Ukraine: Odessa

Odessa is a beautiful city on the coast!  It was a challenge to be back to a country using the Cyrillic alphabet.  It just makes getting around a bit more challenging, and I found that English was not as widely spoken in Ukraine as in other countries I've visited. It is very nice and hugely convenient when someone speaks English.  However, it is not a requirement.  I am a guest in their country, so I do not expect them to speak English.  Odessa is a large city, so I did find some people who spoke English.  Otherwise, I had to depend on Google Translate, pictures, gestures, pointing, and miming.  As in other countries, it is common for people to type the price on a calculator, or I can offer the calculator on my phone where they can type in the price for something.
The hostel owner here served in the Soviet army in the 1980s, so he had some interesting stories.  He made delicious Turkish coffee in the mornings.  There were several college students living at the hostel, as there was a university close by and this was cheaper than apartments in the neighborhood.