Ukraine

August 16, 2011

Morning is my favorite part of the day and I have been waking up early.  I sneak up to the library which is situated on the first desk on the front of the ship.  It has a panoramic view and great air conditioning.  The last few mornings I have not been able to access the internet, which is just fine, I read!

The ship slowly comes to life and it starts with the walkers who walk around the ship.  At first just one or two but as breakfast gets underway, the deck is busy.

Last night, the program director indicated that 30 percent of the staff comes from Kherson, we will see a lot of families coming to the ship to visit bringing care packages and home cooked meals.  Earlier in the week when I toured the Galley, I asked about their employment. All personnel are under contract for 8 months and there is no time off.  I wondered what that must be like, you work 8 months with no time off and then you get 4 months free to re-acquaint yourself with your friends and family, then back to work.  The “Hotel Manager” indicated this was his 7th year with Viking. Continue reading →

Yesterday was spent sailing down the river. I  had no idea just how large the Dnieper river is.  There were times I could barely see the banks of the river.  It seemed as if I was on a like as opposed to a river.  The day was raining and overcast which made it a great day for doing nothing.  I read, took a tour of the ship’s galley and got some extra sleep in.

Zaporozhe is a strange place, one long city concentrated along one long street named Prospect of Lenin and along it is a huge statue of him overlooking the hydro-electric dam that was completed in 1932.  Eight water turbines and five generators were designed and manufactured in the United States by General Electric.  The other three generators were made at the Leningrad factory.  The General Electric turbines are still in use today.  This made Zaporozhe a strategic for Hitler to capture during WWII.  There is a definite soviet feel to this place.

During the tour my ears perked up when they started talking about the Mennonites. I remember the Amish and Mennonites while growing up back east.   Catherine the Great invited the Mennonites from Prussia to settle the area.  Today, there aren’t any Mennonites as they left or were deported after the Russian Revolution. Continue reading →

Kiev or Kyiv, is the birthplace of Russia.  Legend has it that three Slavic Brothers and their sister founded this city 1500 years ago.  It has played part in many empires and many rulers.  My first impression of Kiev during my landing was that it was a city surrounded by natural beauty and fertile farmlands.  Once in the city, it was clear that time had left its marks – the prosperous times and not so prosperous times and more recently the soviet influences.

I have read that Kiev may be the next Prague of Europe – time will tell if Kiev will reach that but one thing is clear, there is a lot of building and development going on.  Currently the city is preparing for the Soccer championships that will take place in 2012

Continue reading →

August 11 and 12, 2011

I got up and packed my things and then went for my last walk through Chelsea.  It was the perfect summer day, not too hot, not too humid and a nice breeze blowing.  While growing up in the Northeast, we dreamed of these days while we froze through the winter or melted in the humidity.  When there are so few of them, you really appreciate them.

I was not going to leave NYC with having a slice of pizza.  I picked up a couple and them for lunch and it was time for the car to pick us up and head out to JFK. Having earned Gold Star Alliance status does have it perks – checking and boarding was quick and easy. Continue reading →

I am heading to the Ukraine, to take a cruise down the Dnieper river on a Viking River cruise called the Footsteps of the Cossacks.  The cruise will start in Kiev (Kyev) and end in Odessa.

I chose this destination because I have already visited the Baltic states and Russia. Areas that have fascinating histories and borders that seem to continually change.  Although Kiev is considered the birthplace of Russia, Ukraine will turn 20 on August 24th, 2011 right after I leave.

I also wanted to see if Chicken Kiev is the same in Kiev as it is here in the states.  I must admit that I have taken a liking to Eastern European/Russian cuisine, but then again, there are not too many cuisines I don’t like or don’t like learning about.