Sky over Kiev in the begining of march.

"For me, a landscape does not exist in its own right...but the surrounding atmosphere brings it to life - the light and the air which vary continually. For me, it is only the surrounding atmosphere which gives subjects their true value."
- Claude Monet
Walking around Kiev last Sunday was hard NOT to notice the dramatic sky above...What autumn did not do to trees with leaves falls and winter with snow falls - the final cleaning is done by Spring. It striped down all remaining leaves from branches and made everything visible. Every detail of the art of architecture is on display, framed in a lace of tree branches on a foreground of moving clouds.
Leafless branches are making delicate yet strong presentation, reveling the beauty of buildings, otherwise hidden from sight. It's hard to imagine that prosaic color as gray could appear in such stunning variation when it touched with pinkness of the sunset...In a few weeks new leaves are going to grow and hide it all//
Enjoy!

March 1st - first day of Spring? or Ukrainian Icicle

March 1st is officially first day of spring by Ukrainian Calendar.
Today is bright sunny day.It might look spring like, but don't dismiss your coat and gloves just yet.
It's -5C (23F) outside.
I waked around, one of my favorite Kiev's neighborhoods, Podil.

I am wearing a warm jacket, scarf, gloves,hat and sunglasses (I have to tell you that my sunglasses are always with me day or night...quite a shock for local people and the source of constant jokes and comments. But I can't part with them-it would be like ripping New York from my heart; well, it's another story) with my camera looking for Spring...
That's what met my eyes today.
Podil* beautiful poetic aura found its reflection on my photos.


Is huge roof icicles a sign of Spring?


Spring is in the air, despite frozen puddles, snowy streets and dangerous icicles...
I always loved icicles. I just don't want to be killed by one...so I strongly recommend: beware of icicles!
Icicle is an apotheosis of water states above all: snow, liquid, ice, steam, etc. of telling us (humans), that we are not the only living creatures with ability to express ourselves...
Water is everlasting changing creature with so many states: liquid, snow, ice, steam, etc...with an icicWater scrims with ecstasy creating an icicle...

I just got an SMS from a friend with first day of spring warm wishes...




And that is exactly my message to you today, wherever you are, HAPPY FIRST DAY of spring to you!!!





*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podil

Coffee in Ukraine. part 2 : "Coffee House".

Today I wanted to show you my favorite (so far) way of having coffee in Kiev.


The place is " Coffee House" - кофе хауз (in Russian alphabet).


Nowadays English words are used in everyday life as easily as if they were of Russian/Ukrainian origin. Here word house is used in a place of "dom" (дом).

Catchy logo, professional stuff, lots of locations around Kiev.
And open 24 hours + Free internet connection with plenty electric plugs available (I would come here while on jet leg at 4 o'clock in the morning and felt totally welcomed and safe) + menu includes hot food and alcohol beverages ...

The menu is another thing that should be felicitated - everything from breakfast combo, lunch combo, different sandwiches,freshly squeezed juices, pastries from their own bakery (delicious) to Italian dishes with wine pared ...WOW!!!


well, I am here to write about coffee-let's concentrate on that.




Prices for coffee are almost the same as at Starbucks, for example americano is very popular coffee here, cost 29 hryvnia is ruffly $3.40; but there's a trick to bit that: cards for special customers (which I am proud to be one) that give you -10% discount on everything. I am even more special since I got a student card of -15 %!!!










I ordered Irish coffee today - it's very cold outside (temperature is -15C= 5F).
On top of all they have DJ on weekends mixing music and dancing coffee drinkers :)

Pro: All major credit cards are accepted.
So my verdict is : "Highly recommended!!!"
I think Starbucks is not winning this competition.
Con: people are still allowed to smoke inside. There's smoking area, which is not as separated as we non-smokers wish...so be prepared to smell like cigarettes when you come home.
to be continued.