Obolon Kiev

... had the taxi take us to our flat which is right next to the Hyatt hotel in downtown Kiev. It is a two bedroom flat with a fully equipt kitchen, jacuzzi bathtub, clothes washer, two tvs, dvd player and full internet access! We are getting a great price for it too! So we dropped our bags off at the flat and then Zhenia took us down the street to get a phone card, change over some money and go to the ...

... wait around 30 minutes. When she arrived, we took a taxi to our apartment. We exchanged some money, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn the exchange rate was 8:1. It was the most beautiful day I've ever exerienced in Ukraine- sunny with temperatures in the high 60's. We took a nap after doing some grocery shopping. After napping, I tried to wash some clothes in the smallest washing machine I've ...

... tracks that many people traversed on their way to concentration camps and gulags.

We woke up repeatedly during the night. The train was not like the modern ones I am used to. I was often woken up by bumps in the tracks. There were also several stops during the night. The train lady would loudly yell into cabins to wake people up for their stop. We arrived at 7:30am to a beautiful day in Lviv. More to come on our adventures in Lviv. They are pretty awesome!

It is finally Spring in Kiev - the economic crisis is impacting the country in a multitude of ways and most of them are not good. Teaching English is a bright spot for me. The students who come are det**mined and int**esting. One of my 16 year old students, when asked about what she sees in the future for Ukraine in the next 20 years, responded that she thought Ukraine needed strong lead**ship on the ord** of Hitl** or Stalin (both ref**red to as v**y charismatic by many ...

... for them to ascertain whether you are a terrorist or not and it takes Eastern Europe two and half hours to figure it out? I couldn't rest while my documents were away from me, I mean, really how screwed would I be without them? Finally they were returned and we went on our merry little way. Thank goodness, I could finally get some sleep. The terror was over for now. I definitely am NOT looking forward to the Russian border.

... all my amazing and hardworking cluster mates!! The country of Ukraine is so fortunate to acquire such an awesome bunch. I know you will make huge strides for the promotion of a free and transparent Ukraine and the empowerment of its people - I wish I were with you! You are my inspiration and I will live vicariously! Please keep in touch, I can be your Kiev - Dniper connection - you have my number (Kviv Ctap) 380 98 3701106 - (LIFE) 380 63 7666 773, and email.

Arno writing: We have hot water this morning! I had President brand yogurt this morning for breakfast. Honestly it's the best yogurt I've ever had. If you come to Ukraine, you have to try the President brand yogurt. This morning we visited the caves monastery. We saw mummies of monks who's bodies were preserved due to the caves cool and dry temperature. The city of Kiev has ...

... to leave our apartment at 5 A.M.! Tonight we went to an upscale restaurant for dinner. I ordered trout with vegtables. There were only two business men in the restaurant other than us. Lancie couldn't help but smile when my trout came with it's head staring back at me. It was a whole trout, head tail, fins, stuffed with mushrooms and carrots. It was tasty though. Since the region we will be travelling to is ...

... Revolution von 2004 sind wied** einig, mehr od** we*****. Sie sind sich einig, sagen sie, dass sie nach d** Wahl eine demokratische Regi**ungsmehrheit bilden wollen, aus den Parteien "Uns**e Ukraine" von Präsident Juschenko und dem Block von Julia Timoschenko, d** Prinzessin d** Revolution und d** ehemaligen Minist**präsidentin. Dank ihr** unschlagbaren Ausstrahlung marschi**te ihr Block unaufhaltsam nach oben in allen Meinungsumfragen d** letzten Zeit ...

Saturday 12 May This Morning I set my alarm with plenty of time to get ready, but once it went off I figured the better option was to open the curtains and door to the balcony and stay in bed a little longer. After enjoying my view of Yalta and wonderful bed a bit longer, I finally got up and ready, ate one last hotel breaky and headed off. A trolley car, marshrutka and a city bus later I was back at the Simferopol airport with half an hour to spare. Quite proud of myself, I figured I'd ...