My Third Trip Report to Ukraine

[mobob]

 TR 3  September 2011 – A pictorial

 

 
As a pro, I'm ashamed to say I came back with less than 300 photos. Travel photography is not my forte, these are just snapshots. For me that's adequate. I'll not subject everybody to the entire gallery, that would be cruel and unusual punishment, a violation of my country's constitutional amendments, probably international conventions, and just downright mean. But I would like to share a few photos with some notes.

 
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Ricky, a ticket agent in Oklahoma City. Weather delayed departure, cancellations and rerouting had me going through Moscow to Ukraine, which would not have worked for me. He got me back on track.

 
At the market, getting supplies for the wedding dinner.

 
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Vegetable stands.

 

 
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Fish
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Chicken (I couldn't go in there for the smell) and pork (which didn't seem to bother me)


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Musical entertainment.

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Beer, dried fish and chips. Good snacks. Pretty good beer.

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Remodel work on a balcony across the courtyard. Seems it's done about the same way everywhere.


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Sunrise, wedding day.

 
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Just before the ceremony. The proclamation (I think) of marriage.

 

 
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Our toast. The wedding party.

 

 
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We're married! Her village in the background.

 

 

 
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Can't forget the glasses for vodka, an integral part of the wedding dinner celebration. I learned a very important word - “Gorka!'. I enjoyed each time I heard it. The dinner... the plates seemed to never empty.

 
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Waiting for the bus to Donetsk. Lady selling vegetables next to the bus stop.

 

 
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Bus station in Donetsk. Ticket office sign has an English translation, but that's all I could see that was in English.

 

 
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Waiting for the bus on our way to Primorsk.
Inside the bus stop for sale signs:  Left: A car. Right: Doors & windows.

 

 

 

 
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The bus, with dvd player. Sunflower field, soon to harvest. Octoberfest ad.

 
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Passing through Berdyansk

 
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Kvac (kvas). A statuesque Lenin. Gas prices - about what I expected, around $5/gal. Church restoration. Job advert.

 

 
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 Hanging out in Primorsk...

 
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Max (Irina's son) and friend cooking sashlik.

 

 
As the sun went down...

 
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Doug (Calmissile). The cooking never stops. Ketchup anyone?

 
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Irina. Nadia (Irina's mom). Hartie.

 

 

 
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Dancing in the dark


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Streets of Primorsk.

 

 

 
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Primorsk market. Just inside the market. Irina's store.

 
Mariupol
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Bus station in Mariupol. Proof we're together for the visa petition.

 

 
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RAGS. Just before a wedding.

 
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McDonald's is everywhere. Taken through a window; I did not go inside.

 
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 Samogon
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Nelya, Olga's friend and colleague. She brought her samogon for us (me) one night to compare with others I've tried. Hers, by far, is the smoothest. They all kick! My personal opinion, I like it better than any vodka I've had.

 
Last trip to market.
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Smoked salmon. Red caviar. Both part of the final dinner.

 
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Commercially made kvas (I like homemade better). Chocolate – bought about 5 kilos.


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 Visit to Alex's school 1^st and 2^nd year English classes.  A little bit of Q & A
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Students. Svetlana, the English teacher. Alex's teacher, and Olga's when she was in school.


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 Back home. A final night of celebration.

 
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Caviar! Which I did NOT share with Pusya. And another feast that rivaled the wedding dinner. No photos of that, I was too busy eating...

 
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Olga & sister Irina, a toast. Sophia and Vladimir, Olga's father.
No celebration is proper or complete without many toasts, and then a wonderfully sweet dessert.

 
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Beautiful skies of a beautiful land.

-30-

[Jack]

 
As a pro, I'm ashamed to say I came back with less than 300 photos.

Maybe you did not take many photos but what you took were of good quality, very clear.


I'm certaintly not a pro and am still learning.  May I ask what type of camera are you using?

For the heck of it I counted the number of photos I took during our fall tour, any guess's?     Over 10,000.   

[Misha]

We're married! Her village in the background.

Congratulations! May you have a long and happy life together!

[Chicagoguy]

Congratulations !
And I love the photos. They make a story come alive and I wish we all used them more on RWD.

[mobob]

Jack, for my travel photos I use a Canon Sureshot 1000S. And all the SD cards I can grab! I went a little extra to get one with a viewfinder as I'm old school and can't stand trying to compose on an LCD screen. The camera fits in a shirt or pants pocket easily and uses the same cards as... the Rebel that I brought along, including a 70-300 zoom. I really didn't break it out that much. Didn't have any problems with it at customs anywhere, even though I was concerned about it. I just felt it would call too much attention to myself. I did use it a little in Kyiv back in April around Independence Square, but after a while I put it in my backpack and went back to the Sureshot. As for quality of camera, a Rebel isn't top of the line Canon, but it's enough for the work I'm doing, which is NOT weddings. And Lightroom and Photoshop, of course, but only minimal processing. But, back to the camera... what I've found is that I can get pretty decent photos with it, without being terribly invasive or obtrusive. Ooooohhhh, big words for me today! Anyway, with the smaller camera, and a few years of experience... I can get good images without usually making a subject self concious or more importantly, drawing the attention or ire of the authorities, whomever they may be. The other reason I chose this camera, and very important to me, is that it operates on two AA batteries. I feel much safer that way, instead of hoping to rely upon a computer or wall charger. Double A's are pretty universal and easy to find, as say, toilet paper... and, like tp, I try to take some extra with me, just in case. You never know... Anyway, there's more I could say about the photo stuff but probably is too much for here. PM if you feel like it. Cheers, John

[mobob]

Oops. Forgot to mention, the reason for the trip to Primorsk was to visit Doug (Calmissile) and his fiance, Irina, and family.  He and I met on a forum before our trips, discovered our trips would overlap a bit and made plans to meet up. The visit was a hoot!

[Muzh]

Hey John   
 
Congrats!

[JR]

Very cool, looks like you both had a great time, thanks for sharing the photos.