Kiev - A Majestic Capital

Trip Start Jul 08, 2007
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Trip End Ongoing


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Friday, August 15, 2008

Upon my arrival in Kiev, I experienced the same magic as with my previous train ride to Dnepropetrovsk.  As I stepped out of the train, it was 8am and the communist opera music was playing quite loud.  Wow, I had the people, the buildings and even the music as ambiance.  It was magical and scary at the same time.  I was truly wondering how the Ukrainians could accept to be completely surrounded by the very thing that took away their freedom for so long?  I was told that it was part of the past, of history and people did not feel the need to get rid of it.  I can understand that, it's just that if you want to move towards something new, different and hopefully better, you must change your environment.  Perhaps I was asking the wrong question?
 
Kiev turned out to be an amazing city.  I would say it is a mix of Prague, London and Vienna on a smaller scale Kiev_1
Kiev_1
 .  Everywhere, as in Dnepropetrovsk, the signs of the communist past are standing proudly, such as the 5 pointed star representing the communist era.    One thing that appeared to me as weird is that the city was almost empty of its people.  It was even a weekend.  I was explained that the people leave the city in the summer on weekends to go to the North Sea.  I could not blame them for I have spent about 3 weeks there and the heat was almost unbearable.  50C in the sun + humidity!  The problem was that it was virtually impossible to eat out past 22h00 in downtown Kiev... weird.
 
Another thing that struck me was that so many leaves in the trees were brown and dead.   I was told that recent pollution killed most of them... what kind of pollution kills such leaves?   What kind of impact on the people Kiev?  I have not yet find those answers.
 
I am looking forward to be back.
Endless love
Erriuc
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