Ukraine Again: Something Old, Something New...

[Simoni]

Dnepr has a nice airport, with two terminals, or sections.  Here is a pic of the domistic side.

Not much to eat once you get inside; however, there is a little cafe by the parking lot by the domestic end of the terminal.

[Simoni]

And here is the plane that took us to Kiev.

And the international terminal at the airport in Kiev...

[Simoni]

AFTERNOON BEFORE FLIGHT HOME

We landed in Kiev at 1 p.m.  We had elected to stay at the airport hotel since our flight out the next day was at 7 a.m.

We checked into the hotel (tiny room with twin beds and no air for ONLY $150).   A friend of mine dropped by, and drove us in his car to the outskirts of Kiev, where we talked about old times and shared lunch.

Later, he dropped us off at the Botantical Garden, where we walked for an hour.  From there, we went into the city center, where we shopped for a while.  Kiev seemed the same as it was the summer before....it was nice to have a sense of familiarity with a city that had once seemed new and strange to me.

[Simoni]

GEOGRAPHY QUIZ

Darn.  I forgot the quiz.

We'll do it now.

During our summer travels, I made this pic.

Who can tell me where we were?

[Gator]

Poltava?

[Simoni]

Not Poltava, Gator.

But in case more information is needed rather than the mileage, I'll post a few pics of the place...

Next.

[Simoni]

MYSTERY PICS:  Where in the World were Simoni & Marina?

[Simoni]

Still no answer to my quiz...so I'll move on.

Seems like a world map and protractor would solve the problem....maybe I'll give more hints later.

But for now...some advice for newbies...

[Simoni]

HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR FIRST FEW DAYS IN THE FSU ON YOUR FIRST TRIP

I remember my first trip to Ukraine and how difficult the simple things were.   I'll share, for newbies, some basic info about streets and apartments.  Easy for me now; difficult then...

[Simoni]

STREET SIGNS

At an intersection, you expect to see a street sign so you know where the heck you are.  In America, it's a cinch.  Just look at the intersection, and you'll see the street sign.

But in Ukraine, there is typically nothing there.

Rather, look at the buildings.  You'll often find the street names there.

Here's an example...

[Simoni]

GETTING INTO YOUR APARTMENT

Newbies, if you have read RWD, you know that an apartment beats a hotel in many ways.

However, there is a downside.  Several, in fact.

1)  Your apartment may be hard to find. You may get lost--several times.  Hotels are know by almost everyone.  So, have the landlord write down your address and apartment number in Russian.

2)  Be aware that you likely will face three doors and a combination lock and three keys in order to get into your apartment once you locate it.

Here is a visual tour of HOW TO GET IN 

[Simoni]

BUILDING DOOR

You will likely approach your building door in the dark at night.  So use you cell phone to light the door.

Here is the door in daylight...

[Simoni]

UNLOCKING THE BUILDING DOOR

The door is often left open during the day, as was the case in my last picture.  But at night, late at night, when you stagger home from your date, the door will be locked.  Here's how to get in.

[Simoni]

Note the combinaton pad.   To open, you have to push the numbers at the SAME time, and not as a sequence.  So, for example, push in 1 and 4 and 7 and 9, all at the same time.

Be sober, or you will NEVER get in    LOL

[Simoni]

Some external doors require a skeleton key to open.

Here is my key. 

Note:  You have to turn it THREE times for the door to open. 

Get used to it...

[Simoni]

HALLWAY DOOR

After climbing 4 or 8 or 10 flights of stairs in the dark, you arrive at a second door-- the hallway to your flat.

Get your second skeleton key out.  Try to illuminate the key hole with your cell.  Stick it in.  Turn it three times. 

[Simoni]

APARTMENT DOOR

Now you are at your flat, and it's time to use that last key.  It looks like a key to an American door.  But is it?  No.

You still have to rotate it three times to unbolt the dead bolt.

Do it.

You are home free :-)

Hopefully, not alone 

Enjoy 

[wxman]

Don't forget the doorbell! The first time you hear it, you will think there is a giant cricket inside your flat. 

[Shadow]

And do not forget the important part.
Once you are in, do not think that the door is closed. You will have to take out all you keys and turn three times to lock the doors. 

[Bruce]

Simoni, the key section is definitely five star material and a must for guys looking to go over for the first time  !

[wxman]

For the first time travelling AM, you will find that in some restrooms all the neccessary plumbing exists, but wonder, why don't they have a toilet to sit on? That one caught me on my first trip.   

[Simoni]

For the first time travelling AM, you will find that in some restrooms all the neccessary plumbing exists, but wonder, why don't they have a toilet to sit on? That one caught me on my first trip.   

So true.  Better practice those squats before going! LOL

Also, if you do get a bathroom with a commode, note that to flush the darn thing the flush "button" is on top, not the side.

[Simoni]

Simoni, the key section is definitely five star material and a must for guys looking to go over for the first time  !

Thanks, Bruce.

Another strange thing about this last door was that the keyhole was an inch from the door frame.  I had a hard time turning the key because my hand was hitting the door frame.  I finally turned the last key over to Marina....with her small hands it was no problem turning the key the three times.

[Simoni]

It was new & pretty :-)  Just not very functional.

[Simoni]

I also worried about the design....I'm used to locks having screws on the inside--not the outside!  Enlarge the last pic to see what I mean.

But hey, it was the third lock, so if someone can defeat the first two, the last one would be no problem, anyway