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5 Confusing Realities Of Post-Soviet Countries And Getting Around Like A Pro!
What guidebooks don’t tell you about bureaucracy, transportation, and culture shocks in Ukraine, Georgia, and beyond.
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You just landed in Tbilisi or Kyiv, fresh off the plane, feeling like a seasoned traveler.
After all, you’ve tackled the Paris Metro, survived a tuk-tuk ride in Bangkok, and even navigated New York City without getting scammed into a $40 hot dog.
What could possibly throw you off here?
Fast forward two hours…
You’re standing in front of a mystifying wall of Cyrillic letters or Georgian script, trying to decipher whether the sign says “hotel,” “police station,” or “beware of dog.”
A taxi driver grins at you like he’s just won the lottery, quoting a price that sounds suspiciously like your entire daily budget.
Welcome to the post-Soviet travel experience.
If your travel experience consists of Google Maps, tap-to-pay, and menus in English, stepping into the ex-Soviet world is like switching from autopilot to survival mode.