Already several times we had to turn down invitations to this cave - something always came in the way. Now we were supposed to go to the Canaries, but we got no tickets. And that was quite fortunate - the next day we got the message about the trip to Optimistic Cave.

The trip was tolerable: a totally idiotic situation on the border... How is it that nobody's capable of rationalizing the passage from one country to another?!? But of course, those bloody clerks wouldn't be able to show off how much power they have (on our way back we were yelled at for giving all our passports instead of showing one, then another; yet they're telling everybody for almost half a year that that's how it should be done; as is, it takes him about three times longer to look through the papers!). And that one and a half hours of waiting for some 10-15(!) cars to pass the border... On the other hand, when leaving Poland, on the Polish side... Well, it's just total fucking shit!

Lvov and Tarnpol - cities like cities, similar to ours. Except that in Lvov we had to pay our share to the brave law enforcement officers. But at least they are sincere at what they're doing - on top of their cars they have these big signs "DAJ" ("GIVE") - and all's clear. We had to pay 200 hryvna, since "what can they buy for a lousy 100?". So, I think that when planning a trip to the Ukraine, add the price of some presents to the cost of the trip; however, it still remains quite cheap.

It was night already when we got to the cave. Fortunately Betka was here before and new the forest well enough to get us to the meeting place. It was harder to get out (uphill on wet leaves in mud)...

The cave: beautiful, but (at least for me) very tiring. The corridors are lined with gypsum crystals that sparkle in the flash's light and with some really big crystals (see the pictures). But "walking" several hours on your knees and elbows, squatting and bent in double isn't my favorite past time (and to think that these passages were deepened by the various crews working there). And of course the bag that catches every outcrop there is...

The bivouac is quite cozy, not very cold and pretty dry. The hosts took care of the food, gas, tables and chairs (made of clay), a guitar and other goods. And generally, the hosts took good care of us, took us gladly to the many interesting places in the caves - thanks a lot! I'm thinking that since on this occasion there wasn't much time for taking pictures, we'll have to get back there in the future - I just need to loose some fat in the meantime...