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My trip to Ukraine
Last weekend, Navina and I went to Kyiv, Ukraine (Kiev). This week, I was just so darn busy that I never got much of a chance to blog about it. So here I go:
We took the train (3rd class sleeper car) from Moscow. The tickets were cheap -- about $45. This was a 14 hour train ride, and my sleep was less than peaceful. The beds were about a foot (30cm) too short, and between the guy coughing all night, and the immigration officers waking us up at 04:30 and 06:30 it was difficult to get much sleep at all. Returning to Russia, at 04:34, two officers unscrewed the light fixture in our compartment looking for contraband.
Kyiv itself was totally awesome! We stayed with two American teachers (from CA and ME) who teach at the Kyiv English Language Center. They were a blast to spend time with. Eating out was tons of fun, especially since the food prices were dirt cheap, unlike Moscow.
In Kyiv, we visited places such as Independence Square (location of 2004's Orange Revolution), St. Michael's and St. Sophia's Cathedrals, the massive World War II memorial, and the Kyiv Zoo. We had a great time, and made several new friends. Something I observed was a more upbeat and cheerful spirit among people on the streets. You almost never see this in Moscow. Muscovites are quite reserved, and can seem unfriendly. Also, almost no one here speaks English. I find that the situation in Kyiv is much better. I really like Ukraine and Kyiv. I see that they have a lot of good things happening to it. Perhaps Russia would be smart to take notice. At least now, I can brag that I drank water 50 miles (80km) downstream from Chernobyl.
posted by Excalibur at
00:04
2 comments
2 Comments:
Brag about drinking Chernobyl water indeed! Just in case, have your will made out. :o).
I wonder why in some parts of the country people are friendly and in others, they just aren't.
For instance. Oklahoma. I lived there for eightish years here and there, right on the border of Arkansas. Both in Arkansas AND Oklahoma, where one would think of down-home southern hospitality, well, yeah, shoot. That was a joke. They were clannish and on the rude side if they found out you weren't from there, especially if you lived on the west coast somewhere. Now if you were from Louisiana (SP :) or some other southern part and could prove your Confederate identity, then you were in the goods.
Or in England. I had a Persian guy propose to me after talking to me for LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES. He went right to it. His reasoning? British women were cold and rude, whereas American women are nice and sweet. He proved his point by saying that I was talking to him instead of shunning him. When I politely declined, he swore that I would be his FIRST for everything (ha ha, my ass) and wondered if I would at least try him out for the night. I beat it outta there as fast I could. I actually did run through the streets because it was late at night and I was alone.
And then, there was Switzerland. I was a hitchiker for the very first time in my life, and it was awesome! I was with this other strange Aussie guy and I convinced him to try out the thumb. I laughed at him because the two cars wouldn't stop for him, but when we switched and I held out my thumb, the NICEST Swiss man who looks just like my Uncle Gary stopped and took us way past his house up the mountain and dropped us right off at the trail head. Saved us an hour or more of hikking up the steppest mountain road I've ever seen. Swiss people were amazing!
So what's your theory on why Russians are not as friendly as Ukrainians?
By
Sweet Onion, at 22:14
I have heard that Moscow people (Muscovites) are much less friendly than other Russians. I think that is normal for any city of 10 million people and lots of crime. New York and London honestly weren't any different. Ukrainians also have a different culture, and different habits.
By
Excalibur, at 00:45
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