Welcome to the TravelPod forums

[ukrainian]

Ok. Now I understand. You'll be in Ukraine in early winter, at this time I would advise you to include in your map:
1. City Kiev. Visit:
Historical places: Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Vladimir Hill, St. Sophia Cathedral, Golden Gates, Pokrovsky Monastery.
Traditional: Kreschatik and Independence Square
DNEPR: Vladimir Hill, City Garden, the bridge lovers, Mariinsky Park, Park of Glory. You can admire the panoramic view from the top, you can descend winding road.
Places dubious reputation: Andrew's Descent, Richard Castle, St. Vladimir's Cathedral, St. Cyril Church.
"Bad" places: Castle Mountain, Bald Mountain on Vidubichi
2. City Kamenetz-Podolsk.
This is one of the most unusual cities in Ukraine. Virgin Mary in Muslim minaret, the romantic ruins of the Armenian courtyard, the oldest Rathaus in Ukraine ... Houses which huddled over the past centuries above canyon, the very nature designed to protect the city. There is a museum-reserve, art gallery and a real medieval castle! Castle and the city are the best historical complex in Ukraine.
3. The peninsula of Crimea.
November in the Crimea - a month of contrasts. It happens that in evening you may walk in shorts and T-shirt,blowing by south wind. When you wake up in the morning - maybe even blizzards revenge. Chilling north wind with snow flakes in a few minutes covers all the white veil of snow. Almost all cityes sink into lethargy until next summer. On the hills wandering hunters with rifles, and you might heard claps from shooting: at this time the hunting season. Exception- Yalta and Odessa. Here you can find entertainment at any season.
4. Resort Bukovel.
Skiing, sledding, snowboarding, snow bikes. Even if you do not skiing, buy a ticket for the lift. Panorama of snow-covered Carpathian simply can not leave indifferent. Here you can simply relax - spa-salony, bars, restaurants have it all this included in this resort.
5. Lvov.
Stroll along the streets of the old quarter of Lviv (almost every house - state of art). See Armenian church, church Bernardino, the Church of Dominican, Friday Church, a museum of ancient weapons "Arsenal", Catholic church, the main GrekoKatolicheskuyu Shrine - Church of St. George. In the square Market come to the Museum of Pharmacy, come up in the town hall tower to see beautifull panorama. Go to "Tsukerky" (center)to try coffe and sweets, such as these impossible to try anywhere.
From Lviv you can fly home.
This is just enough for 10 days. You can include or exclude everything. If you choose this route you won't get into Kharkov, because it is on the other side, but will see more.
Attention. Normally people do not speak English, so that learn a little Russian or Ukrainian words, otherwise you will need precise plan or help.
P.S. ask for my guidence from time to time like 5 years old kid - it's ok, with pleasure. Dancing with the stranger, etc. - it's without me.
I can show you Kharkov; give advise...
I might, but not should meet you at the train station in Kharkov, but only if I'll be not busy with my family or job.

[marinanikolaev]

I love Odessa, here some pics.

[ukrainian]

I love Odessa, here some pics.

Hi marinanikolaev!
Are you from Odesa or you have visited it?

[smart_semsem]

Well..I already set my plan between Kiev and the peninsula od Crimea ..I believe 10 days are not enough for both ...

sorry for the late answer ..but I just realised it today ..Thank u for the very valuable information ..I copied and pasted it ..and will start searching for some photos , hostels and friends there so that I can set my route properly

I am so motivated now ..

Ok. Now I understand. You'll be in Ukraine in early winter, at this time I would advise you to include in your map:
1. City Kiev. Visit:
Historical places: Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Vladimir Hill, St. Sophia Cathedral, Golden Gates, Pokrovsky Monastery.
Traditional: Kreschatik and Independence Square
DNEPR: Vladimir Hill, City Garden, the bridge lovers, Mariinsky Park, Park of Glory. You can admire the panoramic view from the top, you can descend winding road.
Places dubious reputation: Andrew's Descent, Richard Castle, St. Vladimir's Cathedral, St. Cyril Church.
"Bad" places: Castle Mountain, Bald Mountain on Vidubichi
2. City Kamenetz-Podolsk.
This is one of the most unusual cities in Ukraine. Virgin Mary in Muslim minaret, the romantic ruins of the Armenian courtyard, the oldest Rathaus in Ukraine ... Houses which huddled over the past centuries above canyon, the very nature designed to protect the city. There is a museum-reserve, art gallery and a real medieval castle! Castle and the city are the best historical complex in Ukraine.
3. The peninsula of Crimea.
November in the Crimea - a month of contrasts. It happens that in evening you may walk in shorts and T-shirt,blowing by south wind. When you wake up in the morning - maybe even blizzards revenge. Chilling north wind with snow flakes in a few minutes covers all the white veil of snow. Almost all cityes sink into lethargy until next summer. On the hills wandering hunters with rifles, and you might heard claps from shooting: at this time the hunting season. Exception- Yalta and Odessa. Here you can find entertainment at any season.
4. Resort Bukovel.
Skiing, sledding, snowboarding, snow bikes. Even if you do not skiing, buy a ticket for the lift. Panorama of snow-covered Carpathian simply can not leave indifferent. Here you can simply relax - spa-salony, bars, restaurants have it all this included in this resort.
5. Lvov.
Stroll along the streets of the old quarter of Lviv (almost every house - state of art). See Armenian church, church Bernardino, the Church of Dominican, Friday Church, a museum of ancient weapons "Arsenal", Catholic church, the main GrekoKatolicheskuyu Shrine - Church of St. George. In the square Market come to the Museum of Pharmacy, come up in the town hall tower to see beautifull panorama. Go to "Tsukerky" (center)to try coffe and sweets, such as these impossible to try anywhere.
From Lviv you can fly home.
This is just enough for 10 days. You can include or exclude everything. If you choose this route you won't get into Kharkov, because it is on the other side, but will see more.
Attention. Normally people do not speak English, so that learn a little Russian or Ukrainian words, otherwise you will need precise plan or help.
P.S. ask for my guidence from time to time like 5 years old kid - it's ok, with pleasure. Dancing with the stranger, etc. - it's without me.
I can show you Kharkov; give advise...
I might, but not should meet you at the train station in Kharkov, but only if I'll be not busy with my family or job.

[ukrainian]

Well..I already set my plan between Kiev and the peninsula od Crimea ..I believe 10 days are not enough for both ...

sorry for the late answer ..but I just realised it today ..Thank u for the very valuable information ..I copied and pasted it ..and will start searching for some photos , hostels and friends there so that I can set my route properly

I am so motivated now ..

if you will need help - ask, i will be happy to help.
And of course, i'm waiting for your feedback after travel here!

[smart_semsem]

Thank u a lot ..That is so kind of u ..I really do appreciate it ..and I will directly write to u when I need any help

I believe my feed back will be great

Well..I already set my plan between Kiev and the peninsula od Crimea ..I believe 10 days are not enough for both ...

sorry for the late answer ..but I just realised it today ..Thank u for the very valuable information ..I copied and pasted it ..and will start searching for some photos , hostels and friends there so that I can set my route properly

I am so motivated now ..

if you will need help - ask, i will be happy to help.
And of course, i'm waiting for your feedback after travel here!

[ukrainian]

Thank u a lot ..That is so kind of u ..I really do appreciate it ..and I will directly write to u when I need any help

I believe my feed back will be great

so do I.
Good luck.

[andrew.ua]

SOFIYIVKA PARK in UMAN

Uman dendro park SOFIYIVKA is the world's landscape architecture masterpiece of the end of 15th and the beginning of19th centuries. The park is spread over the territory of 154,7 h. and is situated at the outskirts of the ancient town Cherkassy, Uman region. It is considered to be the standard of the landscape composition of water, land, architectural works and sculptures. This masterpiece, which was created in the shortest period of time, still astounds the imagination of visitors. Unique sceneries, exotic plants and rare trees, sky-blue ponds, fountains and cascades, grottoes and antique sculptures…all this you can see visiting the park.

The park was established in 1796 by a rich polish magnate, Stanislav Schensny Pototsky, in honour of his beautiful greek wife Sophia and was presented to her at the day of her birthday in may 1802. The idea of park creating in romantic style using roman and greek mythology belonged to Sophia. A very talented polish military engineer Ludwig Metsel was the first architect of Sophievka. The peasants of Pototsky did the hardest work in this park. And about 800 people worked in park every day. After the death of Pototsky the park became the property of his wife Sophia, and after her death her son Alexander inherited it.

In 1832 after the polish uprising that was supported by Pototsky all his properties were seized and given to Kiev state chamber. From 1836 to 1859 the park was the property of the military settlements managing organization and was called (not officially) Tsaritsa garden. The architecture academician A. I. Shtackenshneider was invited here for creating new architectural works. That was the period of prosperity. A lot of houses are creating: the main gates, the main alley, and the first paved road named Sadovaya, that connects now the park with the town. In 1859 the park has become the property of the main gardening college, transferred from Odessa to Uman. The park is going to be the educational basis of the college, its flora is enriching; the English park is made of the rare plant species by the scientist W. Pashkevich. Nowadays this English park covers the territory about 2 hectares in its northern part of Sophievka and borders with the stalls amphitheatre in west, and with the French fields in south. In the English park there are about 100 kinds and forms of trees and bushes that are growing for 15-100 years.

After the revolution and the Civil war Sofiyivka is renamed and is called the III-international park, then it exists as the part of the gardening college, that later became the higher educational institution and now it is Uman agricultural Academy. In 1929 Sophievka was declared as the state reserve and till 1955 it was put under different departments and ministries supervision.During the Great Patriotic war a lot of architectural monuments were destroyed.

After Uman deliberation in May, 10, 1944 the park has renewed its work. In 1955 Sofiyivka was given under the jurisdiction of national Science Academy of Ukraine. Nowadays there is the biggest introduction and acclimatization center of the right bank forest-steppe Ukraine on the territory of this park. There are more than 2 thousand plant taxons. 4 scientific departments conduct their activity there; the only Research Scientific Institute in Ukraine is building there too.

In 1995 Sofiyivka participated the international competition Europe Nostra and got all the prices: medal, diploma and bas-relief board for the park restoration after the act of God in 1980 and also for the historical and cultural monuments preservation. A new entrance park zone was organized with all infra-structures, meant for visitors servicing.

[ukrainian]

Here is link to official site of SOFIYIVKA - the National dendrological park of Ukraine

[andrew.ua]

Here are the links to the Photogallery of the park
http://www.sofiyivka.org.ua/en/slides/gallery1.htm

and to the excursion through it
http://www.sofiyivka.org.ua/en/excurs/excurs01.htmMy Webpage