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Ukraine for 5 Weeks
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Posted by: AkMike

Once again we're off to Ukraine. This time for 5 weeks! During our travels we'll be joined by my Aunt and Uncle as well as cousins and their spouses for 2 weeks of it. We are goinf to lead a tour showing them Ukraine. We're going to cover the area from Kiev south to the Black Sea. We're going to base out of Stevastopol and get a bus to take us on day trips to Yalta and Bella Kalava. We are looking forward to having them meet Tanya's son and his family as well as friends of ours in Cherkassy.
I think it's going to be a great way for my family to meet some of their 'new' kinfolk from across the big pond.
I don't know how much time I'll have to update this during this juant but I'll make sure I add pics when we get back mid May.

Posted by: blucatz

Take your ball glove with you, Im gonna ask the pilot to open the window so I can toss you down a beer as we fly over. Have fun on your trip..

34 Days to Moscow and Egypt

Posted by: AkMike

With my luck you'd flush overhead.....

Posted by: Pin Boy

looks like we'll miss each other mike. i'm planning to go for 8-9 weeks from june til august. maybe another time. try not to drink all the beer; save some for me

Posted by: AkMike

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pin Boy

looks like we'll miss each other mike. i'm planning to go for 8-9 weeks from june til august. maybe another time. try not to drink all the beer; save some for me

Thanks PB, I have found that there is Russian made MGD beer there if you look hard enough..
I know you've been there before but if you want a gyuide/translator in the Kiev area.... My DIL and step-son can show you the ropes.
Depending on what we find out about in re. to the apts... We'll be headed back next winter too.

Posted by: Pin Boy

thanks mike. i should be good. after having been there for 9 weeks last summer, i should be able to hit the ground running this time as i know quite a few people and my way around.

MGD? you mean miller genuine draft? that was one of the few american beers i saw there and now i know why. i haven't had that in years. did see budweiser, but not any coors products. i like molson and labatt from canada, but didn;t see any canadian beer at all.

my favorites when i'm there are tuborg (denmark i believe), slavutich, and obolon. love that you can buy a cold draft beer on the street and relax on a park bench

you can't swing a dead cat without hitting someone drinking beer or eating the delicious ice cream, not just men either, and yet people are thin! if you could put that in a bottle and sell it, bill gates would be asking you to borrow money!!

pb

Posted by: disculmawsu

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkMike

Once again we're off to Ukraine. This time for 5 weeks! During our travels we'll be joined by my Aunt and Uncle as well as cousins and their spouses for 2 weeks of it. We are goinf to lead a tour showing them Ukraine. We're going to cover the area from Kiev south to the Black Sea. We're going to base out of Stevastopol and get a bus to take us on day trips to Yalta and Bella Kalava. We are looking forward to having them meet Tanya's son and his family as well as friends of ours in Cherkassy.
I think it's going to be a great way for my family to meet some of their 'new' kinfolk from across the big pond.
I don't know how much time I'll have to update this during this juant but I'll make sure I add pics when we get back mid May.

Wow! How lucky can a guy get being able to spend 5 weeks in Ukraine.

Posted by: azamuner

Quote:

Originally Posted by disculmawsu

Wow! How lucky can a guy get being able to spend 5 weeks in Ukraine.

Tell me about it. Lucky bastage.

Posted by: GoingToRussia

You guys will be posting something similar one of these days so don't be too jealou.!!!

Disculmasu has a girl already coming. What about you azamuner? How is your search going?

Posted by: azamuner

I took a break but now I am scouring Elenas for some interesting women and working on writing a better introduction letter. I guess I was a little put off after my initial trip went in the crapper. I'm ready now to get back on the horse and call it a learning experience.

Posted by: Pin Boy

a guy can get even luckier and spend 8-9 weeks in ukraine like i plan to do this summer

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Yes, this is the way to do it Pin Boy!!!

Write Zero Visit Many (WZVM)

Posted by: Pin Boy

so we have a new acronym WZVM? that's a good one!!

Posted by: Stirlitz

I remember WNVS

Write None, Visit Some

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stirlitz

I remember WNVS

Write None, Visit Some

Yes I know someone that went without a plan, just to meet women. He met his Russian wife and they have been married more then 2 years.

Many successful ways to wed a foreign bride ... they all work. Just use the method you are most comfortable with.

Posted by: Chillidog

Have a great trip, I am sure your extanded family will have a wonderful time, should be a blast!!!!

Posted by: disculmawsu

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingToRussia

You guys will be posting something similar one of these days so don't be too jealou.!!!

Disculmasu has a girl already coming. What about you azamuner? How is your search going?

I am not interested in meeting women - my friend is someone I like very much and would not trade her for anything.
I would like to see more of Ukraine than the 10 days this summer. I want to visit Odessa and spend more Kyiv and observing struggle between Russians and Ukraine. I want to see how likely Putin prediction that he will cause the Eastern (Russian dominated portion) to succeed from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation.
In addition, I just like traveling to Ukraine and Russia to observe the culture and test the "textbook" observations against the reality.

Posted by: Buckeye5704

I know I'm late with it, but I lost this thread til today.

Mike have a great trip. I'll be there in 44 days.

Posted by: AkMike

Well, so far so good! We arrived here safe and sound and the luggage did too. I'm amazed that Kiev has grown so much since I was last here. New apt. buildings with sky cranes all over the palce. I counted more than 30 just during the car ride to Sergey place.

We think we saw Yushinko's limo during that ride too. unmarked cop cars with the red lights flashing even. (Who's he think he is anyway!)

But it really didn't do alot in rush hour gridlock IMO.
The trees are starting to bud out and the cherry blossoms smell good. Spring is here.
It seems extra strange to me sine I was sledding (snowmachineing or Ski Dooing for the Canuks) to my cabin last week.
Funny how we can loose winter with some travels huh?

Oh yah,,, I almost forgot to mention that since it's spring here already... The mini skirts and hot pants are out in full bloom too!

Terrible huh?

I bet they are out more further south, I'll update as we head south to Krim.

Posted by: Chillidog

mini skirts and hot pants

what the H*LL am I doing still here!!!!!
It is raining/snowing right now in Chicago

Posted by: Chillidog

Quote:

Originally Posted by disculmawsu

observing struggle between Russians and Ukraine. I want to see how likely Putin prediction that he will cause the Eastern (Russian dominated portion) to succeed from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation.

Yes, this is also of great interest to me, to see how over the course of time this will all play out, what changes may or may not come because of this

Posted by: blucatz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chillidog

Yes, this is also of great interest to me, to see how over the course of time this will all play out, what changes may or may not come because of this

Chilli, you havn't said in a while on how your search is going? You still trolling your bait or have you hooked one yet that you want to go and see?

30 Days till Moscow and Egypt

Posted by: Chillidog

Quote:

Originally Posted by blucatz

Chilli, you havn't said in a while on how your search is going? You still trolling your bait or have you hooked one yet that you want to go and see?

30 Days till Moscow and Egypt

Blucatz,
do not want to steal Mike's thread but will answer briefly your question.
I have one I have been writting in Mariupol (right now she is a definite need to see) had another I was writing in Odessa but have stopped this (I think hairy boris) so I just started writing to another woman in Sumy. No trips yet planned, have some person buisness that needs attending first before I go.

Mike, hope everything is going well, that your family/friends are having a good time, looking forward to reading more about the trip + pictures if you can. Have fun!!!

Posted by: Raspberry

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chillidog

Sounds sort of like my meeting schedule.......Mariupol and Sumy....as well as
Zaporozhye.....and trying to decide which order to do this....

Posted by: Buckeye5704

Bob's being a little modest about his two ladies guys.

I've seen their pics.

Posted by: AkMike

Quote:

Originally Posted by disculmawsu

IMO you'll be able to see much more of the struggle on the local news at home than here on the street, Folks are more concerned with day to day living than the long term politics.
I doubt that there will be any civil war spliting the country. All here in the central part remember the starvation of their grandparents in the 30's. (Despite Putins denial that it ever happened)

Posted by: AkMike

Everything is still going great! Tanya's been getting everything set for the arrival of my Fla. family this friday. We've managed to meet up with family and friends here and hoist a few also. Our Grandson Vanya is growing fast. Why is that?

We went over to look at the progress of the apt building when we were in Kiev.. Jeesh, My step son was sending us pics of the wrong building... Now they are saying that it'll be ready by December not June/July as promised.. ( sounds just the same as at home)
The weather has cooled down a bit but the short skirts are still unbelievable! I'm going to have to get a few pics of "street scenes" to post after I get back.

Posted by: azamuner

Yes please post those pics when you get a chance.

Posted by: royalpalace774

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkMike

Everything is still going great! Tanya's been getting everything set for the arrival of my Fla. family this friday. We've managed to meet up with family and friends here and hoist a few also. Our Grandson Vanya is growing fast. Why is that?

Hi Ak,
Wish I could meet up with you but I know you are no where near me right now. Hope you are having a blast. And yes the short skirts can do some damage!

Posted by: disculmawsu

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkMike

While I might tend to agree with you in principle, I found very interesting to have several poeple open to me about their views on the matter when I was in Kharkiv and last summer.
One Russian equalated the position of Russians in Ukraine with Jews in Nazi Germany - I think was a very extreme overstatement on her part, but this was her spontanous opinion. Another complained that Ukrainian was not the real language of Ukraine - she said "Listen and you will no Ukrainian spoken on this street (in Kyiv)." (My ears are not that atuned difference so I was unable to vertify the claim). Another made sure I visited a pro-Russian party booth to hear the "truth" about the Russian situation. Another complained about the promotion of Ukrainian literature in the schools and in the public over Russian - I forgot the name of the writer whose statute is in Kharkiv, but a Russian woman I met there said that the writer was third rate and could not compare with Pushkin etc. And complained there was only a small statute of Puskhin.
Of course, one of my problems in life is that I tend to attract individuals with strong views and thus may have a bias views of the situation.
It would nice to hear some of the views of Ukrainians about the situation in a directed and unfiltered through the news media.

It these types of comments which are hard to find on the local news.

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by disculmawsu

- I forgot the name of the writer whose statute is in Kharkiv, but a Russian woman I met there said that the writer was third rate and could not compare with Pushkin etc. And complained there was only a small statute of Puskhin.

I think you will find it was Taras Shevchenko, there is a Schevchenko Gardens in Kharkov, quite a nice park it is in Summer too, lots to see

BTW His literary heritage is regarded to be the foundation of modern Ukrainian literature and, to a large extent, the modern Ukrainian language. Shevchenko also wrote in Russian and left many masterpieces as a painter and an illustrator.

Posted by: disculmawsu

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

I think you will find it was Taras Shevchenko, there is a Schevchenko Gardens in Kharkov, quite a nice park it is in Summer too, lots to see

Thanks for reminding me - I submerged in Cold War and Putin literature and could remember the name Taras Shevchenko.

Posted by: AkMike

Well the reletives have gone home to the states and the tour went fairly well. There were a few problems but nothing major. We're taking some "us" time out now to visit friends and family. The other set of grandparents have decided that they aren't going to allow us any time alone with the grandson. Major mistake! I'm pissed off. Several things have surfaced and it appears that they are trying to break up the marriage so they will get custody of the grandson. The DIL is kind of wishy-washy and lets mama decide for her alot. Tanya overheard the MIL say that after the other sister gets settled down more in Salt Lake,(She married an AM) she will find am American husband for her..
Talk about the traditional MIL witch! She invited us to dinner before this blew up IF we paid for the food.... I guess they think it's fair/right?????

We did get a visit in with our hunting buddy here. I brought a "jackalope" for his birthday. Sfter a lenghty speach telling of the supreme effort I made searching for this rare exotic animal, (climbing the higest mountains, swimming the coldest rivers in Alaska, stumbling around in the blackest caves, ect) He opened the box and couldn't stop laughing for 5 minutes!

It now hangs in his trophy room for all to see!

Posted by: sidney

Quote:

We did get a visit in with our hunting buddy here. I brought a "jackalope" for his birthday. Sfter a lenghty speach telling of the supreme effort I made searching for this rare exotic animal, (climbing the higest mountains, swimming the coldest rivers in Alaska, stumbling around in the blackest caves, ect) He opened the box and couldn't stop laughing for 5 minutes! It now hangs in his trophy room for all to see!

Reminds me of my wife's first month here. We went shopping to gander mountain with my neighbor. We were enjoying all the exotic mounts when I said something about they even have a mounted jackolope. We went for a closer look and that's when I poured it on about only the males having horns and not to run over them with the car for fear of getting a flat tire. My wife thought she knew most everything about american wildlife but was taking this story hook line and sinker.
When she did find out the truth we were in trouble. I also got her a singing jackolope for her birthday that year.
I'm sure the day for paybacks will come someday.
Sid

Posted by: AkMike

Now that's funny... LOL I said that same basic stuff during my speach!. Funny how great minds think alike Sid!!

Another funny thing that happened here was when a cousin and her hubby went for an early evening stroll thru a park in Kiev they were approaced(sp) by a beggar..
He said somthing in russian and they said they speak english only, Then the bum said give me your money or I'll be rude." They laughed and kept walking away... If the beggar had been serious he'd have gotten his arse whipped by a girl... a girl with a black belt.

Posted by: Raspberry

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

I think you will find it was Taras Shevchenko, there is a Schevchenko Gardens in Kharkov, quite a nice park it is in Summer too, lots to see

There are many things named after Schevchenko all over Ukraine. His name is everywhere!

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspberry

There are many things named after Schevchenko all over Ukraine. His name is everywhere!

Yes he was a famouus Ukrainian writer. (not the footballer)

Posted by: Chillidog

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

Yes he was a famouus Ukrainian writer. (not the footballer)

never heard of a Schevchenko playing 'Football'

Posted by: AkMike

Try looking under soccer... Their football. Note that they use their feet unlike our football.

Also, CHA CHING>>> Number #3000'th post! Yipee!

Posted by: sidney

Congrats on 3K.
I should be there in another 10 years.
Sid

Posted by: AkMike

Ahhh You'll do it quicker than me... Keep working at it Sid. You've got alot of great ideas and thoughts IMO.

Posted by: AkMike

Well we're home safe and sound after our juant! Many new impressions and thoughts on Ukraine. Wealso have decided NEVER to invite my reletives on any more trips! My Aunt and Uncle were great but their children (my age) were a PITA. 1 doesn't have a clue... (about anything) and the other was bored all the time.... We set the pace of the trip around my Aunt and Uncle,(82 and 75 yo.) who paid for their trip. If they were worn out then that was it for the day. simple?
Not fair according to the kids... Tanya and I both got a bit sick during the trip and weren't very interested in bar hopping around Stevastopol and Kiev to start with. But I guess we should have anyway.
I bought a Mr Coffe style coffee maker and made coffee for us so we didn't have to wait for the resteraunts to open, I brought a big can of coffee with us from the states. The first am one cousin made a comment about 'what? no creamer???' I said that this isn't Burger King and you don't get it your way! I drink coffee black and if you want it with creamer find some of your own.. The I offered to put their coffee back in the pot sionce it wasn't to their liking.. That took care of the complaints on that subject! LOL
Incase you haven't noticed IMO those cousins act like little spoiled kids.. and they are.

Posted by: Buckeye5704

Welcome home Mike and Tanya!

And congrats on #3000

Posted by: sidney

Good to see you all back in one piece.
Sid

Posted by: Chillidog

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkMike

Well we're home safe and sound after our juant! Many new impressions and thoughts on Ukraine. Wealso have decided NEVER to invite my reletives on any more trips! My Aunt and Uncle were great but their children (my age) were a PITA. 1 doesn't have a clue... (about anything) and the other was bored all the time.... We set the pace of the trip around my Aunt and Uncle,(82 and 75 yo.) who paid for their trip. If they were worn out then that was it for the day. simple?
Not fair according to the kids... Tanya and I both got a bit sick during the trip and weren't very interested in bar hopping around Stevastopol and Kiev to start with. But I guess we should have anyway.
I bought a Mr Coffe style coffee maker and made coffee for us so we didn't have to wait for the resteraunts to open, I brought a big can of coffee with us from the states. The first am one cousin made a comment about 'what? no creamer???' I said that this isn't Burger King and you don't get it your way! I drink coffee black and if you want it with creamer find some of your own.. The I offered to put their coffee back in the pot sionce it wasn't to their liking.. That took care of the complaints on that subject! LOL
Incase you haven't noticed IMO those cousins act like little spoiled kids.. and they are.

Welcome home Mike and Tanya,

glad to see things went resonably well, sorry that the cousins (or whatever the relation is ) could not understand or comprehend that they are not "1st priority" and acted like some prima dona's, and at their age no less!!!! you did right to look after your Aunt and Uncle ( but you did not need me to tell you that)

Look forward to a trip report of some kind and some pictures!!!!

Posted by: sidney

Mike. I've had the same concern when I invited my brother and wife along on our next trip. Physically I doubt she could handle the walking and/or pace we walk. You never know until though. I had a friend show me much of russia and wouldn't mind doing the same.
Sid

Posted by: AkMike

I've avoided being with the cousins for years because of issues like this Sid. But they are blood and I have to take them along with my Aunt and Uncle. Too bad we can't choose our kinfolk!
I'm just happy to have shown the Aunt and Uncle some of Ukraine. They fell in love with Tanya when we treckked down there during her first winter in the US.
BTW, my Uncle almost made it into Ukraine during WW2. He loved the WW2 museum in Kiev.

Posted by: eddie465

Mike, I am glad you, Tanya and your aunt and uncle had a good time on the trip. I hope the four of you might be able to go again, without your cousins

.

Any pics?

Posted by: AkMike

We'll be putting up some soon. Bear with us. I had to go back to work as soon as we got back. Maybe I can convince Tanya to add them.???