Kiev!

[motodraconis]

Russia and Ukraine side by side. But which one is Ukraine?



"Probably the half-naked one" (Lovely O who met up with us for a drink on the last night - she's Ukrainian, from the contested region as it happens.)


The People's Friendship Arch spans over this soviet leftover.



While it still seems to be drawing some local interest



I think the average Ukrainian (in Kiev at least) is more interested in the Independence Monument in Independence Square.



Beautiful old architecture St Michael's Cathedral and the associated monastery.







UNESCO site St Sophia's Cathedral and bell tower.





Beautiful Weird Architecture the Cursed House of Chimeras











And other artefacts of beauty...







Monastic Cat is chilled out.



Don't make eye contact, don't make eye contact! DON'T MAKE EYE CONTACT!!!
NOOOO!!! TOO LATE!!! _vargr_ gets nobbled.





Not to mention our fabulous hotel!



It used to be Hotel Russia during soviet times, but they saved a bit of cash, knocked off a few letters and renamed it Hotel Rus



We had a good deal on the "Honeymoon" suite,





Dolphin tap!



Very classy, the Hotel Rus



In short, I can totally recommend Kiev, the combo of creepy day trip, cheesy but cheap posh hotel, gorgeous city and splendid bargainous food makes it a great weekend break. Recommended!

Comments

[crazycrone.livejournal.com]

Looks so fabulous. House of Chimeras, yeah!

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

There's loads of mad sculptures (http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/db/07/55/db075516fa9f0e9093f4d75e7c14f318.jpg) on it, but it also happens to be next door to the Presidents house! So you can only really see it from one angle and there are guards everywhere preventing you from getting too close. I'd have loved to go inside or see more of the sculptures.

[zengineer.livejournal.com]

Love the tap. I do like small, elegant details in a hotel. Looks like a lovely city for a weekend break.

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

I can recommend Hotel Rus for cheap swank,* though we didn't bother with breakfast included as there are a couple of amazing tasty cheap local fare eateries on the walk to Independence Square.


* I said swank.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Wow! Some of those buildings (and chimeras) are awesome.

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

Indeed, the pink snail is breathtaking.

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

Somewhere I have a picture of me up to my knees in show outside St. Michael's. (I also got a picture of the funicular, though mostly because A Friend is unreasonably (she admits it) excited by them.

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

Oh! We missed the furnicular, but then again, I've seen looooaaads of them.

Find add post up that photo, St Michaels in the snow is an excellent pose!

[puddingcat.livejournal.com]

It's behind the pink snail:)
(Unless you mean you saw it but didn't go on it, in which case ignore me.)

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

Arf! I was so distracted by the GIANT PINK SNAIL I walked straight past it. Probably thought the building was a public convenience. Groan!

[faerierhona.livejournal.com]

Did you need visas?

[motodraconis.livejournal.com]

No visas needed for Brits, though you do get a stamp in your passport!

[glittertigger]

Looks great. Am especially impressed by the House of Chimeras.