September 20, 2012

One exciting thing about living in a city with a population of four million plus is that there is so much to see. Sometimes I get worried that I won’t be able to see it all in the next year, so while the weather is warm we have been choosing different routes home from the office, from the temple and just plain scouting the neighborhood to see as much as we can see before winter sets in. Our apartment location is kind of a hub of Central Kyiv in that there are new and exciting things to do in every direction. (I think I may have mentioned this in an earlier blog). It is just a matter of being willing to get out of your rut and taking off in a new direction or on a different mode of transportation and guaranteed, you will see something new. 

So this blog will be pictures from our latest walks home. And then just a few other miscellaneous things. Sort of a potpourri of camera shots – always something interesting in Kyiv. 

First we will take the route down Volodymyrs’ka Str. You’ve seen the first few blocks with  Shevchenka University (Red University) and the National Opera of Ukraine. One thing that hasn’t been on the blog is the restoration of the what will be the most beautiful hotel in Kyiv when it is finished. We have been watching this for months and now it is almost done. On down the street is the building that used to house the Fundukley’s Gym for Women and is now the headquarters of the Ukraine SBU - equivalent to the KGB.  It is guarded as well as all other government buildings and the embassies. With all the trouble in the world with embassies right now we are concerned if we will get any confirmations for our appointments with the twelve we have requested visits with. (I almost said the twelve we have targeted – not good in this present circumstance.) 

Hotel restoration

Headquarters of the Ukraine SBU

Moving on down to Tithing street – Went down this street specifically to get to the beginning of the most adorable children’s park I have seen. It runs all along a ravine that looks over the Podol area, and is just below St. Andrew's Church.  This is a great place for kids during the day and becomes the lovers lane in the evening. No matter when you walk down through this area it has a fun, festive atmosphere.   All of the mosaic playground and other sculptures are just adorable. There are so many young people posing for pictures here it is almost impossible to get pictures without strangers in them. 

Cute pictures of the Children's Park

On the way to the park we came upon a weird restaurant that I had read about in the local newspaper.  It is called a Pagan Restaurant as it has many pagan artifacts. They also have books and other Ukrainian things for sale.  It was interesting but maybe we’ll eat somewhere else. 

Gorodets’koho Arkhitektora str. Right when you start walking down this street you feel like you are in Western Europe – up-scale shops, restaurants, buildings and absolutely no graffiti on the buildings. It is really a classy area. This street leads up to the House of Gargoyles’ on Klovsky Plateau. It is thought that the architect, Gorodetsky, that built this house was expressing his passion for nature and hunting as he was an avid hunter. (Kind of like people in the US decorating their houses with their taxidermy trophies.) The concrete sculptures of elephants, rhinoceroses, lizards, frogs, antelopes, eagles, serpents,  crocodiles, mermaids, eagles, lions and whatever, decorate the house inside and out. It is truly one of a kind. The Klovsky Plateau is really a beautiful area – no through street, just a plaza. Across from this house is the President of Ukraine’s Administrative Building. (Another reason no cars are allowed in the area.) And just down the street and around the corner is the National Bank of Ukraine which is a very beautiful and well preserved edifice. 

Pictures of House of Gargoyles:

President's Ukraine Administration Building

National Bank of Ukraine

Enough on sightseeing. When you get back to Lukyanivs’ka Square you find the common everyday people selling the mushrooms that they have gathered in the forests, and apples of every variety you can imagine. Apples are a plentiful crop here. You pass by the city workers mowing the tiny parks everywhere with weed eaters (another job I would hate to have here) and then every day they blow the leaves into piles and clean them up. Oh, and one other thing I forgot to mention, speaking of lawn mowers, the temple got a riding lawnmower. Oh happy day for the groundskeepers. 

Gary has been really busy at work. A lot of things going on and hopefully some of his projects will get resolved after the election which is in a month. 

My English Conversation classes are growing and I have to say I am learning so much from my students. I really wish I could bring them home with me. I have never been around such humble people with such great faith. They are a constant inspiration to me. 

Our Lutsk Branch came to the temple this week. Not many were able to get off work and come here for the week but we have seen some of them and the temple is a great blessing to all who are able to come here.  

It is dark when I leave in the mornings to go to the temple and when I get there it is so beautiful to see the temple with all of the lights shining through the stained glass windows. I feel so blessed as I walk up the sidewalk knowing that I will get to spend the day there with people I love, people with great hope and faith and a knowledge of the great Plan of Salvation. 

Quote for the week is by James E. Faust. 

Fundamental to temple worship is the principle that God is “no respecter of persons”. Within the hallowed walls of the temples, there is no preference of position, wealth, status, race, or education. All dress in white. All receive the same instruction. All make the same covenants and promises. All receive the same transcendent, eternal blessings if they live worthy to claim them. All are equal before their Creator.

Kyiv Temple, taken Sept. 18, 2012