Tallinn, Estonia!

Over the May holidays, Tom and I went to Tallinn, Estonia and Helsinki, Finland. We took a half-day at work and flew Estonian Air to Tallinn, then took a ferry across the Baltic Sea to Helsinki. We flew Ukrainian International back to Kyiv. It was a trip filled with light nights, lots of yummy food, and English-speakers! Here are some pictures of our sightseeing in Tallinn.

 We visited a pharmacy museum that still functions as a pharmacy today. It was established in 1422 and the museum had lots of old bottles, mechanisms and machines that were once used to help treat people. They also had a book of historical items used to treat ailments. They even used the "human organism" to help with treatments.

 This is Fat Margaret Tower that is located near the port end of town. Tom is posing here to help show the size of the bastion. The Tallinn Maritime museum is housed inside. 

Stare Misto Pivo Ad

Graffiti ad for a Ukrainian beer, Stare Misto. This building is about 4 stories. Look closely and you'll see the guys on the scaffolding, doing their thing.

Sakura in Kyiv

We found a few cherry blossom trees in Kyiv. It's truly spring!

Random

On our way to the store yesterday, Tom and I stumbled across this picture-put-on-canvas. It was outside, on a ledge. Tom guessed that it might be a part of a scavenger hunt. He also flirted with the idea of taking it. We didn't, but it sure was strange.

Adventures in Ukraine!

Tom and I went to Kamenitsk Podolski last weekend. It took us 7 hours to drive there, half of which were over bad, bumpy, pot-holed roads. The shocks of our rental car were broken IN after our jaunt. The weekend was full of hilariousness -- including a guy who walked into the restaurant where were were eating our lunch on the way to KP and ordered two coffees from us in Ukrainian. When I simply repeated what he said and told him I didn't understand him (he was ordering in Ukrainian after all), he looked at Tom and repeated himself. Tom motioned to the counter and simply said, "Please." It took him a while, but he finally caught on that we were patrons, not waitstaff. Tom made the great point that it was really a win for us because we blended so seamlessly into Ukrainian culture there and then.

Roads to KP. Bumpy.

People drove wherever they could to avoid the potholes, sometimes even on the other side of the road with oncoming traffic.

Our delicious lunch where the man ordered coffees from us. Ukrainian borcht is the BEST.

Shashlik (grilled meat) and yummy grilled veggies, pickled cabbage and carrots, and rice. Delicious!

The typical Ukrainian mode of transport.

Old Town KP.

 Graffiti is big all over Ukraine.

The town hall with a bar on the first floor.

 Churches!

KP!

 KP again!

KP's river which cut a canyon around the Old Town.

 I would live in this house. It's so cute.

Typical KP buildings.

Churches (again!).

Another church!

Russian homework

Tom is doing his Russian homework. He is watching a Soviet movie about New Year. It has all one could want... a romance, a cranky grandma, guitar tunes, and cold, blowing snow.

Happy Metro Ride

A very rare occurrence... a seat on the Kyiv metro.