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September 12, 1998
On our first free Saturday, we took a "course" in public transportation. The first step was the streetcar - not picturesque but quite functional. When we reached the city center, our embassy-guide John explained the important stores at this stop. The most important of course was the REAL BAKERY. Most stores sell bread made in huge factories. It's pretty good but it was nice to learn there is in fact a real French bakery.
From here, we went on the Metro to the Podil district. The Metro is quite good. Crowded at rush hour but reasonably clean and reliable. Pudil is the oldest part of Kyiv. It's on the banks of the Dnieper river and there are many two- and three-story buildings dating from the turn of the century. Only a fraction of these buildings have been restored but there is clearly a great deal of promise here.
One of the highlights in Podil is The Arizona Bar B Que. It is absolutely authentic Southwest food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Expensive by Kyiv standards (= about normal for Los Gatos or Los Altos) but fun to get an "America fix".
But I digress. The best way out of Podil is by using the Funicular. It climbs the steep hill at a stately pace and a modest price - 30 kopecks or about 10 cents. One last ride on a mini-bus and we are home. Mini-buses follow behind the trolleys and harvest the people who want to spend an extra 20 kopecks to make sure they have a seat. Private enterprise competing with the public trolleys.
And at home, it's Marianne cooking as usual. I think the kitchen is about the same size as the stove was in Los Gatos. Food is still "creative" however.
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Originally sent in September, 1998. Reformatted for the website on May 11, 2001
This page created on a Macintosh using PhotoPage by John A. Vink.