Ukraine - Aug 2007

View the photos

Thursday 30th Aug - Arrive in Kyiv

An early start to the day with the hellish 5:55am flight from Glasgow to Kiev via Amsterdam. We had a couple of hours to kill in the bar at Schipol airport so had a few beers whilst waiting for Graeme to arrive from London then it was off to Kiev!

Graham in Schipol Airport


After landing in Kiev, getting Hryvnia out the ATM and haggling with the taxi drive, we arrived at Hotel Kozatsky.

Taxi - no seatbelts but beer


We stayed at Kozatsky when we were in Kiev last year, so knew what to expect. After the babushka's checked us in to our rooms, it was off to Independence Sq for a beer.

The view from my room, overlooking Independence Sq


Me, Alex and Graeme


Graham


After a few beers, we headed to a Ukrainian restaurant that we'd been to before for a meal of borscht and pork chops.


We had planned on going to Art Club 44 for a drink after the meal, but it was closed for refurbishment, so instead we headed back to the square for a night cap.


Friday 31st Aug - Andriyivskyy Descent

On Friday we went down for the breakfast which to be honest, was pretty grim. Graham bizarrely enough loves it.

Mmm, tasty weird shit.


We the headed round the corner to Double Coffee where Graeme and I got some waffles for breakfast and probably the only bit of fruit of the holiday. There was much hilarity when the waitress dropped my coffee on my lap (it took me a couple of hours before I saw the funny side).

After a coffee we wandered up to St Andrews Church before heading down Andriyivskyy Descent to Podil district.

A monument to the millions who died due to Stalin's famine in Ukraine 1932 - 33


Church


Andriyivskyy Descent


Stopping for a pint on route to Podli


We wandered down to a Jewish restaurant in Podli that we'd been to before. The food was lovely, especially the borscht.


After food and a few beers, we headed back to the hotel before heading out for the evening. We went to another Ukrainian restaurant that we'd been to on our previous trip. The peppered steak was top though they were out of borscht.

After we'd eaten, we headed to a bar called Blyndazh (Блиндаж, means "entrenchment") that Andy and I had been to on our previous trip. I didn't hold out much hope for it as it was pretty dead last time, but with Art Club 44 shut, we thought we'd give it a try.

It ended up being a top night, the bar was rammed and we ended up getting a lock in and staying till about 3am. The locals were really friendly and chatty like the crowd in Art Club 44.

Vodka in Blyndazh


Saturday 1st Sep - Beers

We had planned on going to see Dynamio Kyiv on the Saturday, but unfortunately we were unable to get tickets, so there was nothing else for it but to go for beer. We spent the day down Khreschatyk, which is closed off to cars at the weekend, and Independence Sq.

Ukranian beer


Khreschatyk


After a few pints, we crashed out for a couple of hours before heading out for the night. Another peppered steak and then back to Blyndazh. Not as good as the previous night and although the bar didn't shut, they stopped selling beer at 12. Boo.

Sunday 2nd Sep - Alex Purchases a Russian fighter Pilot Helmet and 10 Dynamo Kyiv Tops

Suitably hungover we had a few hours to kill before our flight home. After breakfast and beer at the square, we headed back to the Andriyivskyy Descent. After a fair bit of impressive haggling, Alex bought a Russian fighter pilot helmet and 10 Dynamo Kiev tops.

It seemed like a good idea after he'd had 6 pints of lager.


Airport waiting for the flight home


View the photos