Thursday, December 31, 2009
Snow covered park
Following a storm we had wonderful sunny day:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/ParkInSnow?authkey=Gv1sRgCJn_o6rUwZHoxAE&feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/ParkInSnow?authkey=Gv1sRgCJn_o6rUwZHoxAE&feat=directlink
Snow storm on Dec 28th
BBC forecast for Dec 28th said "heavy snowstorm". I have not belived it. The morning was a bit cold and clouds have not looked like "snow clouds" at all. In the early afternoon few tiny snow flakes started to fall. By 3 pm we had a full snowstorm which lasted until next day. I walked Igor in evening and made few snapshots:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/SnowstormOn28thDec?authkey=Gv1sRgCIWq-syxz8bIIw&feat=directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/SnowstormOn28thDec?authkey=Gv1sRgCIWq-syxz8bIIw&feat=directlink
Xmas in Kiev
Over Christmas Pauline and Wyger came to Kiev. I told Julia I will have friends over. As a true Slav she prepared a mountain of food: plane blini, blini with mushrooms, blini with soft cheese, some stew dish; and golubtsi (cabbage leaves stuffed with minced meat). It was llike Ukrainian food festival.
In Kiev we visited Lavra and few churches. In Lavra on one of the doors we found a notice which translates "no exhibition when it rains or snows".
In Kiev we visited Lavra and few churches. In Lavra on one of the doors we found a notice which translates "no exhibition when it rains or snows".
On Sunday we drove to Uman to see Sofiika Park. Photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/Xmas2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCNC8tteK4LGKvAE&feat=directlink
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Back in Kiev
I returned to Kiev a week ago. Fiji was great. Diving was fantastic. I am scheming to go back. From Seoul via A’dam I arrived last Sunday evening in cold (-11 degrees) Kiev. Upon arrival while pushing a luggage cart on the parking lot I had a freezing sensation in my hands. I knew I left Kiev with gloves. But after wearing flip-flops and shorts in Fiji for almost four weeks I forgot to get them out from a suitcase.
Igor was happy to see me. Usually when I am back from a trip Igor is sulking for a while. Not this time. Seems he missed me.
When I came back I learned Ellen decided to leave Kiev and move to the Netherlands. Last Monday we made an impromptu plan for a dinner. Monday evening was a testimony to our flexibility and spontaneity (few changes of times and venues; at the end we had a dinner at my place). I will miss my balut and theatre buddy in Kiev.
Since Monday Kiev has snow showers and temperature between -13 to -17 and on Tuesday it was -22. One would guess the city administration would be prepared for such winter weather. Wrong. Seems they expected global warming effect. Even the main city roads are not cleaned. These days cars do not drive but plow through the snow. However by large majority cars in Kiev are not equipped for snowplowing. Most cars are without chains, proper winter tires etc. Not surprisingly there are many crashes due to skidding. With so many road accidents traffic was this entire week and weekend horrible. I was quite uncomfortable driving my 4WD as I frequently experience skidding when turning on a crossroad.
Irrespective of the weather Igor and I walk in the park. He is fine if temperature is up to -15. If temperature is below that he refuses to walk.
The park these days looks like a fairy tale. Due to the weather there are not many people and dogs in the park. So a few “die hard's” usually have a park and pristine powder snow all for themselves. Yesterday we met with Sonya and as one can see Igor was very happy to meet such a glamorous girl. Here is a photo of glamorous Sonya and "happy" Igor.
Next week Pauline and Wyger will arrive. I already prepared “blini”, caviar and vodka for another memorable Xmas in Kiev.
I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous and happy new year.
Wishing you all a great festive break and may your holidays be filled with good food, nice drinks and festive cheer. And of course I hope Santa is good to you!
Igor was happy to see me. Usually when I am back from a trip Igor is sulking for a while. Not this time. Seems he missed me.
When I came back I learned Ellen decided to leave Kiev and move to the Netherlands. Last Monday we made an impromptu plan for a dinner. Monday evening was a testimony to our flexibility and spontaneity (few changes of times and venues; at the end we had a dinner at my place). I will miss my balut and theatre buddy in Kiev.
Since Monday Kiev has snow showers and temperature between -13 to -17 and on Tuesday it was -22. One would guess the city administration would be prepared for such winter weather. Wrong. Seems they expected global warming effect. Even the main city roads are not cleaned. These days cars do not drive but plow through the snow. However by large majority cars in Kiev are not equipped for snowplowing. Most cars are without chains, proper winter tires etc. Not surprisingly there are many crashes due to skidding. With so many road accidents traffic was this entire week and weekend horrible. I was quite uncomfortable driving my 4WD as I frequently experience skidding when turning on a crossroad.
Irrespective of the weather Igor and I walk in the park. He is fine if temperature is up to -15. If temperature is below that he refuses to walk.
The park these days looks like a fairy tale. Due to the weather there are not many people and dogs in the park. So a few “die hard's” usually have a park and pristine powder snow all for themselves. Yesterday we met with Sonya and as one can see Igor was very happy to meet such a glamorous girl. Here is a photo of glamorous Sonya and "happy" Igor.
Next week Pauline and Wyger will arrive. I already prepared “blini”, caviar and vodka for another memorable Xmas in Kiev.
I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous and happy new year.
Wishing you all a great festive break and may your holidays be filled with good food, nice drinks and festive cheer. And of course I hope Santa is good to you!
Monday, November 16, 2009
In Seoul
Arrived yesterday to Seoul. The clean and efficient Incheon airport still amazes me. Took the airport limo to Ylona's place. Found her new place in Yeonheedong without problems. But I was lucky to meet on a street Lucy - an English teacher. Lucy knew where is the Seoul Foreign School. Lucy also helped me with bags. Friendly and helpful Lucy came from US a year ago. She teaches english korean kids.
Ylona looks great. Eleni grew up and is taller than me. The weather in Seoul is sunny but crispy. The city have not changed much in two years and I managed to find a way along kimchi smelling alleys after two years. Korean also came very quickly back. I felt insecure this morning giving taxi driver directions, but I got a confidence boost after he complimented me on my pronunciation. He wanted to have some longer conversation but this I could not manage. For two years I have not spoken korean, and that I still remember something means I had an excellent teacher.
In Itaewon I met the owner of the austrian deli. He and his wife were surprised to see me. I was surprised they recognized me.
Yesterday I had a dinner with Ylona and some friends at Seoul Club where Ylona celebrated her belated birthday and 10th anniversary of her Korean experience. It was a very nice party. Kyong-ok bought a nice cheese cake from Hyatt. It was nice to catch up and we had a great time. We were the last guests to leave and they needed to push us out.
Obama will arrive in Seoul tomorrow (Nov 18th) and the city is nicely decorated with flags. Looks very festive. Surprisingly there is not much police on streets although ratification of FTA is on the agenda.
Today in few hours I fly for Nadi. But I am looking forward to spend few more days in Seoul on the way back from Fiji.
Ylona looks great. Eleni grew up and is taller than me. The weather in Seoul is sunny but crispy. The city have not changed much in two years and I managed to find a way along kimchi smelling alleys after two years. Korean also came very quickly back. I felt insecure this morning giving taxi driver directions, but I got a confidence boost after he complimented me on my pronunciation. He wanted to have some longer conversation but this I could not manage. For two years I have not spoken korean, and that I still remember something means I had an excellent teacher.
In Itaewon I met the owner of the austrian deli. He and his wife were surprised to see me. I was surprised they recognized me.
Yesterday I had a dinner with Ylona and some friends at Seoul Club where Ylona celebrated her belated birthday and 10th anniversary of her Korean experience. It was a very nice party. Kyong-ok bought a nice cheese cake from Hyatt. It was nice to catch up and we had a great time. We were the last guests to leave and they needed to push us out.
Obama will arrive in Seoul tomorrow (Nov 18th) and the city is nicely decorated with flags. Looks very festive. Surprisingly there is not much police on streets although ratification of FTA is on the agenda.
Today in few hours I fly for Nadi. But I am looking forward to spend few more days in Seoul on the way back from Fiji.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Crimea Trip Photos
I finally got around of sorting Crimea photos from a trip two weeks ago:
- for Crimean landscape and road photos please see: http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/CrimeaRoadPhotos?authkey=Gv1sRgCOiVnvjK2PKzHg&feat=directlink
- photos of Livadia - the palace where from Feb 4th -11th 1945 Roosevelt stayed and in which Yalta (or Crimean) Conference took place. In Livadia Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin signed communique on formation of United Nations. Before the Revolution the palace was a "holiday palace" of imperial family. Thus there is some logic in a palace exhibition set up: on the first floor photos are related to the Conference and on a second floor photos to the imperial family. http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/LivadiaYalta?authkey=Gv1sRgCMDi4tW479_7Ig&feat=directlink
- people in Crimea love pets; there are everywhere - around stands, in shops, in parks, in hotels. My favourite photos are of Gosha (a dogie) with a cat. They are true lovebirds: http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/CrimeanDogiesAndCats?feat=directlink
- Alupka is a spectacular palace of Prince Michael Vorontsov; the governor-general of New Russia - territory which in imperial Russia included part of Ukraine and Crimea. He is also known as "creator" of Odessa. M. Vorotsov was married to Elizabeth Branitsky, a daughter of Alexandra Branitsky (one of Potemkin nieces and "the lady in waiting" of Cathrine the Great; she made Alexandryvka Park in Belaya Cerkov). Elizabeth Vorotsov allegedly had an affair with Pushkin while he was in Odessa. The gossip is that Pushkin fathered one of Elizabeth daughters. The palace has spectacular staircase in the garden with six lions sculpted in Carrara marble. Each lion is different. My favourite is a sleeping lion. http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/Alupka?authkey=Gv1sRgCNmwxeDox-yjWQ&feat=directlink
- Bakchisaray - was a a seat of Crimean Khans. It is built by Crimean Tatars and according to wiki it is one of three Muslim's palaces in Europe the other two being Top Kapi and Alhambra. The palace is also famous because of marble fountain about which Pushkin wrote a poem. When Cathrine the Great conquered Crimea she gave an order to destroy all Tatar settlements - except Bakchisaray. http://picasaweb.google.com/gordie26/Bakchisaray?authkey=Gv1sRgCIemjb3Zr8jR_wE&feat=directlink
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
