In the winter the frozen Dnieper is dotted with tiny black spots – men who’s favorite winter past time is ice fishing. The highest density is usually close to the bridge. Today Kees and I took some photos.
Each man is fully equipped with ice fishing gear - own hand drill, fishing rod or thread and a fishing box which for some doubles as a chair.
I do not think men do ice fishing for food. I think it’s more to be outside – and not in a flat with a wife, kids and possibly a mother-in-law. Some even had a bottle of vodka (ice cold of course) to warm the up and ice fish longer.
http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/IceFishingOnDniepro?feat=directlink
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Finally a snow clean up
On Friday there was a news on the radio the municipality will start a major snow cleaning in the city. I also found a notice in my building asking not to park cars in the courtyard in order to be able to clean mountains of snow.
On Saturday morning I was surprised by a number of snow plows, trucks and other machinery involved in cleaning streets from snow. There was a rumour the entire city does not have more than 16 snow plows. However yesterday in one street I counted nine snow plows within a length of two kilometres. Also surprisingly the police - in stead of stopping careful & slow drivers on the road - was involved in regulating traffic to enable snow removal. At one moment I was surprised to see how wide Kyiv streets can be.
My thought was - well it's Feb 20 and the snow will melt anyhow but at least the municipality started to show some initiative. I also shared that thought with the ladies from the park.
They started to laugh and explained that the reason for snow clean up is not that the municipality suddenly feels obliged towards Kyiv residents, but the snow needs to be removed before Feb 25th - date of Yanukovich inauguration.
As publicly Yulia only yesterday morning announced in the court she will stop to challenge voting results - the municipality must had known this earlier to get so well organized.
Now thanks to the new president at least we can enjoy snow free, clean, wide roads. Photos of snow clean-up: http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/SnowCleanUp?feat=directlink
On Saturday morning I was surprised by a number of snow plows, trucks and other machinery involved in cleaning streets from snow. There was a rumour the entire city does not have more than 16 snow plows. However yesterday in one street I counted nine snow plows within a length of two kilometres. Also surprisingly the police - in stead of stopping careful & slow drivers on the road - was involved in regulating traffic to enable snow removal. At one moment I was surprised to see how wide Kyiv streets can be.
My thought was - well it's Feb 20 and the snow will melt anyhow but at least the municipality started to show some initiative. I also shared that thought with the ladies from the park.
They started to laugh and explained that the reason for snow clean up is not that the municipality suddenly feels obliged towards Kyiv residents, but the snow needs to be removed before Feb 25th - date of Yanukovich inauguration.
As publicly Yulia only yesterday morning announced in the court she will stop to challenge voting results - the municipality must had known this earlier to get so well organized.
Now thanks to the new president at least we can enjoy snow free, clean, wide roads. Photos of snow clean-up: http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/SnowCleanUp?feat=directlink
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Danger to the traffic
For long, long time I was not stopped by traffic police. Last Friday I was stopped twice.
First at 6.45 in the morning driving to the gym. It was still a bit dark, snowing and of course roads were not clean. At one traffic light a police car was standing next to my car. I actually did not notice it's a police car but I heard the horn. I looked at the car saw it's a police car and the policemen signaled me to switch on lights. I pull down the window and said “spasibo” which is thank you in Russian. The moment I said it, I saw the policeman was startled. He turned to his colleague and few seconds later motioned me to stop on the side of a road. Than it was my turn to be shocked. I was thinking they cannot pull me for thanking them to switch on the lights!
I handed a policeman my docs. He looked at them and asked me if I was drinking (!!!). I could not believe it – he thought I am drank because I said "thank you". He stopped me because I was polite!!!
I answered I drive to the gym. Seems such an answer cannot be provided by an alcoholic. The policeman returned doc’s. End of story. I drove on.
Even more startling police stop happened the same evening. I was returning home around 9 pm. It was snowing most of the day so streets were ugly porridge of slush and ice. And it continued snowing. I drove carefuly and slowly. At the crossroad close to my house I turned while it was still green. At the same time a car from opposite direction was also turning driving fast. I let it go. After the car passed I continued on. Than the police stopped me. The first thigh a policeman said to me was “A pochemu vi hooliganyte” or in translation “why you behave as a hooligan?” I asked him for an explanation and he told me I drove through red. I was adamant I passed through the green light on what policeman answered: “Yes, probably it was green when you entered the crossroad but you are driving so slow that when you turned it was red!” I lost it. I started shouting at him: “You stopped me because I drive carefully and slow but you had not stopped the car in front of me which drove fast? Are you telling me that driving carefully is a traffic violation? I shouted and screamed in my broken Russian. When I told him that I hardly wait to sign a protocol (a document police write on a spot for a traffic violation and which has to be signed by a driver) in which he will put that I am dangerous on the road because I drive slow he returned docs to me. When returning docs he asked ”Why are you upset? Why are you shouting” I wanted to tell him because I never heard such an absurd statement that driving carefully is a danger to the traffic. But I doubted he would understand it. So I told him “Because I am highly emotional woman”. That he is an extreme idiot I kept for myself.
How bad roads in Kiev are see at: http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/KievMainRoads?feat=directlink
First at 6.45 in the morning driving to the gym. It was still a bit dark, snowing and of course roads were not clean. At one traffic light a police car was standing next to my car. I actually did not notice it's a police car but I heard the horn. I looked at the car saw it's a police car and the policemen signaled me to switch on lights. I pull down the window and said “spasibo” which is thank you in Russian. The moment I said it, I saw the policeman was startled. He turned to his colleague and few seconds later motioned me to stop on the side of a road. Than it was my turn to be shocked. I was thinking they cannot pull me for thanking them to switch on the lights!
I handed a policeman my docs. He looked at them and asked me if I was drinking (!!!). I could not believe it – he thought I am drank because I said "thank you". He stopped me because I was polite!!!
I answered I drive to the gym. Seems such an answer cannot be provided by an alcoholic. The policeman returned doc’s. End of story. I drove on.
Even more startling police stop happened the same evening. I was returning home around 9 pm. It was snowing most of the day so streets were ugly porridge of slush and ice. And it continued snowing. I drove carefuly and slowly. At the crossroad close to my house I turned while it was still green. At the same time a car from opposite direction was also turning driving fast. I let it go. After the car passed I continued on. Than the police stopped me. The first thigh a policeman said to me was “A pochemu vi hooliganyte” or in translation “why you behave as a hooligan?” I asked him for an explanation and he told me I drove through red. I was adamant I passed through the green light on what policeman answered: “Yes, probably it was green when you entered the crossroad but you are driving so slow that when you turned it was red!” I lost it. I started shouting at him: “You stopped me because I drive carefully and slow but you had not stopped the car in front of me which drove fast? Are you telling me that driving carefully is a traffic violation? I shouted and screamed in my broken Russian. When I told him that I hardly wait to sign a protocol (a document police write on a spot for a traffic violation and which has to be signed by a driver) in which he will put that I am dangerous on the road because I drive slow he returned docs to me. When returning docs he asked ”Why are you upset? Why are you shouting” I wanted to tell him because I never heard such an absurd statement that driving carefully is a danger to the traffic. But I doubted he would understand it. So I told him “Because I am highly emotional woman”. That he is an extreme idiot I kept for myself.
How bad roads in Kiev are see at: http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/KievMainRoads?feat=directlink
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Roko
I have a very great privilege of announcing that my sister gave birth to Roko. He is born today at 13.50 hours. Roko decided to enter this world almost one month before the term. It seems he preferred Aquarius sign to Pieces.
He weights 2550g and is 48 cm long. For one month premature baby - this seems almost normal.
Welcome to the world Roko! Hope you will have healthy and happy life full of wonderful adventures! Congrats to happy parents and grandparents!
He weights 2550g and is 48 cm long. For one month premature baby - this seems almost normal.
Welcome to the world Roko! Hope you will have healthy and happy life full of wonderful adventures! Congrats to happy parents and grandparents!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Not giving up
I am disappointed with the outcome of elections http://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/articles/2010/02/7/4730368/.
I am impressed with 69.15% voters turn out.
Given narrow voting margin Yulia stated she is not accepting Yanukovich's victory.
Yanukovich requested Yulia to resign from the PM post.
RT reports:
Russian euronews reported following:
I just came home from Depeche Mode concert. That experience requires a separate post.
I am impressed with 69.15% voters turn out.
Given narrow voting margin Yulia stated she is not accepting Yanukovich's victory.
Yanukovich requested Yulia to resign from the PM post.
RT reports:
Russian euronews reported following:
I just came home from Depeche Mode concert. That experience requires a separate post.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Kiev from air
Few photos of Kiev in winter:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/KyivFromAir?feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/KyivFromAir?feat=directlink
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
