Ukraine

Best of Ukraine in Photos

Posted by on Sep 8, 2013 in Photos/Video, Ukraine | 4 comments

Best of Ukraine in Photos

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People Tell the Story: Ukraine

Posted by on Sep 4, 2013 in People Tell the Story, Ukraine | 1 comment

People Tell the Story: Ukraine

As Oksana references in the interview below, the people of Ukraine will move mountains for you. Language barrier or not, Ukrainians seemed to be gentle, friendly once you get past their stern faces, and extremely loyal and dedicated to their family, friends and fellow countrymen. Unlike other countries where many farmers have migrated to the bigger cities, Ukrainians still value a strong balance of their traditional way of life. It is not part of the Ukrainian culture to smile at or interact with a stranger on the street.  In fact, Kat and I initially had the impression that the people were a bit standoffish. However, after having a few key interactions with locals during our long travel days and after living with a doting family in the countryside, we were able to get past their cold exteriors and realize that Ukrainian people are some of the friendliest we have encountered on this trip. 

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Exotic Eats: Ukraine

Posted by on Sep 4, 2013 in Exotic Eats, Ukraine | 0 comments

Exotic Eats: Ukraine

I found the food in Ukraine to be tasty and straightforward. – nothing special but always filling and enjoyable.  Mike and I had the opportunity to try food and drink at both city restaurants (in Kiev and Lviv) and in the countryside.  While we enjoyed both, we especially appreciated the home-cooked meals that we sampled while staying with a local family in Kosmach.  (I have never drank so many shots of vodka or eaten so much homemade cheese in my life.)

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True Life: Ukraine

Posted by on Sep 3, 2013 in Featured, Ukraine | 7 comments

True Life: Ukraine

Deep in the heart of Ukraine set among the sprawling Carpathian Mountains lies the small village of Kosmach. A place of complete serenity and traditional life. A place where families live off their own land. A place where you can smell nature and hear church bells ring in the distance. We visited Kosmach to see and understand Ukraine away from its big, touristed cities. We lived on a local farm with a family of nine, helped with daily duties, and explored the wonderful Carpathian Mountain range. This was the ultimate Ukraine experience. 

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Didn’t Want to Leave Lviv

Posted by on Aug 25, 2013 in Featured, Ukraine | 5 comments

Didn’t Want to Leave Lviv

The third stop on our Ukrainian adventure took us to Lviv, a city in Western Ukraine that is viewed as one of the country’s cultural centers.  Unlike in Kiev and Odessa where the predominant language is Russian, Lviv natives speak Ukrainian. Due to its Polish and Austro-Hungarian history and western location within the country, Lviv feels more like Western than Eastern Europe and is even nicknamed the “little Paris of Ukraine”.  While I wouldn’t go as far as making Paris comparisons, I did find Lviv to be a beautiful, historic, and enjoyable city.  It is an affordable gem within the oftentimes expensive Europe.

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Babushkas in Bikinis

Posted by on Aug 23, 2013 in Featured, Ukraine | 9 comments

Babushkas in Bikinis

ba-bush-ka: noun: an old woman or grandmother or a headscarf tied under the chin typical of Polish or Russian women.

bi-ki-ni: noun: a very brief two piece bathing suit for women

While most people would not think of these two things as going together, in Odessa, Ukraine, they seem to be the norm.

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