topic Re: Ukraine Question in Among Friends

Ukraine Question

World Traveler — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:08:37 GMT

I'm hoping that @sonechko sees this, as I understand she is from the Ukraine.

A couple of years ago I planned a trip to the Ukraine but had to cancel it at the last minute. Sonechko, this was my itinerary and I plan to try again, probably next year. Do you feel I can get an adequate feel for the country by limiting my itinerary to the following places, taking around 2-3 weeks for a visit?

Kiev

Kremenchug

Dnepropetrovsk

Zaporozhye

Kherson

Odessa

I want to ensure I go to places that will pretty much let me not only enjoy the country but also learn the history of it.

Thanks for any help you can give me on this.

Re: Ukraine Question

sonechko — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 17:36:23 GMT

Hi @World Traveler! Wow, you are literally living up to your nick name! Well, I am out of the country of Ukrain for 35 years now, but very updated on what's going on there via internet since the days of Maidan and through the beginning of this war on the East of Ukraine, that our neighbor "gifted" the country with.

Kiev

Kremenchug

Dnepropetrovsk

Zaporozhye

Kherson

Odessa

These cities in bold print are a definite "yes" recommendation for the visit. I'd also add to them Lvov, in the Western Ukraine. Very beautiful, historical, very these days city, and maybe some scenic places in the Karpati Mountains.

Kiev is gorgeous! Odessa also is so nice and on the Black Sea. The other cities on your list, I do not know what to say, because I never was there myself, I left quite young. The only thing that I'd recommend, is if war still continues at the time you are ready to go there, try to stay away from cities near russian boarder in the zone of a war conflict to be safe. Hopefully, this craziness will be over by the time you go. Ukraine is a very beautiful country with wonderful people, I am sure you'll enjoy your trip.

@Drythe from our board can tell you even more, since she traveled there not too long ago, and she's been to the places and had experiences, I have not. Recently on one of the Internet sites, it linked me to the most beautiful and unique places in Ukraine. I looked and I was stunned - really nice!

Try to go in the warm time of the year - May - September to enjoy more sunshine, Ukraine is very green, the beaches of Dnepre in Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, the fruits and the vegetables, that are so delicious there! But if you going for 2-3 weeks, the fewer cities you'll plan to cover, the more opportunity you'll have to really enjoy each one of them.

Re: Ukraine Question

World Traveler — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 18:12:31 GMT

@sonechko wrote:
Hi @World Traveler! Wow, you are literally living up to your nick name! Well, I am out of the country of Ukrain for 35 years now, but very updated on what's going on there via internet since the days of Maidan and through the beginning of this war on the East of Ukraine, that our neighbor "gifted" the country with.
Kiev
Kremenchug
Dnepropetrovsk
Zaporozhye
Kherson
Odessa

These cities in bold print are a definite "yes" recommendation for the visit. I'd also add to them Lvov, in the Western Ukraine. Very beautiful, historical, very these days city, and maybe some scenic places in the Karpati Mountains.
Kiev is gorgeous! Odessa also is so nice and on the Black Sea. The other cities on your list, I do not know what to say, because I never was there myself, I left quite young. The only thing that I'd recommend, is if war still continues at the time you are ready to go there, try to stay away from cities near russian boarder in the zone of a war conflict to be safe. Hopefully, this craziness will be over by the time you go. Ukraine is a very beautiful country with wonderful people, I am sure you'll enjoy your trip.
@Drythe from our board can tell you even more, since she traveled there not too long ago, and she's been to the places and had experiences, I have not. Recently on one of the Internet sites, it linked me to the most beautiful and unique places in Ukraine. I looked and I was stunned - really nice!
Try to go in the warm time of the year - May - September to enjoy more sunshine, Ukraine is very green, the beaches of Dnepre in Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, the fruits and the vegetables, that are so delicious there! But if you going for 2-3 weeks, the fewer cities you'll plan to cover, the more opportunity you'll have to really enjoy each one of them.

Oh, thanks for all the helpful information. Yes, my plan is to go during July or August. Some places I need to go during our winter because they are having their summer during our cold season. I usually get a chance to go into homes and have a meal with the locals, and that way I truly learn about their culture, rather than just going to tourist places.

If it turns out that I can make it over there as planned, then I will let you know how it went. Am already scheduled for three weeks in Ireland in June, and would like to try to make it over to the Ukraine after that.

Diakuju! (hope that says thank you!)

Re: Ukraine Question

bebe777 — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 15:18:10 GMT

@sonechko wrote:
Hi @World Traveler! Wow, you are literally living up to your nick name! Well, I am out of the country of Ukrain for 35 years now, but very updated on what's going on there via internet since the days of Maidan and through the beginning of this war on the East of Ukraine, that our neighbor "gifted" the country with.
Kiev
Kremenchug
Dnepropetrovsk
Zaporozhye
Kherson
Odessa

These cities in bold print are a definite "yes" recommendation for the visit. I'd also add to them Lvov, in the Western Ukraine. Very beautiful, historical, very these days city, and maybe some scenic places in the Karpati Mountains.
Kiev is gorgeous! Odessa also is so nice and on the Black Sea. The other cities on your list, I do not know what to say, because I never was there myself, I left quite young. The only thing that I'd recommend, is if war still continues at the time you are ready to go there, try to stay away from cities near russian boarder in the zone of a war conflict to be safe. Hopefully, this craziness will be over by the time you go. Ukraine is a very beautiful country with wonderful people, I am sure you'll enjoy your trip.
@Drythe from our board can tell you even more, since she traveled there not too long ago, and she's been to the places and had experiences, I have not. Recently on one of the Internet sites, it linked me to the most beautiful and unique places in Ukraine. I looked and I was stunned - really nice!
Try to go in the warm time of the year - May - September to enjoy more sunshine, Ukraine is very green, the beaches of Dnepre in Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, the fruits and the vegetables, that are so delicious there! But if you going for 2-3 weeks, the fewer cities you'll plan to cover, the more opportunity you'll have to really enjoy each one of them.

@World Traveler and @sonechko paint a lovely description of the Ukraine. It sounds wonderful. I'm giving @Drythe another notification because the first one didn't take.

FYI, World Traveler, if you look at Sonechko's post above, you'll notice that Drythe's name isn't highlighted in blue/green. That's the key which lets you know that the notification has gone out.

-- bebe

Re: Ukraine Question

World Traveler — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 15:46:10 GMT

FYI, World Traveler, if you look at Sonechko's post above, you'll notice that Drythe's name isn't highlighted in blue/green. That's the key which lets you know that the notification has gone out.

-- bebe

Oh, thanks! You guys are all pros at this. Thanks for the tip.

Re: Ukraine Question

Drythe — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 15:33:13 GMT

@World Traveler@bebe777@sonechko

Sorry if I missed a shout-out. I had a Prevnar 13 vaccanitation Tuesday and it knocked me for a loop!

But, Yes, yes, yes! I was fortunate enough to visit Ukraine in the Spring of 2013.

It was absolutely beautiful

I flew into Kiev with 2 friends and met up with 3 guides, women I had been in contact with via email.

We camped and stayed in private homes (arranged by guides) all the way down the Dnieper River to Odessa. Spent 2 weeks in Odessa and then took a river boat cruise back up the Dnieper to Kiev where we spent another 2 weeks and then flew home.

We were in Sebastopol May 1st and were fortunate to hear a coral sung by the combined Russian and Ukraine Naval Choirs in honor of the May 1st recognition - absolutely stunning!

I am on the way out the door to a football game, but will gladly send more information if you are interested.

I met some of the kindest, most gentle, polite, welcoming and hospitable people I've ever met along the way and it breaks my heart to think of what Russia has done to them - AGAIN!

Re: Ukraine Question

World Traveler — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 15:58:25 GMT

@Drythe wrote:
@World Traveler @bebe777 @sonechko

Sorry if I missed a shout-out. I had a Prevnar 13 vaccanitation Tuesday and it knocked me for a loop!

But, Yes, yes, yes! I was fortunate enough to visit Ukraine in the Spring of 2013.

It was absolutely beautiful

I flew into Kiev with 2 friends and met up with 3 guides, women I had been in contact with via email.

We camped and stayed in private homes (arranged by guides) all the way down the Dnieper River to Odessa. Spent 2 weeks in Odessa and then took a river boat cruise back up the Dnieper to Kiev where we spent another 2 weeks and then flew home.

We were in Sebastopol May 1st and were fortunate to hear a coral sung by the combined Russian and Ukraine Naval Choirs in honor of the May 1st recognition - absolutely stunning!

I am on the way out the door to a football game, but will gladly send more information if you are interested.

I met some of the kindest, most gentle, polite, welcoming and hospitable people I've ever met along the way and it breaks my heart to think of what Russia has done to them - AGAIN!

Oh, thanks so much for the added information. Sounds like you had an aswersome time. I really am hoping to make it work this time. Getting to know the locals is how I like to travel. So if I go ahead and reschedule the trip for next summer, I will be sure to come back to you for answers to questions I am sure I will have at that time.

Re: Ukraine Question

bebe777 — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 18:01:59 GMT

@Drythe wrote:
@World Traveler @bebe777 @sonechko

Sorry if I missed a shout-out. I had a Prevnar 13 vaccanitation Tuesday and it knocked me for a loop!

But, Yes, yes, yes! I was fortunate enough to visit Ukraine in the Spring of 2013.

It was absolutely beautiful

I flew into Kiev with 2 friends and met up with 3 guides, women I had been in contact with via email.

We camped and stayed in private homes (arranged by guides) all the way down the Dnieper River to Odessa. Spent 2 weeks in Odessa and then took a river boat cruise back up the Dnieper to Kiev where we spent another 2 weeks and then flew home.

We were in Sebastopol May 1st and were fortunate to hear a coral sung by the combined Russian and Ukraine Naval Choirs in honor of the May 1st recognition - absolutely stunning!

I am on the way out the door to a football game, but will gladly send more information if you are interested.

I met some of the kindest, most gentle, polite, welcoming and hospitable people I've ever met along the way and it breaks my heart to think of what Russia has done to them - AGAIN!

@Drythe I hope you are feeling better now after your vaccination earlier this week.

It sounds like you picked the perfect way to travel. It sounds as though you really got to get to know the country and the people.

Your wrote...

I met some of the kindest, most gentle, polite, welcoming and hospitable people I've ever met along the way and it breaks my heart to think of what Russia has done to them - AGAIN!

Yes... once again!

-- bebe

Re: Ukraine Question

World Traveler — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 21:43:09 GMT

@Drythe wrote:
@World Traveler @bebe777 @sonechko

Sorry if I missed a shout-out. I had a Prevnar 13 vaccanitation Tuesday and it knocked me for a loop!

But, Yes, yes, yes! I was fortunate enough to visit Ukraine in the Spring of 2013.

It was absolutely beautiful

I flew into Kiev with 2 friends and met up with 3 guides, women I had been in contact with via email.

We camped and stayed in private homes (arranged by guides) all the way down the Dnieper River to Odessa. Spent 2 weeks in Odessa and then took a river boat cruise back up the Dnieper to Kiev where we spent another 2 weeks and then flew home.

We were in Sebastopol May 1st and were fortunate to hear a coral sung by the combined Russian and Ukraine Naval Choirs in honor of the May 1st recognition - absolutely stunning!

I am on the way out the door to a football game, but will gladly send more information if you are interested.

I met some of the kindest, most gentle, polite, welcoming and hospitable people I've ever met along the way and it breaks my heart to think of what Russia has done to them - AGAIN!

I was sure I responded to you yesterday, but I don't see it! Grrrrr!

So, again, thanks so much for your response. It was very enlightening and interesting. I am definitely going to try again to get over there. It would probably be late July of next year at the earliest. As I get closer to departure and get more involved with my itinerary, I'll be sure to check back with you on any questions I may have. Thanks for your offer to more information.

Re: Ukraine Question

World Traveler — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 21:50:59 GMT

Drythe, I have tried to respond to you twice, but it isn't working. I also tried using your name with @ sign and that didn't work either. Sure I'm not doing it correctly. But even when I tried to click on your response and answer that way, nothing happens. grrrrrr! It wouldn't take.

Anyway, thanks so much for your information, which was very interesting. I am not sure if I can go next year, but it would be the end of July if I do. As I get closer to the same when I plan my itinerary, I will check back with you. Thanks so much!

Re: Ukraine Question

Drythe — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 01:03:57 GMT

@World Traveler

Hey,

I don't know why the @ for my name is not working.

But I wanted to add a few things I didn't get to mention this afternoon.

Visiting the Winter Palace of the Russian Royal family in Yalta was really a highlight for me. The coast of the Black Sea is breathtaking, and the Palace is beautiful as you would expect. You hear so much about the Czar and Czarina that it is hard to believe you are in the palace. Additionally since it was the sight of the signing of the peace agreement ending the second WW it has significance for Americans as well. The tour guide told us that before his arrival, President Roosevelt specified that his room be painted a specific color of blue which matched his eyes.

I had not realized that one of the seats of the Khanate was in Ukraine, so seeing the site and associated harem buildings was amazing. Also not to be missed is the main site of the Cossacks where there are old arms, weapons, jewelry, and a whole fossilized wooden boat. The horseback riding demonstrations were great.

I purchases some amazing pieces of amber while there. I was going for unusual colors and found pale yellow (called chicken fat), a beautiful cherry red color, black, and gorgeous green. Real treasures to bring home!

Also, the brandy is quite good which surprised me as I have never cared for brandy before.

Just a few, few things I wanted to mention, but there is SO much more.

Re: Ukraine Question

World Traveler — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 01:40:47 GMT

@Drythe wrote:
@World Traveler

Hey,

@I don't know why the @ for my name is not working.

But I wanted to add a few things I didn't get to mention this afternoon.

Visiting the Winter Palace of the Russian Royal family in Yalta was really a highlight for me. The coast of the Black Sea is breathtaking, and the Palace is beautiful as you would expect. You hear so much about the Czar and Czarina that it is hard to believe you are in the palace. Additionally since it was the sight of the signing of the peace agreement ending the second WW it has significance for Americans as well. The tour guide told us that before his arrival, President Roosevelt specified that his room be painted a specific color of blue which matched his eyes.

I had not realized that one of the seats of the Khanate was in Ukraine, so seeing the site and associated harem buildings was amazing. Also not to be missed is the main site of the Cossacks where there are old arms, weapons, jewelry, and a whole fossilized wooden boat. The horseback riding demonstrations were great.

I purchases some amazing pieces of amber while there. I was going for unusual colors and found pale yellow (called chicken fat), a beautiful cherry red color, black, and gorgeous green. Real treasures to bring home!

Also, the brandy is quite good which surprised me as I have never cared for brandy before.

Just a few, few things I wanted to mention, but there is SO much more.

Hope this post is attaching to yours and not messing up on me again.

Thanks for all that you wrote. I definitely want to include the palace. When I was in Russia, I went up to St. Petersburg and saw the palace there. WOW! Just gorgeous. And without checking my pictures, I believe that was the palace that also had an amber room; all the walls were amber. Amazing. And I used to have horses, so the riding demonstration would be something I would totally enjoy.

Now you're getting me excited to ensure I make it to the Ukraine!

Re: Ukraine Question

sonechko — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 04:20:26 GMT

@World Traveler! Just want to add some correction to what @Drythe wrote, because when she was traveling to Ukraine back in 2013, it was totally different ball game.

This was pre-Maidan, and subsequently this was pre-war. Crimea WAS Ukraine back then. They (russians) deceitfully and by force, in back stabbing way, annexed this land away from Ukraine. This is officially a Temporarily Occupied by russia Territory now .

Things have changed quite drastically lately. Things are NOT the same as the time, when you traveled to russia. Nothing like that! These days mind set among majority of people of russia, and especially in Crimea, is very hostile towards USA and Americans, as they perceive us now as enemies somehow in their heads, who are seeking to destroy their country, sanctions against their state, proves it.

All this would make a visit to Winter Palace of the Russian Royal family in Yalta an absolutely different game plan, then back in 2013. Technically close to impossible.

You'd need russian visa to enter into what they consider to be their territory - Crimea. Coming into Crimea through Ukraine is an extremely difficult and very unpleasant task, especially for an American tourist. I would not recommend this. These two countries are in a state of undeclared, but never-the-less, very real War.

Unless you are visiting russia, it could be easier to enter from there to get to Crimea. But! But doing so one would violate Ukrainian customs laws, as Crimea is a temporarily occupied, but still Ukrainian territory, and to get there from russia, one would have get a permission from the Ukrainian Government. Crazy, ha??? Yep, this is a real mess, and I can't believe what russians have done. They turned everything upside down, not to even mention other things that are wrong as a result of this annexation. Horror.

I sincerely hope you'll find an absolutely amazing itinerary for your trip to Ukraine, but Crimea is out of your route. For sure. Unless things change by then. I sure do hope so.

Thank you @bebe777 for linking us all together! As always - your are most helpful to most!

Re: Ukraine Question

Drythe — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 17:59:13 GMT

@sonechko

Thank you,

Thank you for your words. I know I was so very fortunate with the timing of my visit to Ukraine. Without any knowledge, of what was to come, I was fortunate that things worked out for me to go the very last Spring that that kind of a trip might be possible, at least for a good while.

Imagine, given the current situation, 6 women 3 of them Americans camping alone along the banks of the Dnieper week after week and all around Yalta overlooking those huge mansions where the Russian elite have Summer homes? No way!

It just breaks my heart to think of those wonderful people who were so kind to us. So many stopped to see if we needed anything, or just to say HI, or sit and practice English with us. Word spread ahead of us, our guides knew so many people of course, and as we would set up in small towns, people would come to meet us and offer us bread. Of course when we stayed in private homes we paid, and we paid the farmers on whose land we asked to camp, but no amount could could have brought the genuine kindness with which we were treated.

I'll never forget tussling with an old fashioned water pump early one morning, actually trying to pump water and wash my hair at the same time. A maybe 10 or so year old girl came to see what was going on, we laughed so hard, me trying to tell her about rinse, rinse, rinse, in English and her trying to tell me in Ukraine that the water only came from the pump when you were actually pumping. I was sitting there with my legs around the pipe and my head under the spout, arms reached up over my head trying to pump and keep my head under at the same time! We woke the whole house rolling around laughing!

We actually biked around Yalta for @ 2 weeks looking at the fancy homes, buying amber, eating wonderful bread, and meeting people. I met someone who carved combs out of Yew. I bought some to bring home for gifts. They smell so good and are shaped almost exactly like Chaz's. I did not drink that wonderful, yummy Brandy!

Well, it is a beautiful and sad memory. What has happened since just makes me sick.

Re: Ukraine Question

World Traveler — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 10:04:19 GMT

@Drythe wrote:

I'll never forget tussling with an old fashioned water pump early one morning, actually trying to pump water and wash my hair at the same time. A maybe 10 or so year old girl came to see what was going on, we laughed so hard, me trying to tell her about rinse, rinse, rinse, in English and her trying to tell me in Ukraine that the water only came from the pump when you were actually pumping. I was sitting there with my legs around the pipe and my head under the spout, arms reached up over my head trying to pump and keep my head under at the same time! We woke the whole house rolling around laughing!

Now that's funny! These are the kind of experiences I enjoy about traveling.