can find only hand-made chocolate, which is a bit more expensive, but it’s worth, trust me. On the ground floor of this chocolate shop you can even watch the process of its production. In my film devoted to L’viv you can see it through the glass windows. Everything is open for visitors.
Rose did not manage to melt Eros’s heart even with the help of huge dark chocolate bar, he was still silent and only answered her questions concerning their future work together. Unfortunately he showed his indifference and sometimes hostility towards her, which made Rose very upset. She did not get used to give up and she did not get used to refuses. Rose Spice was the young daughter of David Spice who adored and satisfied all her wishes, she has never heard any “no” answers in her life. Now she also felt that inexpugnable wall should be broken very soon…
L’viv can be also called a brewing city…here you can taste a live beer almost at every corner. Beer was brewed in Lviv since XV century and in 1533 Polish king has issued a decree allowing brewing beer in the city. Important role was also played by monasteries, where monks were brewing this wonderful drink from best hops, molt and pure artesian water. Owing to its quality Lviv beer shortly became popular in Austro-Hungarian Empire. And now in the time of Ukraine independence beer in Lviv doesn’t lose its legendary taste and quality and is popular among citizens and tourists.
“Isn’t this clock beautiful,” babbled Rose and stopped next to it.
“Yes, maybe,” coldly replied Eros and turned his head. He looked at her once again as if he wanted to check whether she was a reality or a vision. Eros again felt himself not so well. Rose also turned and simply stare directly into his eyes. The tension between them could have been cut with a rusty knife. He saw a curiosity and stubbornness that leaped in her eyes, but he also saw a flicker of interest and gentleness. She was Amazon strength and beauty in her white suit. She was gorgeous, tempestuous and hot. He felt that he lost his control…
“Maybe…that’s all what you can say about this wonderful and charming flower clock, now I can really understand what a difficult time in office is waiting for me with such a cold, callous, aloof and insensate to any beauty man who…” Rose could not finish her sentence because her lips were quickly covered with his and he kissed the breath out of her…
You can make lot’s of window picture while walking L’viv streets. This is the pictures of the city made of caramel (boiled sweet). Have you every tasted it? The first types of caramel were hard candies that date back to the 17th century. In America, the settlers cooked sugar and water together to make these sweet treats. Caramels were a candy staple for many years because the ingredients were affordable, they were easy to make at home and they had a long shelf life.
If you did not see Opera House, it means you did not see L’viv, it’s the city cultural symbol. If you ask someone who sight of architecture he\she likes the most, you will hear a certain answer that the Opera and Ballet theater named after Solomiya Krushelnytska is the one. Local people never stop saying that there are no even than the Opera is and it is one of the most beautiful not only in Europe but in the whole world.
L’viv is a very symbolic city of Western Ukraine. It does not look like any other Ukrainian city, it mostly looks like any other Western Europe city with many narrow streets like in Italy, typical architecture like in Poland and beer pubs like in Germany. You will not feel here like abroad, most probably you feel yourself here as cozy as at home. My advice to you to come here in autumn or winter when the tourist season is not so high and the city shows you its charm in full.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Yours Ann
