Kyiv... a Wonderful Surprise

Kyiv, an almost sudden trip I would say... I had a few days off, and finding a good offer, I did not think twice about booking! night flight with Air Baltic: Dublin-Riga-Kyiv.. a stop of just 30 minutes, but without problems, since the hostesses accompany us at a run to the connecting plane... a plane that, although very small, is truly very comfortable, spacious as never before... so much for Ryanair! 29/04/11 the arrival at Borispol airport is on time; a beautiful sun awaits me that will keep me company for the whole duration of the trip (rain had been forecast!) and a legendary bus (Atass company....but written Atacc in Cyrillic, 25 hryvnias) in post-war style that in "just" 1 hour takes me from Borispol to the Vokzalna metro stop, the western part of the city..and in a few minutes I am right in the centre.

The Kyiv metro is famous for being very deep..and it is super cheap! Just 2 hryvnias per ride... 1€= about 11.70 hryvnias, impossible not to use it to get around quickly;) Having left my luggage at the TIU Kreshchatyk hostel (excellent location and price, just 11€ per night), on the street of the same name, very close to the main Maidan Nezalezhnosti square, I start to wander around the city heading for the 3 important churches located one near the other: Saint Michael's, Saint Sophia's and Saint Andrew's. The churches are simply stunning, an explosion of colours from blue to yellow via green, with fabulous frescoes; simply unmissable! Entry is free to the church of Saint Michael, paid for that of Saint Sophia; while Saint Andrew's was closed due to internal restoration..

never mind, it is time to take a stroll along the famous Andriyivsky Uzviz, which starts right from Saint Andrew's going down for a few hundred metres; famous for the numerous stalls and artists selling everything..a little Montmartre;) Near it is the Chernobyl museum (Kontraktova Ploshcha metro), a pity it is closed, since although it is very small it is well stocked with documents and photos regarding the nuclear disaster of 25 years ago. The centre of Kyiv revolves entirely around its square and the main Khreshchatyk street, closed at the weekend when it becomes an enormous pedestrian avenue where you can go as far as the Dnipro river, truly gigantic, which divides the city into two parts.

After an excellent lunch at the pizzeria Celentano (yes, him exactly...here our singers are like legends, Toto Cutugno, Pupo, Ricchi e Poveri....) I head towards the park that overlooks the Dnipro, perfect for relaxing, for a simple walk, or to escape the scorching sun.. it is a good 20 degrees, and I assure you that going from the barely 10 of Dublin is quite remarkable! 30/04/11 Another lovely day...fortunately! The Pechersk Lavra monastery awaits me..I am curious to see what it will be like, since for many it is the main attraction of the city, with its churches and the underground gallery...we'll see! 5 minutes by metro (Pecherska stop) and a walk to the Dnipro river and you arrive in front of the monastery (entry 25 hryvnias), which frankly does not disappoint expectations...

very large with various churches of rare beauty, and the famous caves where you can see some tombs and remarkable frescoes (entry is free and you go provided with a candle, while for women a scarf is indispensable as a sign of respect). Very beautiful above all is the overall view of the complex seen from a distance..with all the churches one near the other..the visit continues in the nearby War Museum, with the possibility of seeing military aircraft, tanks and other reproductions of the Soviet arsenal of the Second World War, including two coloured tanks(!) and the gigantic monument to the Motherland...probably the symbol of Kyiv.

The morning flew by and a light rain accompanies me to the metro..heading for Hydropark, an oasis situated in the Dnipro river (Hydropark metro stop), where in addition to the possibility of seeing the city in miniature (entry 10 hryvnias), you can take a stroll in the park, in Viennese Prater style...with some rides and riverside restaurants..I take the opportunity to eat some Shashlyk, fantastic Caucasian lamb well cooked on a big skewer, and I wait for the sunset..