Back to the (former) USSR

[Simoni]

I'm sitting in MOCT mall in Dnrpr, having coffee and listening to high octane Russian music and watching pretty girls walk by.  My wife and daughter and MIL are shopping.  So nice to have MIL here so I skip the shopping and can have fun browsing the web...and "looking."

Its been seven years since I experiences my first FSU woman.  Five years since I met my wife.

This is a one week visit for me and three week for my wife and daughter.

I'll log in here from time to time to share experiences and insights...

[Simoni]

MOCT (Bridge) provides a cool atmosphere during the summer heat.  Free internet and AC are nice on a hot day like today.  Here is a pic from my second floor coffee bar vantage point...

[Turboguy]

It sounds like a much more enjoyable way to spend the day than not having the MIL and needing to follow the wife from store to store.   We have my MIL here for a visit right now so I know how nice that can be.  Actually we are sitting at Virginia Beach and just ready to go get more sunburn. 

Enjoy the girlwatching and if the next time we hear from you we find you are in the hospital with a concussion we know you got caught and got wacked on the side of the head.

[ML]

I have been in Dnipro before.  Is that mall in the European Square?
I loved the  river walk there.  They put a lot of effort and money into the bricks, stones, pavement there to make for a great place to stroll.

[Turboguy]

When I did Jack's tour with my son one of the cities we went to in Ukraine was Zap and I wondered how anyone could live there.  Another city on the tour was Denepr and I wonderered why anyone would want to leave there.  I loved the riverwalk, the concerts in the city center and the city itself.  I rate it one of my favorite cites I have visited in the FSU.

[Jack]

Manlooking the mall, Moct, which means bridge as Simoni eluded to, is located one block north and one block east of European Square.   The mall is located just south of the main bridge crossing the Dnipper leading to the center.  

Turbo, the mall was about half way in it's construction when you were there last.

Manlooking when in Dnepropetrovsk I have a nice second floor flat with balcony overlooking European Square. These photos should give you an idea as to where the mall is located in relationship to European Square.  And you are right, the money, time, effort that has been put into the river walk over the last 10 years is quite remarkable.   With the exception of Kiev no other city in Ukraine has had as much new construction as Dnepropetrovsk.

The first photo below you will see the main bridge leading to the center and the mall is just to the left of the photo.

The second photo shows the large building located behind the Hotel Dnipper, Moct is located at the bottom and to the south of this building.

Third photo is main entrance to Moct.  Next photo is view of Mall from my flat overlooking European Square. As well photo looking towards Karl Marx. The MacDonald's is just out of site of the photo to the right.

As Simoni was speaking about the beautiful ladies in the mall, this is also a fantastic view for girl watching.

And the last photo, our beloved Turbo, with son, the last time he was in Dnepropetrovsk.

[Vinnvinny]

I must go back there sometime. If you remember Jack, when I was there with you it rained side wards for 4 days. In fact, I rarely left that shopping centre.

[Jack]

Yes, I recall,.....rain


rain


rain

[Turboguy]

Turbo, the mall was about half way in it's construction when you were there last.

Gosh, I had good timing Jack.  With the mall not completed the ladies were not able to drag me there shopping. 

I just happened to think that on your tour only one woman dragged me anywhere shopping and on the 3 big agency tours I went on every woman I spent any real amount of time with was looking for $ 400.00 boots.  The only one on your tour who took me shopping was looking for a souvineer for me which she paid for.

[Simoni]

I must go back there sometime. If you remember Jack, when I was there with you it rained side wards for 4 days. In fact, I rarely left that shopping centre.

Lots of rain this summer here as well, Vinny.

Four big storms/floods already.  MIL tells of walking in knee deep water just last week!

But the rain has cooled things down a lot--nice!

[Simoni]

Enjoy the girlwatching and if the next time we hear from you we find you are in the hospital with a concussion we know you got caught and got wacked on the side of the head.

My wife is noticing that the girls do not look as hot here as they used to?  Maybe it's the summer heat?  Dunno...

[Simoni]

When I did Jack's tour with my son one of the cities we went to in Ukraine was Zap and I wondered how anyone could live there.  Another city on the tour was Denepr and I wonderered why anyone would want to leave there.  I loved the riverwalk, the concerts in the city center and the city itself.  I rate it one of my favorite cites I have visited in the FSU.

I also dated a girl in Zap, and had the same exact thought, Turbo.

I'm glad I married a girl from Dnepr--it truly is a beautiful city.

Here is a pic I shot yesterday of the fountain by the river.

[Simoni]

Nice pics, Jack. 

I'm sitting here in the mall again today, and what a strange sight.  Even maids wear high heels in Ukraine!!!

[Simoni]

I have been in Dnipro before.  Is that mall in the European Square?
I loved the  river walk there.  They put a lot of effort and money into the bricks, stones, pavement there to make for a great place to stroll.

Good point, ManLooking.  We stroll along the river every day.  MIL lives just 3 blocks from the river and has a river view from her 5th floor condo, so it's really convenient.  My wife says the river walk is a place of high energy and romance.  I guess you could day kissing is contagious, because most couples seem to be partaking...

[Simoni]

 
...what a strange sight.  Even maids wear high heels in Ukraine!!!

[Simoni]

Why are we here?  To see friends and show our baby girl (now 17 months old so actually our toddler) off to everyone.  MIL has been to the states three times to see her, so this trip is designed so daughter can meet everyone.

It's been a delight--children are such a joy and blessing.

[Simoni]

Another reason for the trip was for the religious observance for Godparents that MIL was so worried about.

Our daughter was dedicated in a Protestant church in the US, but the Orthodox ceremony is a whole different matter!  Yesterday was the big day.  

I'm glad we went home to Ukraine and did it--it was such a happy day for MIL.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godparent

[Simoni]

We had the trip to hell getting here.

Our nice Delta non-stop from JFK to Kiev did not happen because we could not get to NY due to weather.  We were routed to Detroit, then to Amsterdam, and then Kiev.  Then we took a local carrier from Kiev to Dnepr.

Man-- four flights and a day and a half!

Now why did I marry a girl from halfway around the world...?

[Simoni]

But the last flight was a pleasant surprise.

I had been dreading flying the old worn out 1950s plane from Kiev to Dnerp.

The nice surprise was the plane had been replaced with a regional jet--the same one American Eagle uses.

It definitely beats the bus or train, that's for sure.

[Jack]

Now why did I marry a girl from halfway around the world...?

I think the answer to that is in the photo of you at the church and what your wife is holding.   It is nice to hear of happy, succesful stories.

[Simoni]

You are correct, Jack.

In our case, having our daughter certainly made a good marriage better.  As parents, you strive to give your child the best life and opportunities possible.  You sacrifice things you want for the child, and your life and marriage becomes less self-centered.

BTW-- the pic is of the Godparents and our daughter.

[I/O]

I think the answer to that is in the photo of you at the church and what your wife is holding.   It is nice to hear of happy, succesful stories.

Bingo...!!