Petrovka (Black Market), Kiev

I have found here in VT that "Petrovka" has been declared to be a black market. This may be correct for some corners of the market, yet this also implies that such conditions are kind of typical for Ukraine as a whole. This association is certainly not true. I must underline that folks over there are striving hard for their survival and work their bones to get along for very little money. After a short period of economical anarchy in the early 90ies when the former USSR collapsed there was an atmosphere like during the American gold rush era. Some individuals have become extremely rich and influencial and have eventually also taken advantage politically. But the absolute vast majority of the Ukrainian people is honest and hard-working. Or they may be jobless due to still unsolved socio-economic problems, yet they are no thieves or criminals in general. This is not their nature. We should clearly refrain from these silly simplifications and prejudices. That is what I dislike in finding Petriva being reputed to be a "black market".

If I am mistaken, any feedback from insiders or locals is highly appreciated with me.

What to buy: Now, if you like to know where to buy the product that you desire, check out my travelogue on ' Market Scenes' or read the shopping tips given...

Petrovka Market is where kievans go to buy everything. Devided by some unknown power into rough sections - CD's, housewares, books, DVDs - Petrovka consists a series of stalls, some rickety and some surprisingly well put together, from which people sell stuff. The DVDs and CDs are especially low-priced, though that maybe because they're mostly pirated.

Next to the station of subway, an immense bazaar, composed of small covered alleys. It snowed the day where we went of it, and we appreciated.

What to buy: In this market, composed of small cottages in wood, paints blank, very clean, you will find: of the clothes, shoes, coats furs, leathers and skins, hats and accessories. The other half of the market is reserved to the books and the CD musical, as well as to the software... pirated of course. Let's not forget that Ukraine is the first world producer of software pirated. Here, any software only costs 10 Hvrinas.