Not long time ago, my colleague and I had nice conversation about my accommodation here in Lublin. The weather was rainy and both of us were a little bit tired and we started talking. The dialogue was interesting and I thought it would be informative for you.

So, here you are 😉

Tell me, how your first journey to Lublin was.

I came to Lublin a year ago. I have been lucky because we have direct bus from Ternopol to Lublin. I arrived here at night at 1am. I was at the bus station. “What should I do?” –I thought. And I saw the taxi. The taxi driver helped me with my bags. And after I told him the address, he started talking to me. Can you imagine that? I barely could answer his questions, and the only thought in my mind was, “Please, just drive; it’s the middle of the night”. In ten minutes or so the taxi stopped next to the dorm.

How did you get to university for the first time?

My roommate showed me the bus stop. I got to the dorm at night, so did not get acquainted with them, but we saw each other in the morning. Thanks God one of them was Ukrainian. She came few days before and she knew where the bus stop and a shop were near the dormitory.

Were you able to deal with the tickets?

Oh, yes. It was new for me, but I managed to do that. We bought bus tickets in the kiosk and took the bus. Few days later I even bought the ticket in the bus. It is very easy, and it is very convenient. But later I realized that to buy monthly tickets are more economically. And it is very convenient. You don’t need to remember to buy tickets every time you take the bus.

How did you manage to come back to the dormitory?

I was pleasantly surprised by the transport system in Lublin. It is great that every bus stop has bus schedule, and it is great that some bus stops are equipped with scoreboard, where you can see the bus number and the time when it comes. And answering your question, it was easy to come back. Our KUL website gives information which bus goes to the center, to the bus station or to the railway station. So, I knew the bus number, looked at the scoreboard and waited a few minutes, took the bus and came to the dormitory.

How much time it took you to explore Lublin?

It took me almost one year. And again I was lucky. One of my roommates was Polish girl and she showed us a lot of interesting places here. I even bought a map of Lublin and pinned it on my door. Now it is much easier to find a place in Lublin. And you know what? My wish is to try bikes one day. It is very cool idea of city transport! I will do it one day.

Are you able to explain how to get to any place in Lublin?

Not everything, but I can explain how to get to those places where I had been before. For me it is more problematic because I cannot express my thought in polish.

Which contacts with Lublin have you already done?

As a girl, I know almost all shopping malls in Lublin. I have visited Museum Wsi Lubelskiej, Majdanek, the Castle and I walked around the Old Town, students’ town. In spring and summer I walk to the university and back. I know some short ways to the dorm. Oh, almost forgot, I was at Zalew of course.

During this conversation my colleague told me about one cool application for gadgets. It calls BusNavi. Try it! It helps to travel around the city.

So, everyone has his own experience here. Tell us about it.

Irina Ilyashevych