Kiev Parking

Yesterday spent Saturday afternoon with a friend. We went for a lunch but as we have not seen each other for few weeks we talked for hours. Upon leaving the restaurant and going to her car we noticed another car parked in a way my friend could leave. The guys who take care of parking told us a driver took suitcases to his flat and any minute will be back. After 10 min my friend wondered if the guy is also unpacking suitcases.
It took my friend good 10 min to find out where the guy lives. Another 10 min to find out where is his flat and how to enter the building. Upon seeing my friend he was unapologetic and said "I had to bring my kid home to sleep". My friend wondered if he was singing lullabys. All in all about 40 min spent on a cold in wet snow. Some people are truly asocial.

Yulia

On the Prorizna street somebody put Yulia on. Quite high up. Prominent. Like the rat in the bottom.

Happy End for a Husky

Tonight in the park came across a husky. Handsome dog. Wonderful head and tail. But scared. I saw a couple in front of me and asked if husky is theirs. They said no but added they have not seen an owner of the husky around although they walk for a while in the park. I continued walking. Than a mum and a daughter I sometimes see walking approached me and asked if I saw a husky. They wanted to get him as he seemed homeless. We started to look together. And found him. He was scared of us. We were joined by golden retriever Vinnie whom husky immediately liked and played with. But every time we moved closer or raised a hand - husky would run from us. The mum and a daughter told they tried to catch him for two hours earlier that evening. Then they went home to bring some beacon. Husky loved beacon but still kept distance from us. It took us about an hour to get his trust. It seems he had some health problems and that previous owners threw him on the street. The collar was so tight it hurt him. Once we could get closer we had to loose it.  The daughter noticed one paw bleeds.  Mum and daughter were so happy when he started to trust them the daughter took him in her arms and carried him home. He looked comfortable in her arms. I was also happy the husky found home. With this snow and in such a cold his chances on his own were very slim. On the photo above - trying to get husky closer to us.

First snow!

It's unusual warm winter. So far there was no snow. I have not complained. I prefer balmy and sunny climate.  But seeing some snow this morning made me happy. There was not much of it. Just enough to give some white spark. As it was sunny too - Iggy and I had a great morning walk.
With some effort there was enough snow to make a snowman. Iggy did not think of snowman much. I think he was embarrassed.

IT incident on the airport

Few days ago had first hand experience of the passport control system collapse at Boryspol. The person in from of me passed control with what I consider normal control speed. Than it was my turn. The passport official took my passport. Than started to turn it's pages. From the back to the front. Than from the beginning to the end. I have a thick passport. With many stamps. Often at the passport control officials look through it and than examine visas and stamps. Few times I was asked why I have such a big passport. 
But this time the young man looked uncomfortable. Than started to turn pages again. Than he pushed some keys. After standing for some time I asked him if something is wrong with my passport. He smiled and answered "system is down". Next few minutes everyone was a bit upset. Together with other queuing passengers  I got even more upset when the official  left his booth. But quickly there was an explanation: all officials went for the lap tops to process passports manually. Altogether we all waited for about 30 min that officials start manual passport processing. I asked if collapse of the system happens often. The answer (of course) was "not". That was the first time. I was surprised how well organized everything was. As queues of people for passport checking got longer - more officials came and started manual passport checking. Passport officials also informed airlines about the delay. To my knowledge only one plane (to warszaw) was significantly delayed.
I was impressed how well passport control managed the IT incident.

Xmas in Kiev

Orthodox Christmas is on Jan 7th. Few photos of this year Xmas deco.

The Museum of the Great Patriotic War

In Ukraine and Russia WWII is called ˝The Great Patriotic War˝.
In 1941 as a part of German Barbarossa operation from Aug to Sep German troops encircled Kiev. On Sep 26th about 665,000 Soviet troops surrendered in the Battle of Kiev. This is the largest army to surrender in all history.
Kiev was occupied by Germans until Nov 6th 1943. Following 778 days of German occupation Kiev's population decreased from 900,000 in 1940 to 186,000 in 1945.


In 1981 just next to Pechersk Lavra - Brezhnev opened The Museum of the Great Patriotic War;


At the museum entrance we were greeted by a pioneer - a 10 year old girl. Most likely she was there with her babushka who was warking at the museum ticket shop. The girl also sold us ticket.