Just down the street from the EKO marker, on the right hand side (when facing the store) is a bank. Probably less than 200 yards on the right. They have 2 ATMs that have never failed me.
I exchanged money at the mall where EKO market is located. To the left of EKO, just before the corner, under the new roof that covers the small parking lot. This small money exchange place has large bills, so you don’t have to stuff your pockets with “little” money!
I used the Swiss bank ATM near The NY café! It was quick and easy.
You walked the same road as I did. My hotel was at the end of that road, by the 5 way intersection. Last year I was told it was Sumy’s best hotel, but this year it was the worst??? I don’t understand how it could change so much in one year, but it was the same nice hotel to me.
Ranger did you ever go up to the patio over EKO market to the deck and watch the free bands that seem to play there every night April thru September? It's a cheap date and it is a lot of fun. Stella Atrois beers are like $1.50 for 500 mls (12H). Here in New Orleans, even in a cheap bar it's like $5.00 for 12 ounces. I've pretty much given up on Sumy though. It's the next stop down the road from Kiev and has more scanners than Kharkov even. Don't get me wrong, there are real women to meet even in Kiev, but it's the ratio. I will return to Sumy in the future because of a few friends I've made there but not to meet women. I did meet a great lady there when I was looking for laundry soap. I was getting no where with my game of chirades with the market clerk and gave up. I walked outside thinking of my next step and a 70 year old woman tapped me on the shoulder and pointed one finger in the air. She got on her phone and again pointed in the air. 2 minutes later here comes this beautiful woman and her child. She hands the child off to the older lady, comes over and in impeccable English (much better than translators even) introduces herself and asks what I need. I tell her laundry soap and she walks me 1/2 a mile up the road, hooks me up with laundry soap and on the way back my line of questions gets answers about her. She used to teach English at the University until she was divorced and then quit and moved in with her mom. Apparently mom was set financially and she no longer worked. Anyway the point is that you can find women anywhere and watch for opportunities.
I have been to both of the little and narrow café’s on the second floor, but not on the patio. It wasn’t there last year. My trips have been in January and February. I am lucky I went a little earlier this year, otherwise I would have been there in the middle of their cold snap.
I have for the most part, given up on Sumy too. All of the talk about it being a good place to meet women is nothing more than just PR hype! The girl I was to meet there, had no intentions of getting married. The very first words out of her mouth last year, were a total lie! It is the type of lie,,, that there is no way of getting past! No explaining it away. She was only a person to fill a seat at a restaurant!
I had some serious doubts before I left on the trip,, and I only went because the curiosity would get to me! I had some of my trip planned in advance,,,, getting sick was not part of the plan.