Kyiv

April 19, 2011 Kyiv

It’s about 730 in the evening and our cluster is about to take the 2 hour drive back to Kulychivka from Kyiv.  We enter the bus and I get the window seat.  I put my earplugs on and turn on my Ipod.   As we drive off I look back and see the buildings of the lively and bustling city of Kyiv fading in the distance.  And as we exit the urban landscape of the capital we enter the countryside.  I stare out the window in appreciation of the sun setting across the grass fields of the country.  With an hour and half still to go to the village I go through my camera and look at the pictures of Kyiv.  The pictures come alive.  The buildings tell the story of the history of the country, the monuments a reminder of the pride of the country, and the people a reflection of the future.   Having been to other big cities in America like LA, SF, DC, and even NY city they couldn’t compare to Kyiv.  We pass by buildings that were bombed in WWII.  We pass by buildings that are over 1000 years old.  We go to independence square and see the monuments that tell the stories of generations and generations.  The city makes you feel alive.  And as the sun finally escaped the horizon I realize today I was able to see the beauty of Ukraine.  I saw the fast paced liveliness of Kyiv and the calm tranquility of the countryside.  Two years of this ain’t bad.   

 Train station in Kyiv

 Train station

 Metro station (subway)

 Metro station

 Escalator from the Metro

 One of the first buildings in Kyiv

 A building that was bombed during WWII

 Independence square

 The road leading to the Presidents Building

 The presidents building

 In front of the presidents building

 A building built in the 1900's