A nice city for a 2nd home?

[IAmZon]

It is well established that Russia and Ukraine can be an excellent place to meet quality women for the purpose of marriage. 

What is much less clear is whether or not any of these locations make a nice second home?  There are an increasing number of people who are able to conduct business via the internet, so the notion of vacation time limitations, and living in a particular place 99% of the time, does not apply to us all. Is this line of thinking valid?

I am with the understanding that Russia is rather unwelcoming? But, are there real jewels ... places that you would actually enjoy so much, you would hate to leave to go back home?

[kievstar]

Everybody is different on what they like - it may help if you describe other cities you have liked in life and why?  This will help determine if there is a city you may like in Russia.

I personally prefer several cities in Ukraine over Zurich, Brussels, and Paris which I have lived in before. But I like the USA better now the more time I spend here.  Been a long time since spending time in the USA.

[Mars]

I have spent time in St Petersburg, Russia and in the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Simferopol, Yalta and Sevastopol.

St Petersburg is the best by far with respect to cultural things to do.  This is because of the dozens of museums and historical buildings, and performance halls.

But, it would take a toll on a person year round because of the dreariness of the long winters, humidity, etc.

Kyiv is a pretty good city with great theatre for ballet and opera, and good philharmonia.  But it is severely lacking in terms of museums, etc.  Has a very good transportation system with metro, mini buses, trolley buses, trams, etc.  Unfortunately, its riverfront is not well developed despite the major river running through it.

One of best features of Kyiv is Khreshatic Street on weekends.  It is a very wide street with wide sidewalks.  And on Sundays and some other days, the street is closed to vehicular traffic making the entire street a wonderland feast for the eyes with people flocking everywhere.  Also of note are the many fountains and waterfall displays along the street and Independence Square.

Odesa has a very compact downtown area compared to its large population.  So it is very easy to get around to almost all sites of interest by foot alone.  It also suffers from a blighted riverfront area in the downtown section.  This is offset somewhat by the Potemkin Steps area.  The Opera House is reputed to be the second most beautiful inside after the one in Vienna.  

The worst thing about Odesa is . . . it's women.  The most unreliable, insincere, gold diggers I have ever come across.  I read something in some travel guides about Odesa people having a reputation as being somewhat 'dodgy.'  I blew it off as it didn't seem plausible; but it was certainly true.  Maybe the women are the way they are by virtue of it being a port city with sailors coming from all over the world.  Don't know for sure, but I would never go back there again.

Dnipropetrovsk has the best riverfront area of any FSU city I have seen.  Much renovation has occurred in recent years with brick, stone, etc., wide walkways built along a few miles of the river.  Makes for great walking with the ladies.  A very big drawback to this city is the lack of underground walkways to get across the main street, as exists in other FSU cities.  Makes for very dangerous crossings, particularly in the area of the large park.

Not much to see and do in Simferopol, but there is a very nice large park in the city center.

Yalta is a very great city for those who have an interest in viewing the past splendor of Imperial Russia.  Many quite interesting palaces nearby for afternoon trips, day trips, etc.  Also a mountain top to visit, boat trips to take, flower gardens, wineries, etc.  Not a great city for beaching it as there is no real sand there, only pebble beaches.

Sevastopol is also a good city for historical viewing.  Ruins of an ancient Greek type city (Khersones) is there.  The Panorama there, dedicated to the Crimean War, is one of the greatest sights I have seen.  Also, the Diorama dedicated to the Second World War.  A bit south is a formerly secret Soviet submarine base carved into a hillside that can now be visited along with an ancient Genovese fort at the top of a very large hill, and the Valley of Death from the Crimean War made famous by Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem.

Between Sevastopol and Simferopol is the palace of a Khan at Bachisari along with a monastery carved into the side of a mountain.

Of all the cities noted above, the one I would probably chose to live in would be . . . Dnipropetrovsk; mainly for its great riverfront area.  Would be a wonderful place to keep in shape with twice daily walks up and down the promenade.

[IAmZon]

Thanks for the posts so far.  To put a finer point on my question, and the reason for it: I enjoy the USA best when I am NOT a year round resident.  So, as I look to my future, I am cognizant that the friends and people I meet; and where I met them; can ACCIDENTALLY become a part of my world forevermore. This post is intended to build upon what I have already learned AS IT APPLIES to Ukraine and Russia.

One of the most overlooked points to this whole thing is the woman's home; her culture; her friends; and her extended family. I think it is best to factor all this in so potential negatives can become positives from the outset.

PERSONALLY - Last year, I came very close to becoming serious with a young woman from Cali Colombia.   That would not have been optimum! Cali was a blast ... but, it would be best NOT to have to visit the place and have extended family there for many reasons.  By the way, this is my PLAN A, and is already well secured:   Enjoy Latin America.  Find a special lady; get married; raise a family.  And live much of the time in Latin America; the remainder in USA. (I value life in Latin America because the culture focuses on living in the moment.  I admire the family values in Latin America, especially in contrast with the current US alternative.  However, there is a different brand of honesty at work in Latin America ... and that bothers me). 

So, I owe it to myself to give PLAN B a try - Ukraine/Russia, - before Plan A becomes something more than a plan I am more turned on by the sophistication and culture of PLAN B, but I am intimidated by the language barrier, and how that will affect my natural social ability. I have been single now for 2.5 years. It has been PRETTY GOOD actually.  I am in no particular hurry. BUT, (warning! getting close to the age gap and league issue) TICK TOCK TICK TOCK  I am aware that I am at an age; appearance; and physical health where I have one set of choices with women today ... within 2,3,4 years, that will change to another set of choices entirely - part my choosing, part the natural order of things.

So, on with Plan B ...

Capital Cities are not my first choice, because ... they are capital cities.

It is possible to enjoy almost any city when you meet nice people that accept you.  So, when you visit / live in the various choices, are you always being worked, manipulated for financial gain?  Does this vary from one city to another?  What steriotypes are at work in the various choices and how does this vary from city to city? 

Since my interests are NOT for a primary place of residence, the specific city and characteristics do not matter as much as the nature of the people towards foreigners. I do not want to feel anymore like I am fitting a square peg into a round hole than the language barrier will itself create. (For example; I remember Phil suggesting that foreign nationals feel unwelcome in St. Petersburg; I have heard close friends speak most positively about Dniper). 

There is only so much that one can derive from research.  But, when I was active on Russian dating sites - which has been a long time - the women from Vinnista; Lviv; and St. Petersburg always seemed to stand out to me?

[Nat]

I think the main thing when choosing a city to live is not a good sidewalk near the river or museums, but mentality and cultural stuff
Speaking of work in Ukraine - most likely, that you'll be paid cash under the table. For foreigners there is also an opportunity to work as ESL teachers, of course if you have a talent to teach
Work is not such a big problem, there are other problems in FSU countries that a western person should consider
As for the question about (un)welcomeness - you know, I think you can find people who don't like strangers everywhere, it doesn't really depend on the country (well, speaking of civilized countries ). The less tourist-oriented the city is, the more such people it has - it's my opinion. But may be it's visa versa - I'm not sure Has anybody tried to analyze this question?

[IAmZon]

I would not seek work in Ukraine for compensation to live (that sound terribly depressing).  I have found that business opportunities can arise in other countries - but they are more tricky and less likely to succeed. 

I would not be against working / contributing time and talent to projects for the sake of experience, however.

[dogspot]

I would not seek work in Ukraine for compensation to live (that sound terribly depressing).  I have found that business opportunities can arise in other countries - but they are more tricky and less likely to succeed. 

I would not be against working / contributing time and talent to projects for the sake of experience, however.

Just curious, how do you afford to travel/live in these countries without the need to earn money?

I would live in Saint Petersburg in a heartbeat if I didn't have my parental responsibilities here in the USA. That is, if I could find good work that would help keep me afloat.

[IAmZon]

80% of my work related activities are marketing; communication; copy writing.  Special events and Seminars are 20%.  Thus, a good internet connection, and no one will even know I am not in the USA. 

You have to train people. I use VOP telephone even when I am in the US, so everyone I work with is used to less than perfect communication.  I respond to everything within 24 hours, but I am not "hooked up" 24 7 to a black berry.  At first, my partners and associates who knew complained complained, but then they got used to it.  Now, I do not overtly tell people where I am.

I do find that I work MORE hours this way, because I do not want my physical absent to be a problem ... so far, so good.

PS - Although I do not KNOW for sure ...All things Russia seem to be a pain in the ass for my purposes.  By the way, I do not need a MILLION percent trade up.  I do not need a beauty queen to be happy.  I am also wide open to the other Eastern European countries.