Trip to Kyiv Ukraine October 2007

[Hub]

I am now in Kyiv, Ukraine.  Have been here several days, but laptop crapped out on second day, and am just now getting to Internet cafe.

Came over on Delta direct flight from JFK to KBP.  My third time on that flight.  Everything went fairly well on the flight.  The food was actually quite tasty.  I flirted quite a bit with a Ukrainian female flight attendant.  She was mid 30s with good English.  Not real pretty, but cute and flirtatious herself.  After we joked a few times, she asked me if I had two tens for a twenty so she could make some change for someone's drink or maybe it was a duty free item.  Then I became her best friend and she came by often to chat and give me extra junk food, etc.

I was happy to be seated next to a young woman.  She had quite a story.  She was 23 years old and from Minsk, Belarus.  She had won green card in lottery.  Her mother had entered her name and had not told her.  So when letter arrived from USA (somewhere in Kentucky she said), she thought it was a joke.  But when she told her parents of the joke; her mother said, no it is not joke - - - I entered your name.  You enter over Internet site she said and her mother only had to give the daughter's name, date of birth and mailing address.  I suspect by using home mailing addresses, a lot of these letters are never delivered.

She had to go to Poland to complete the paper work, and then waited until she finished University in May or so of this year.  Then her parents, grandparents and other friends and relatives scraped up the money for airfare and some extra.  She found someone from Minsk living in Seattle, so decided to go there.  She said no one at USA entry point (JFK) asked her about her available funds.  That was a topic of heated discussion some time back regarding required money, sponsorships for green card winners, etc.

She looked for two months for a job.  She has about level 7 English.  Then she really lucked out by finding a job in Microsoft Cafeteria making Starbucks coffee.  Great for her because she has degree in Telecommunications and related studies and I know that Microsoft promotes from within.  She afraid right now to try for something else until her English improves, but it will come in time.

So, she only working for 2 months, but like most FSU people travel is a high priority.  She had already been to San Francisco, when probably half of native born Seattle people have never been there.  Always quite amazing to me how these FSU people choose to spend their money.  Anyway, she now homesick, so took two weeks off work without pay.  Surprised they let her go.

She had travelled several times from Minsk to Kyiv and had many friends there.  She to spend 3 days in Kyiv and then train on to Minsk.  She was tall, not very thin, and very plain looking in face.  Borderline ugly almost.  But nice smile and pleasant demeanor.  We talked for a couple of hours before dinner, then she fell asleep as she told me she would do.  She can sleep anywhere at drop of a hat.  We talked a couple more hours before landing.  About a half hour out she really started working the hair and face.  Looked in her mirror, put in away and took it out again a dozen times for another look and messing around.  She had talked about GFs in Kyiv, so I laughed finally and asked her if a young man would perhaps be at airport also.  She first said no, then smiled and said, maybe.  I told her she looked beautiful and had nothing to worry about.  She thanked me.

[Hub]

I have been to FSU cities many times on business and have met with dozens of women and lived with several.  Most were much too young for me.  But there were some that I became acquainted with that were more age appropriate.  Two live in Kyiv.  One I have known for over 3 years and one for over 2 years.

The one that I have known for 2 years or so declared her love for me very early.  We had great times and she took very good care of me in a time of great stress and problems.  I came to love her also, but she was actually a little to volatile for me.  I eventually stopped saying to love words and she got the hint.  But we continue to exchange e-mails infrequently.  She has now put on quite a bit of weight and said she would prefer that I remember her as she looked before.  But I just ignored those words and  told her I wanted to spend a few hours with her during one day and I had some sexy presents for her.  We have talked on phone here and exchanged SMS and are scheduled to meet next week.  But I think she may still cancel out.  I have no love feelings for her, but we did spend much quality time together and I would like to remain friends.  However, I know from experience that FSU women are not good at remaining friends with former lovers.

Anyway, my trip was to spend a month with the woman I have known for 3 years.  She doesn't know about the other woman and I'm not telling - - - especially since we may never meet anyway.  My main gal lives with teenage child and I refuse to stay with them (don't think it is proper for the teenager), so we are staying in a rented apartment a five minute walk from Metro station three stops out from the center.  $40 a day.  Wanted $50 but took the 40 as we will be here 16 days or so.  A 2 room place which means living room, kitchen, bath, and one bedroom.
Bed is queen size but sagging somewhat in center.  It is renovated to Euro standards.  Had microwave and backup hot water heater in case central water heating not working.  They haven't started hot water flowing for heating this apt yet, although it has already started for other buildings in Kyiv.  Just the luck of the draw.  But my gal brought space heater that I had purchased for her on another previous visit.  Elevator also and in very quiet area.  Supermarket just 5 min away, but it is not stocked too well.  Many other smaller food shops, etc., nearby.  Cable TV with dozens of channels, but I never watch.  We use for DVDs.


Exchange rate here varys around the point of 5.2 grieva for one USD.  Have seen as low as 4.85 and as high as 5.5.  Government still in mess after recent Rada (parliament) election as need coalion to work.  Much jockying.

[Hub]

We are not into nighclubbing and my gal even loves to cook which she is very, very good at.  I love those blini and cernike.  She works a variable sched during days, but can usually be home around 2-3 pm. 

We went to ballet at Opera house last week.  Mozart's 'Marriage of Figaro.'  We are to go again tonight to ballet 'Danielle' and on Saturday to dual ballet 'Carmen' and 'Schezerade.'  I have seen these several times, but not Danielle.  Figaro is great because, unusual for ballet, no one dies!!

Yesterday afternoon we went to art exhibit in building next to Bessabara shopping center.  This building owned by Pinchuk who is son in law of previous president Kuchma.  It was Pinchuk's art being displayed also covering 4 floors.  I would think he should keep a lower profile than to flaunt his wealth like this, as his wealth probably ill gotten.  Modernistic paintings and sculptures.  We ate at the Ukrainian cafeteria across street from Bessabara and near the TGIF.  Food not too bad except meats often cold.  I had the Chicken Kyiv which was OK, but my gal's shaslik was cold.

There is another Ukrainian cafeteria just down the hill from the Opera house and up the hill from the Teatralna metro stop.  We ate there before previous ballet and will do so again tonight.  A more extensive selection than the one by Bessabara, especially with respect to desserts.  And both of these two mentioned are somewhat better than the Two Geese cafeteria down on Khreshatic.

It is pretty neat being able to walk five minutes, get on Metro and get off about 15 min later at the Teatralna metro stop and then uphill to cafeteria and on up to Opera house.  Reverse on way home with stop at cafeteria for some dessert.  No hassle with auto traffic, parking car, etc.

[timothe]

I know exactly the stewardess you are talking about!!  She is nice and you can't immediately tell she's Ukrainian until she speaks.

I never saw an exchange rate higher than 5.05 the entire time I was there.   Bad.

Good luck to you, I hope you find what you are looking for. 

[Hub]

Yes, Tim, for awhile I didn't think the stewardess was Ukrainian.  I told the Belarus gal next to me that she was American.  But the Belarus gal told me she thought she was Ukrainian.  Then the next time around, I listened more carefully and heard the accent.  She had 10 level English, so slight accent was the only give-away.

The Belarus gal talked to the stewardess in Ukrainian.  I told the stewardess that the Belarus gal was practicing her Ukrainian.  Stewardess said, 'she is doing pretty good.'  Then I noticed the way she was looking at us that she figured the gal was my child bride or some such from USA.  Don't know if she figured out otherwise later or not.

Went to the Danielle ballet last Thursday.  Young man finds he can walk through a mirror into 'other lands and places' and meets many women.  Then he realizes (as in the common fable) that the best gal for him is the one next door.  Not too exciting and I had to fight falling asleep.

Afterward, we walked down to Khreshatic for ice cream at McDs.  My gal's idea, not mine.  Then, since it was pleasant evening, we walked on north to Independence Square.  I always enjoy the various water fountains and displays.  I think Kyiv has one of the most concentrated group of water displays that I have seen in any city around the world.

Despite having been in Kyiv 6 previous times, I never knew where O'Brien's Irish Pub was located.  My gal didn't know either.  I (we) were not least bit interested in entering, but I thought it odd that so many here talk about it, and I had never even glimpsed.  So I walked up to 2, 40 something guys near the huge statue to Independence.  One guy spoke some English but I think he was from out of town.  He spoke to the other man, and then told me that O'Brien's was on other side (west) of Khreshatic and back to the south toward Bessabara shopping area.  So we crossed under street at Independence square, walked around the water displays on that side and then headed south on Khreshatic.  Never saw anything resembling O'Brien's.  We did see one fairly large Ukrainian Pub, so I think the men thought that any pub was what we were looking for.  So, O'Brien's must be to the north on Khreshatic.  And probably on west side, since Two Geese is on east side and I never saw O'Brien's on that side either during previous visits to Kyiv.

On Saturday, we went to two part ballet, Carmen and Schezerade.  We took my gal's teenage child with us.  We ate big meal at my gal's apt before.  The child and I worked on computer and burned some CDs while my gal made the food.  The child likes me quite a bit.

I told the child the story of Carmen but, as luck would have it, they never performed the true Carmen story.  They cut out half of it and lengthened the other half.  Don't know if my gal or the child, either one, believed me when I told them of the error.  They probably just thought I was screwed up!!  But we all had a good time.  The Schezerade performance was true to the story and had quite lovely costumes and sets.  I was quite taken by the lead female dancer who was the Sultan's Number One Wife.  She was the most lithe, flexible and sensual I had seen for quite some time.  I thought she was 25ish, and was shocked at end when they announced this was her last performance and she was 45 years old.  She will now teach.

Yesterday, Monday, my gal and I went to travel agency Pegas and paid for our All Inclusive trip to Sharm el Shiekh, Egypt.  This resort city is on tip of Sinai.  Prices are skyrocketing here in Ukraine.  Three years ago, two of us went from Kyiv to Turkey for 14 days All Inclusive for $650 each.  Last year, two of us went from Kyiv to Turkey for 8 days All Inclusive for $1,000 each.  Now, we paid $1,500 each for 10 days All Inclusive to Egypt.

Now we paying closer to what those from Western Europe were paying all along.  When I paid the $650 3 years ago, I met people from Western Europe who were paying $1,000 to $1500 for the same stay.  So as the economy of Ukraine improves, all involved from Agency, Charter Airline and Hotel know they can keep upping the price and many people can pay.  Soon, there will be no true travel bargains left for resort travel from FSU.

I thank those who answered my previous post concerning vacations to Egypt.

I think it is rather foolish to travel to Egypt and spend 10 days on the beach, when history abounds in Cairo and the Valley of Kings.  But FSU people seem not too interested in such.  It seems with the looming long dreary days, their primary concern is soaking up the sun at the beach.  But we may try a one day side trip to some of the history, although my gal is worried about auto traffic accidents as she reads/hears about the terrible Egyptian drivers.  Can they be worse than Ukrainian drivers??

[Mir]

For O'Brien from Independence sq walk to the McDonald (the one on the square) and take the second street going uphill to your right.Walk one block and turn right. You will see it on your left.

If you went to the ballet at Kiev Opera House then the other Irish Pub 'Golden Gate' is very near that and has better food (in 1911 the Ukrainian PM Stolypin was assassinated in the Opera house, the Tsar was present as well and the killer struck during the intermission so the performance is not disturbed)

The reason for the increase in the cost of your holidays is not likely to be the improvement in Ukrainian economy but the decline in the value of the dollar and the increase in the price of oil.