Kiev , General info:
7/10

A pleasant surprise for most visitors. You think eastern Europe is all grey post communism heavy industry with factories speing out thick black smoke? Think again. Kiev is one of the greenest capitals I've ever seen (and I've seen 62) with huuuuge parks right in the city centre.

Kiev , Cheap stuff:
8/10

Alcohol and locally produced stuff.

All imported goods are just as expensive as in western Europe.

Kiev , Don't miss:
7/10

The cathedrals

Andrews Descent

The mummified munks in the lavra

Hydropark in the summer

Chernobyl museum

Kiev , Food:
4/10

There is a reason to why you can't find ukrainan restaurants all over the world, but some very tasty stuff if you know where to look and which meals to avoid. Plenty of indian, turkish, italian, chinese and mexican places to dine too.

Kiev , Hotels:
3/10

Either superexpensive luxuryhotels like Hyatt og Radisson, og expensive ex-Soviet-style coloss hotels with service attitude stright from the KGB-book. Save your money and rent an apartment instead, seriously.

Kiev , Safety:
7/10

Not worse than any western European big city, but keep an eye, or a hand, on your wallet and valuables in the horribly crowded metro.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Cheap stuff:
1/10

The local market survives - just, given the competition it faces (see above). In the markey one may buy artfully camouflaged poor-quality fruit and veg (that's produce), dodgy electrical goods, replacement hoses for old washing machines and, an exciting addition to the local retail experience, Polish foodstuffs.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Different stuff:
5/10

Stafford has in recent years become home to a large number of mostly young people from eastern Europe. They are quiet, polite, hardworking, healthy and attractive, and perform sterling service in local shops and farms. This failure to blend in with the locals has caused some comment. Mostly appreciative.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Don't miss:
6/10

Um. The open-air Shakespeare at the castle at the end of June is fun. Unless it rains. The park alongside the river has been replanted and developed and is rather pretty in the summer. Unless it's flooded.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Food:
2/10

Don't ask. There are no decent restaurants in Stafford. Although the cafe in Marks is OK.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Hotels:
3/10

The Swan, an old coaching inn, on the main street. There are others, but none that I'd consider. There's a more upmarket one in the village of Acton Trussel, a few miles out of town.

Stafford, Staffordshire , Safety:
7/10

If you're in any way vulnerable (ie. aged, young, drunk or drugged, lost), best to avoid walking around the small areas of suburban low-income housing on the outskirts of town. Gangs of amateurishly unpleasant children and youths might well give you a hard time, in between smashing the glass in bus shelters and gobbing on the few remaining public telephones. Also, the town centre after 8pm on a weekend evening is the rightful domain of the drunken British young adult. There are drunken assaults, there is vomit, there are loud and ugly voices. It's not pleasant. Other then that, no probs.