In the shadow of Belanov

Ukraine

Posted by Rikard Vestre Tue, February 22, 2011 19:34:16

Odessa wintertime is quite different from the pulsating summer season. Odessa is a summer city by all means. So why not check it out when it is not overcrowded by tourists.

Passport control is always an anxious wait a for tourist. Five queue’s, and as usual I was drifting from one to the next. And as usual I ended up as the last man standing. Therefore I got all the attention, from all the officers. Big surprise when the bunch just waved my into their giant country. No questions, at all! Easy as that! Ukraine here I come!

Next barrier, my favorite, the taxi drivers J. As soon as I stepped over the border, one sleazy man attacked me from the left flank. Bringing me away from the rest of his scary gang, in all black costumes. I headed for the cash machine and he told me as polite he could, that he was waiting me. Sergey as his name was, wanted 600 hryvnia for the ride to the main square, where my hotel Annabelle is situated. I did my homework on Google before leaving Norway, as usual. 60 H was the normal price to pay for the 15 minutes together with a smelling, happy, Ukrainian taxi driver. After 12 rounds we ended up at 200 H. Ok for both parts. That’s around 20 Euros.

Football and girls, the main topic in a taxi. Both was brought up immediately. Sergey was like all other who drives a taxi, a forgotten celebrity. Because of a heavy liverproblem, or more precise, vodka, he ended up driving a shabby taxi. His best friend and striker companion, Igor Belanov, Odessas biggest son, and USSR goalmachine from the 80’s, got all the fame. But before hope faded, Sergey made an unstoppable pair with Belanov, feeding him from his Pirlo-kind of role.

Good memories for Sergey, and Belanov’s name, I have to say, got me back to 86, and the World Championship in Mexico. Great games by USSR. Belanov their main man amongst many, many good players. Dasayev, the best goalkeeper I have seen, also played for the red legendary team. Belanov scored a hat-trick in one match in Euro 86 didn’t he? I think it was against Belgium, in one of the best matches up to date! He was also named European Player of the year the same year after winning the European Cup with Dinamo.

A big shadow for Sergey to fulfill. Anyway, a great memory to share with customers, driving the short trip to Odessa. So what to tell when there is traffic jam? The long version want do, because of shortage in the vocabulary. Maybe he got some girl stories on his hand. Sadly the trip was to short for me to discover, as I entered into a dark tunnel in Odessa’s sharp air. Hopefully I will get past the dog an into my newly designed hotel room …..