Hi all,
It's been a few days since my last entry. It's been very chilly here in Kiev, down to about -5 C last night, but finally warmer today. I've been to Podil, which is the oldest part of Kiev, 3 times now, twice with Ania, and today on my own. I don't have a lot of pictures considering how much I've been there, but I have a few to share:) My interest in Podil, besides being a beautiful part of Kiev, is that I think that's where my character lived the first 10 years of her life. So I'm trying to get a feel for the atmosphere of the area, and find parks, etc, that she may have frequented.
Here is a shot of one of the oldest universities in Ukraine, the National University of Kiev-Mohyla Academy.
One of 2 convents in Podil, this is Florivsky Convent, which has been in existence since the 18th century.
A monument to Hrihorii Skovoroda, a Ukrainian philosopher who was educated at the Kiev-Mohyla Academy. The monument is in Kontractor Plosha (square). According to Ania, this was a popular location to meet friends in Podil, because of it's central and obvious location. I will probably have it be a focal point for my character as well. 
Another view of Florisky Convent.
Finally, a shot from inside the Funicular, open since 1905, an electric railway connecting Podil with the upper part of Kiev.
It's been a few days since my last entry. It's been very chilly here in Kiev, down to about -5 C last night, but finally warmer today. I've been to Podil, which is the oldest part of Kiev, 3 times now, twice with Ania, and today on my own. I don't have a lot of pictures considering how much I've been there, but I have a few to share:) My interest in Podil, besides being a beautiful part of Kiev, is that I think that's where my character lived the first 10 years of her life. So I'm trying to get a feel for the atmosphere of the area, and find parks, etc, that she may have frequented.
That last picture, the "vertical railway" is quite impressive. It's not the oldest funicular but one of the most important in Europe in how a city like Kyiv developed. And significant established "meeting places" are always notable - there are reasons some places serve so well; it's not just because of location or convenient to transport lines alone - usually there's also a significant distraction to observe while biding your time until your friends arrive. Hence many of the best "meeting places" offer spectacular views to enjoy, a statue of a great person whom you can contemplate their life or work (the statues are not only leaders, explorers and conquerors, but also often writers and artists or philosophers, etc), or overlook a gathering place where you can watch the other people milling about and enjoying the square/plaza.
ReplyDeleteYou're doing a great job in both your personal research and showing some of these gems to the West. Trying to describe "daily life in a foreign place/culture" is always difficult, and many who just settle for "a tour" and don't really get out in the public and LIVE there never fully experience it!