Ukraine - Day 2.
How many churches can you visit in one day?
26/9/12
Our guide and driver were on time and we were in our van early today. Our guide Nilla spoke excellent English and had been a tour guide for years, including the time of Soviet rule. Now Lily and I know better that to broach politics with a Ukrainian after having a father who was politically active for a couple of decades. Ron innocently asked something about the current political situation and we received a very passionate reply explaining how Ukraine has been robbed by the Oligarchs. Those who came to power after communism fell were frequently ex communist party members and profited greatly from inside information on property etc. Nothing new in government here then.
We continued our tour by visiting a few of the very old churches in the area. I'm not a religious person, but these buildings were magnificent and stunning to see.
How many churches can you visit in one day?
26/9/12
Our guide and driver were on time and we were in our van early today. Our guide Nilla spoke excellent English and had been a tour guide for years, including the time of Soviet rule. Now Lily and I know better that to broach politics with a Ukrainian after having a father who was politically active for a couple of decades. Ron innocently asked something about the current political situation and we received a very passionate reply explaining how Ukraine has been robbed by the Oligarchs. Those who came to power after communism fell were frequently ex communist party members and profited greatly from inside information on property etc. Nothing new in government here then.
We continued our tour by visiting a few of the very old churches in the area. I'm not a religious person, but these buildings were magnificent and stunning to see.
The morning view from our room.
It was a littler eerie.
The Independence Monument in Independence Square commemorates Ukraine's independence in 1991
Lily and I trying not to look like tourists.
Street mural outside a church.
Is this graffiti?
Saint Michael's
A history lesson from Nilla at Saint Michaels.
One of the many photos I took inside Saint Michael's.
Saint Sophia's
It was a great day, but I was itching to find out anything about dad that we could. I had a book that dad wrote, in Ukrainian and showed it to Nilla hoping it might give us a clue to follow up. She had a quick flip through it and said it was just stories. I was a little disappointed.
I's also like to point out that I've never seen so many Lexus, Audis, Porsches, and the like in one place at one time. This is a stark contrast to what I was expecting.
Back at the hotel we decided to venture out. We found a Ukrainian version of a food hall and for about five dollars had a huge feed of, yes, Borsche and Vareniki. When you find something good, stick to it.
Tomorrow we see more of Kiev.
Here are a few more random photos from today:
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