Ukraine Again: Something Old, Something New...

[Simoni]

PIZZA, ANYONE?

Quite honestly, the best place to eat in Dnerp is in MILs kitchen.  She made delicious soup for lunch today, as well as mashed potatoes and muchrooms.  As well as fresh veggies from her summer garden, which is at the summer place, the old homestead of her grandparents.

But when it comes to eating out, I love pizza.    And my favorite place is Chelentanos.  They are in a new location, but are still just 200 meters from our flat, just off of European Square.

I think I remember from reading Groove's TRs that he also likes this place, except for the corn they put on pizza the first time he ordered it. 

Here is a pic:

[Simoni]

SERIAL KILLER UPDATE

Just had coffee with a couple of friends who work in banking.  The guy says he was stopped by police this morning.  He drives the same model of car as the serial killer.

That's news, since it reveals that the police know more about the killer than they are telling the press.

Hope they catch him soon.  He must have a lot of anger inside to resort to killing with a hammer, and then destroying the faces of his victims.

Denpr is like Disneyland for men, with so many beautiful girls walking around in such sexy clothes.  But there's trouble in paradise...

[Simoni]

GETTING AROUND-- # 5 --TAXI

We have only taken a couple of taxis here.  Once from the airport to the city, and once to meet with friends outside of town.  I don't like the taxicabs here for one big reasons--no meters.  It means that you have to bargain every time you take one.  And their prices, if they sense you are foreign, are higher than in the US.

Just yesterday Marina told me to stay back so she could bet a better deal.  But the driver's buddy saw me and signaled the taxi dude...and he asked 10 bucks for a 20 block ride.  Marina said no and stomped off.  He yelled he would give her a lower price, but she shouted back "this is not Turkey!"  She does not like to have to bargain for the price anyone should receive.

When I am in Kiev, I use a favorite driver.  I have his cell; he has a larger car and keeps it clean and does not smoke or allow smoking. Yes, the price is about 4 bucks higher from the airport to the city than in a tiny, old pariah cab.  But money well spent, IMHO.

Taxi-- choice # 5 to me for getting around in Dnepr.

[BC]

I'm sure the spoiler on that blue taxi greatly enhances aerodynamics.. 

Great TR by the way..

[Simoni]

I'm sure the spoiler on that blue taxi greatly enhances aerodynamics.. 

Great TR by the way..

Thanks, BC 

[Simoni]

FEAR

Authorities this afternoon announced that all males who go outside after 7 p.m. are subject to being searched and they must have their documents on their person.  If not, they will be taken to jail.

The serial killer is all anyone in this city of 1.3 million is talking about.

[Simoni]

This is not a reality show nor a James Patterson novel.  20 people are dead, disfigured by the blows to their head by this serial hammer killer...

[Mir]

Well both of the most prolific serial killers produced by FSU were from Ukraine.
Andrei Chikatilo (53 victims) and Anatoly Onopriyenko (52 victims)

[SANDRO43]

I think I remember from reading Groove's TRs that he also likes this place, except for the corn they put on pizza the first time he ordered it. 

Corn on pizza ?!? OMG . Do they have many poultry patrons at Celentano's ?

[Simoni]

GOLDMINE?

I'm having dinner with Marina and two of her friends.  Both are 31, single, and beautiful.  Neither can find a boyfriend.  Are American girls the same?  Can they not find boyfriends either?

I'd set some of my friends at RWD up with these two girls, but neither speaks English.

[Simoni]

Sandro- yes, there were a number of chicks in there! A few "porkers" too :-). LOL

[Simoni]

It's getting late here.  We closed the mall down, and I walked one of Marina's friends home (in case the Hammer Killer struck).  She speaks zero English and I have less than 50 Russian words.  Strange experience.

I can't imagine how those of you who married women who did not speak English did it....congrats--that was a major accomplishment.

[Simoni]

GETTING AROUND-- # 4 -- MARSHRUTKA

These 18 passenger vans blanket the city.  They are fast and efficient and cheap- 20 cents.   But--they are HOT.  The windows do not open and generally it's standing room only.  They are faster than the tram and cheaper than the taxi.

They have black drapes that are usually closed, so you don't see much of the city as you are racing along.

But unless you know the city or have a guide, it will be almost impossible to know which one to board.  The have route numbers on the front windshied, and I learned a few routes after a week.

But generally, I do not like them and do not ride them very often.

MARSHRUTKA-- choice # 4 to me for getting around in Dnepr.

[Simoni]

GETTING AROUND-- # 3 -- TROLLY

The trolley in Dnepr is cool!  It runs on tires and uses the street, but runs with electric power.

Because it is like a car, it's not very fast.  But it is cheap--10 cents to ride. 

And senior citizens ride free      I think that some of the foreign guys here chasing young hot chicks could past for senior citizens and ride for free...what a deal!    LOL

TROLLY-- choice # 3 to me for getting around in Dnepr.

[Kuna]

Simoni,

A couple of things...

The murders in Dnepr...  do you kow what part of the city they are in or are they all over???

Next:

GOLDMINE?

I'm having dinner with Marina and two of her friends.  Both are 31, single, and beautiful.  Neither can find a boyfriend.  Are American girls the same?  Can they not find boyfriends either?

I'd set some of my friends at RWD up with these two girls, but neither speaks English.

31 yr old Western women can't find bf's either...  they can find a fck though if they want...

[ScottinCrimea]

I tend to like the marshrutkas better than the trolley.  Although the trolley is 10 cents cheaper, it's a lot slower and has pretty much all of the negatives of the marshrutkas.  I don't see the balck drapes on the ones in Simferopol. Is that just a Dneper thing?  Still the windows are usualy dirty so maybe that's what you saw, not drapes.  While the windows don't open, many have a vent or two in the roof that you can crank open and hopefully catch a fresh breeze.

By the way, did you know that the longest trolley line in the world is the one that runs from Simferopol to Yalta?

[Kuna]

I tend to like the marshrutkas better than the trolley.  Although the trolley is 10 cents cheaper, it's a lot slower and has pretty much all of the negatives of the marshrutkas.  I don't see the balck drapes on the ones in Simferopol. Is that just a Dneper thing?  Still the windows are usualy dirty so maybe that's what you saw, not drapes.  While the windows don't open, many have a vent or two in the roof that you can crank open and hopefully catch a fresh breeze.

By the way, did you know that the longest trolley line in the world is the one that runs from Simferopol to Yalta?

Scott, not all the mini-buses in Dnepr have the curtains but mny do...

Almost none have vents or windows that open...   

[Mir]

What so Simoni and Kuna have in common?
There affection and nostalgia for Dnepropetrovsk.

Some interesting info about this city (from http://www.go2kiev.com/view/dnepropetrovsk.html)

Dnepropetrovsk is situated in central Ukraine (more south-east direction) on both banks of the mighty Dnepr River. Deemed by Catherine the Great to become the 3rd capital of the Russian Empire, Dnepropetrovsk today is the 3rd largest city of Ukraine with the population of over 1 million people.
 
Dnepropetrovsk is one of the most beautiful cities of Ukraine and the main highly developed vital industrial, trade, educational and cultural centre of Eastern Ukraine.
 
Dnepropetrovsk is most important for the powerful metallurgical and machine building industries. In recent past it was one of the key centers of arms (ballistic missiles manufacturing) and space industries of the former USSR.
 
Built on 3 hills overlooking the beautiful peaceful waters of the Dnepr River (which is very broad here) with its picturesque islands and lavishly green river banks, lush meadows and valleys, Dnepropetrovsk today is preserving its historical past, still is a vibrant modern city with a skyscraper skyline, broad boulevards, Europe’s longest embankment, abundant greenery, beautiful historical parks, bridges and rich fountains of water.   
 
The first settlements appeared in the area as early as about 150,000 years ago. Later in history these lands were becoming home to different tribes, e.g. Cimmerians (3000 years ago), Scythians (ca.700 BC), Sarmatians (200 BC), Slavic tribes (1st century of our era) and an arena of struggle between the Slavs and the Asian nomads (Tatars).   
 
There exist at least 7 versions of dating the organized settlement, starting from 870 AC, when according to legend, the Byzantine monks founded a monastery on an island, which now bears the name of the Monastery Island. The first fortified town settlements, though, appeared in the middle of the 16th century. The history of “the free people”, Cossacks, leads to another date in 17th century, when the Kodak Fortress was built in Kodaki (in the outskirts of modern Dnepropetrovsk), which was rivalry of Poland, Turkey and Russia in the region.
 
1776 is an official date of the new city foundation, which is the result of Catherine the Great’s ambitious plan of southern expansion of the Russian Empire. The city was founded by Prince Potemkin at the Russian Empress’s order and bore the name Yekaterinoslav meaning The Glory of Yekaterina until 1926. For one year in 1918 the city’s name was Sicheslav  meaning The Glory of Sich” i.e. Cossacks’ Fortress.
 
Since 1926 the city bears the name Dnepropetrovsk, often lovingly abbreviated by its citizens to Dnepr. The city’s name comprises of 2 words - Dnepr (name of the river) and Petrovsky (personal name). Another version which seems to be true (geographically) might be a combination of the word Dnepro (from old Iranian “Dan” - River) and the Greek word “Petros” - Stone i.e. Stones in the River or “Rapids” which used to be plentiful in the region.

[Simoni]

Thanks mir!  That info helps this strand a lot!  I will say more later- it's the middle of the night here :-)

[USCFAN]

Coming next... Four ways of getting around big FSU cities..

taking pics for you, now...

and you too, USCFAN  of the 4th mode.

SWEET!  

Excellent thread bud ... really enjoy you sharing it with us ... Since I will be there for a couple of days I'm really taking in everything ... but I heard the pizza over there is terrible

And BTW ... if that 'nutcase' is still loose, please be careful !!!

[Simoni]

SWEET!  

Excellent thread bud ... really enjoy you sharing it with us ... Since I will be there for a couple of days I'm really taking in everything ... but I heard the pizza over there is terrible

And BTW ... if that 'nutcase' is still loose, please be careful !!!

Thanks USCFAN!

And yes, the nutcae is still loose and very real.  I have had a number of PMs, asking me if he is real or fiction (guess my pretty woman evening made people think the serial killer was added as fiction).  But he is real and is still killing, and shaking this city to the roots.  It's all people are talking about.

[Simoni]

Simoni,

The murders in Dnepr...  do you kow what part of the city they are in or are they all over???

They are all across the city.  He is driving a light green car.  Last report was that TWO killers are working together. Don't know if that is rumor or truth.

[Simoni]

I tend to like the marshrutkas better than the trolley.  Although the trolley is 10 cents cheaper, it's a lot slower and has pretty much all of the negatives of the marshrutkas.  I don't see the black drapes on the ones in Simferopol. Is that just a Dneper thing?  Still the windows are usually dirty so maybe that's what you saw, not drapes.  While the windows don't open, many have a vent or two in the roof that you can crank open and hopefully catch a fresh breeze.

By the way, did you know that the longest trolley line in the world is the one that runs from Simferopol to Yalta?

Yes, it was a difficult "call" for me....I almost ranked marshrutkas higher than the trolley.  In Dnerp, you can't wave down a marshrutkas like you could in the past....they will only pick you up at designated stops now.   And the marshrutkas is subject to traffic; sharp braking, etc. which is not so good when you are standing up.  Black drapes?  Seems like the newer ones have black drapes and windows made not to open.  Older ones do not have the black drapes.  Yes, the overhead vent is nice!  I alway fight to stand slightly behind one 

[Simoni]

Dnepropetrovsk is situated in central Ukraine (more south-east direction) on both banks of the mighty Dnepr River. Deemed by Catherine the Great to become the 3rd capital of the Russian Empire, Dnepropetrovsk today is the 3rd largest city of Ukraine with the population of over 1 million people.
 
Dnepropetrovsk is one of the most beautiful cities of Ukraine and the main highly developed vital industrial, trade, educational and cultural centre of Eastern Ukraine.

One of the factors men should consider when seeking and FSU wife is where she lives.  Becasue you will be visiting there the rest of your life to see FIL and MIL and other family.  I'm glad Marina is from such a great city as Dnerp.  It's a very nice place to vacation.

But of course the main thing is your selecting a great wife, and not selecting her home city    LOL

[Simoni]

GETTING AROUND-- # 2 -- TRAM

The tram is Dnepr is like an above ground subway.  The trains run on tracks, and the network is very extensive.  It even goes to the other side of the Dnepr River.

A great way to see the city is on the tram.  You can ride for hours on your 10 cents; however, if you get off you will need to by another ticket. 

Trams have plenty of seating, which is comfortable.  It does have windows that are open, and you get a nice breeze, even on a hot day.

Although they go most places, they don't go everywere, so often we would take the tram and then walk.

Trams are cool!

I'll post the tram picture later.

TRAM-- choice # 2 to me for getting around in Dnepr.