Potemkin Stairs is the most iconic place of Odessa. Constricted almost 180 years ago, it provides direct access to the harbor from Odessa that is sitting on a high plateau. To find a friend, I had to go up and down the entire 192 steps several times, but it was not too exhausting and the view of the sea was always enjoyable. (What is pictured is only about a half of the stairs)
@ Potemkin Stairs, Odesa, Ukraine, July 6, 2019
Impressions of Ukraine
This is the view from my apartment I rented for this month in Kyiv. It is only about 15km from the central part of the capital city, but the bucolic vibe here is helping me concentrate on the task I intend to finish in several weeks.
@ Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, July 10, 2019
The Ukranian capital, Kyiv, boasts several golden-domed monasteries and cathedrals, constructed in Ukrainian Baroque style. In contrast to the lavish golden domes, the bodies of the buildings are just two-toned and have relatively simple shapes, which is a visually pleasing combination to my eyes. This particular monastery was once demolished by the Soviet authorities who questioned its historical and artistic value. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, it was restored as an important effort to regain Ukranian cultural heritage.
And since I am around for a while, I am not doing any particular sightseeing activities, so I keep stumbling upon places as I go.
@ St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery (Ukrainian: Михайлівський золотоверхий монастир), July 11, 2019
As it was in Moldova, there are many small ‘flower stands’ in Ukraine. Mostly they are small scale and sold by individual elderly people. One day around a metro station, I encountered several ‘grandmas’ who were holding only one bunch of flowers and asking for the attention of passersby. It was not easy to just walk past them, but I didn’t have any particular person to give it to, and it generally saddens me to see it dying day by day. But I hear the flowers are quite cheap, and that some of the sellers are there for a socializing purpose, instead of staying at home all day.
Incidentally, utility poles often host many ads for who are looking for either workers or customers.
@ Sofiivska Borschahivka, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, July 19, 2019
The summer vibe of Kyiv is superb. The Dnipro river and lots of green areas near it make ‘simple walking around’ the most fun thing to do every day. And Kyiv is big – I’ve only explored a small part of it after weeks.
The yellow glittering building is Tserkva Mykoly Chudotvortsya, a Ukranian Orthodox church.
@ The observation deck on the Dnipro(Оглядовий майданчик над Дніпром), Kyiv, Ukraine, July 21, 2019
The legend has it that three brothers Kyi, Schek and Horiv and their sister Lybid are the founders of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. Their names were engraved in the chronicle of Kiev Rus, a federation of East Slavic and Finnic people 9th to the mid-13th century. And the city, Kiev, was named after Kyi, the eldest of the siblings.
@ The Founders of Kyiv Monument (Пам’ятник засновникам Києва), Kyiv, Ukraine, July 21, 2019
Ternopil, a mid-sized city in Western Ukraine, had many parks and green areas. The Hydropark in the center of the city has many old trees, a small amusement park, and even a zoo.
Despite my friend’s warning that the pond is not clean, it was sweet to see the locals having brought swimsuit and snacks, suggesting that it’s a serious picnic for them, which will certainly be the case in the kids’ memories.
@ Hydropark (Гідропарк “Топільче”), Ternopil, Ukraine, July 30, 2019