| 22 February 2010
 | If it is your first time in Ukraine then one of the places that you shouldn't forget is the city of Kiev. This is a scenic city that hosts around 3 million people and the city is situated on the Dnipro River. This is the capital of Ukraine. The architecture and the many infrastructures in the city of Kiev are considered as world treasures. Here is one architecture worth checking out when you are in the city of Kiev; the Cathedral of St. Sophia. This cathedral was built from the years 1017 until 1031. This architectural wonder was named after the Hagia Sofia Cathedral in Istanbul. It is here where the Prince Yaroslav was buried, and when you check out the place make sure that you take time to visit and appreciate the cathedral's interior. The interior of the cathedral plays host to many 11th century mosaics and frescoes. For the lovers of arts, then the Cathedral is worth checking out. When you check the old section of Kiev, the visitors can see the Ukrainian Baroque Church of St. Andrew. This church is well-loved by the locals. Another interesting site in the city is the Percherska Lavra known also as the Monastery of Caves. This monastery is just a short trolley ride from the center of Kyiv. This is the site where the visitor can find two 11th century cathedral plus the presence of the world-famous catacombs. Bell towers and museums can be accessed at this site. If the visitor is just at the center of the town, then the Golden Gate should be checked as well. This structure dates back to 1037. Ukraine is also known for its arts and culture and Ukraine actually plays hosts to more than 100 theaters as recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Worth checking are the country's National Theaters which include the National Opera of Ukraine, the National Academic Drama Theater of I. Franko and the National Academic Theater of Russian Drama of Lesya Ukrainka. |
Kiev, Your Destination
| The beautiful city of Kiev is the ideal place to meet your future partner. The romantic atmosphere of the many onion domed churches and cathedrals add to the charm of this city. Once the capital of the first Slavic empire, it has a history dating back 1,500 years. The Kiev Rus stretched from the Black Sea to the Danube. This city has seen many waves of invaders, which is reflected in the mix of appearances of the inhabitants. Built on the steep sides of hills overlooking the wide Dnepr River, Kiev is also a busy port serving ships travelling South to the Black Sea nr Odessa, or North through Belarus towards Russia and the Baltic States. If you visit the city in summer you may wish to visit the extensive woods and sandy beaches, which line the river, practically in the centre of the city. Anyone expecting drab poverty will be very pleasantly surprised. I've lifted a quote from a book by Mark Llewellyn, describing his experience riding a bicycle from Sevastopol, on the Crimea to the Kola Peninsula in the Arctic. During his stay in Kiev he took a ride on the Metro, and was affected by the depth of the tunnels but he continued: 'Once on the train I began to relax and to examine my companions more closely. There were sandy haired Slavs and dark skinned Mongols, Northerners with alabaster skin and cyanic eyes. The dowdiness, which I had expected was missing. Instead they dazzled each other with tangerines and limes and iridescent stripes. Men of all ages wore Hawaiian shirts and baseball caps, and younger women flaunted their bodies in mini-skirts and see-through blouses, which showed off their lacy bras. It passed my mind that I was seeing the fruits of new-found Capitalism but I found out later that Kievians had always dressed like this, it was just that you had to catch them in season, like cherries.'
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