Unification Day

Today Ukraine celebrated the Unification Day as on this day in1919 Ukrainian National Republic and West Ukrainian People's Republic became one country.

On the Unification Day across entire Ukraine officials and the public lays flowers at the monuments to Taras Shevchenko. So today President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, the Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and the members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the Day of Unification of Ukraine laid flowers at monuments to Taras Shevchenko and M. Grushevskogo. Monument of Shevchnko is in the park - so the park was closed. The park was surrounded why hundreds of policemen - both in uniform and plain cloths.

Monument to Grushevski is on the way to park - access closed too. The news reports there were over 1500 people gathered around the parka and the monument. As I had to pass them I can tell you all of them were young students - with their teachers.

Apart from laying flowers at the Shevchenko monuments - the Unification day is to demonstrate. And sseveral small ones took place today. Tymoshenko's party had few thousand people on Sofia Square.
I saw two demonstrations. Both very quite. If people would not carry flags I would never guess they are demonstrators. They looked like hurrying somewhere.
After experiencing protest in Korea - these here were void of emotions. Strange.

This week Korrespondent magazine focus article has a title "Ukraine - concentration camp". The article addresses recent interrogations of entrepreneurs who demonstrated against new Tax Code in November. The initial version of the Tax Code was basically killing small and mendium size business. In the final version the tax code was not so punishing of SME segment but seems now all entrepreneurs who demonstrated are being investigated, put in jail etc. So now after journalists, bloggers and historians entrepreneurs are considered "dangerous breed".

http://korrespondent.net/ukraine/politics/1177120-konclager-ukraina-v-strane-presleduyut-inakomyslyashchih-korrespondent

Rope Walking Practice

This Sunday I saw a young man practicing rope walking. Actually Igor noticed him first. There is always something new and surprising in this small city park.

Playdate

Freezing Sunday morning. A bit of play warms Igor up.

Morning Roof Walking

On Tuesday morning I am enjoying my cup of coffee. I look through the window and there is a man walking on the roof. I do not see it everyday. But he is skillful.

Unfortunatly I am not that skillful with my little Canon. Or perhaps I should treat myself with something better.

Dutch NY Concert in Kiev

For couple of years in first half of January the Dutch Embassy organizes a NY concert. This year the concert took place on Jan 10th. I was sceptical when I have seen the programme with arias from The Magic Flute, I Vespri Siciliani, La Traviatta, Carmen, Lakme, Il Barbiere di Seviglia, Rigoleto. And at the end there was  - Carmina Burana!
But once the singers started their magic singing - the concert was sheer joy. There are all amazing opera stars. This was a truly wonderful concert. I was naughty and have done some poor recording of that amazing concert which I share here:

Violetta's Aria:


Habanera from Carmen:


Flowers Duet from Lakme:


Carmina Burana Fragment:

Capricorne Eclipse

Partial Solar eclipse photo from the office window:

New Year's Eve

Happy New Year!

On 30th Dec flew to the Netherlands. There was heavy snow in Kiev. Doubted the plane will take off. In spite of snow storm with the 45 min delay we were airborne. Arrived on Shiphol. Got train tickets. But trains were delayed due to winter conditions. Once outside the station building wondered where is the snow and what winter conditions messed up trains again..

Kees picked me up in Alkmaar. Within 5 min we were in Bergen. It was my first visit to Bergen. It is a
fairytale-like village. Nice old buildings. Lovely small village roads. Photos are here:

On Dec 31st with Catharina, Kees and Anna we did some shopping. The whole family queued for "oliebollen". Dutch cannot have New Years Eve without "oliebollen". They were delicious and worth queuing. 
After a long time I had a typical Dutch breakfast. Kees was concerned with the way I had "hagelslaag". But as I am a foreigner he gave me a break.

On the Jan 1st went for a stroll on a beach. It was cold and windy. But some people had they New year swim :


While some were in a cold see I was comfortable in the full winter gear with gloves and a fur hat.
Beach photos:

After the beach we had a typical Dutch split pea soup for a dinner. And pancakes for dessert.
Had great time.

People in Bergen care a lot about birds and almost every house has a bird feeder: