Day 29

We walked into town for the first time. We have always taken the trolley or bus so we have never checked out the sidewalks between here and the city center. Bought soap, deodorant at a tidy store chain called “Eva” much like Walgreens in the US. We may look funny to the locals but we still want to smell good.

Walked back to hotel. I caught a bus to the internot. The girls were waiting in the play area. When we got back to the hotel, everyone ate. Don’t want all that food to go to waste! Tanya arrived while I was getting the younger girls and gave Eileen a beautiful golden ceramic tea pot, sugar bowl and tea cups. A gift from Igor’s mom Oksana. Sasha and I were going to walk to a park. When Tanya saw us leaving, she joined us. Nastia and Eileen stayed behind to take a nap.

Tanya talked while walking, very upset. Sasha urged me give Tanya some money for a ride to visit friends. Sasha and I walked to an old amusement park close by. It looked like it had been built in the 1950’s, and poorly maintained. Trenches were dug everywhere. They must be working on the water system. The dirt (mud) was piled everywhere. The place looked like a swamp. The melting snow and rainwater hadn’t drained, creating large puddles everywhere. Wondered if this was a mosquito amusement park during the summer. Sasha climbed on the decrepit rides. She wanted me to join her.

We watched the crew dig in the mud and get ready to pump water out of the trenches. Sasha wanted to go to another park, I wanted to walk back toward the hotel using a different route. Walked past another monument, soviet style. A guy holding a 1930’s style machine gun. I choose to believe he is a war hero and not a Ukrainian mob icon. As we approached the hotel, we saw that the entrance was crowded. There had to be 50 people. As we got close, we noticed a couple was dancing in front of a nice car, possibly a limo. One or two more joined the dance. An older man had a red sash with gold threadwork. Soon the dancing stopped, and a bride and groom got out of the car. The bride mostly in white, the groom with sashes and other colorful garb. Rice was thrown. A dish was broken. Coins were tossed. Then they went inside for the reception. This was at 1PM. The festivities are still going at 10PM. These people know how to party!

All four of us went into town to Chelentano’s (beloved pizza place) for some food. Tanya and Igor joined us. The place was packed. Could be because of Valentine’s Day? Igor gave Eileen a Calla Lily with red coloring. As we walked back to the hotel, we noticed the flower market in all its Valentine’s Day glory. Some of the sellers had moved their wares to the street for quick pickup by the forgetful and rushed. We bought some heart-shaped helium balloons for the girls. It was encouraging to see these people in the dingy darkness of the day and place, cheered by the beauty of flowers, balloons and celebration. Here’s to you St. Valentine.