Kiev Favorites

Fondest memory: Ukraine was earlier a bit difficult to visit due to visa regulations. But that is history if you are a citizen of the European countries, Canada, USA or Japan. You can visit Ukraine without visa and stay 90 days.

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Fondest memory: Dnipro River is one of the major rivers in Europe with a total length of 2285 km. It flows from Russia through Belarus and Ukraine before it ends in the Black Sea. The river passes through the city of Kiev, and is so wide that large vessels can access the ports in the city. The sandbanks of the river are used as recreation areas and beaches.

Favorite thing: Once again along with the other lovely friends at the VT meet in Kiev I also got the chance to meet the lovely Tanya who likes ducks but not enough to steal the ones from the restaurant. :-) LOL

Fondest memory: Well once again it was so nice after knowing some lovely friends over 5 years through VT that I actually got to meet them here in Kiev. It was a pleasure meeting Anna_only and Anna aka Dialing where we went to this lovely restaurant and then on to Route 66 for Pool and table football :-) UKraine vs England..! haha

Fondest memory: My first night in Kiev and I had the pleasure of meeting my 1st VT member there Olya Pictured on the left. We met at the Golden gate pub along with Tatiana for a lovely drink and a chat :-)

Favorite thing: Kyiv is a very green city, with a lot parks and botanical gardens, and simply green streets. The best time to admire Kyiv in all it’s “green” beauty is May, when chestnut trees began to blossom.

Chestnut tree is a Kyiv symbol and most of people take for granted and think that it’s just one of the many typical tress that grow in Ukraine. As a matter of fact it is not. Chestnuts are (or rather were) not typical for the areas. They have been imported to Kyiv from Balkans by the general governor Bibikov in 1842 to impress a Russian Tsar Nicolas I. The exotic for the city trees have been planted along the Bibikov Boulevard (now Shevchenko) just over night. Then Bibikov sent a herald to announce this news to the Tsar who at that time was Zhytomyr. The story says that when the tsar heard the news he abruptly left the room. This was understood as complete dissatisfaction and chestnut trees were all taken out, thrown away and replaced by another exotic tree - Lombardy poplars (still planted along the blvd).
When the tsar finally arrived to Kyiv, he was greatly surprised to see poplars instead of chestnut trees as well as to learn that it was him who “disliked” and “ordered” to take them out. Well, it turned that at the moment when the herald announced the news, the tsar… was bitten by a wasp ;) and simply had to leave the room.

Well, one person’s junk, another person’s treasure. Thrown away chestnut trees have been picked up by local botanists and planted first in the botanic gardens, and then all over the city.

Favorite thing: Over the weekend , Saturday and Sunday, the main street Khrestshatik is closed to traffic!

This means, you can walk there all the way from Bessarabskij Rinok to Maidan! (Or go on rollerskates, skateboards, bicycles etc., that is, if you are able to maneuver among pedestrians! and other folks on wheels too...) Khrestshatik is a very broad street with very broad sidewalks too. (I'll have to see, which picture might give you the best impression...)

Throughout the weekend they have music coming from the speakers above the street. But there also are many amateurs (as well as some professionals) performing. You can find all sorts of music from young violin soloists to bigger jazz ensembles. Wherever you are, you are surrounded by some music.

Sometimes they also have big open air concerts on the Maidan (Independence Square)

When the weather is fine, don't miss to go there and enjoy.

Favorite thing: thanks for the reply, today I checked with the American Citizen Service,
The total amout is $15,000 in and only $3000 out. The amount of $1000 or more must be declared at customs on entery into country. It is my understand that the $15,00. is a total of cash and or Cashier checks.