Kyiv, Ukraine

 The beginning of July the 5-8th, I went on a trip to the Ukraine.  This would have been the furthest east I've ever traveled in Europe.  This was a trip planned through RTT the base tour company, the first flight tour I took with them.  Later this year Sam and I are signed up to go to Romania on another one of there tours.

I mentioned I was going on this trip to some coworkers and two joined me on the trip.  Sam was unable to  come along due to work obligations. 

We arrived mid afternoon, and after arriving at our hotel we had a few hours to rest/explore around the area.  We arrive in Kyiv the Thursday after the Final Euro cup game had been played.  In the photo above you can see the purple sign and the stadium where it was played.  This area was about a 10 min walk from our hotel.

Also on this walk the first day we saw many unique buildings, the above one of them.  We had a later dinner, some amazing food, local cuisine.

 Our first full day started out pretty early, driving into the city through downtown areas.  We saw a number of cathedrals during our short stay in Kyiv.  The one above is we saw during our walking tour of areas of the city.  We also ended up seeing the St. Andrew Church which was a very short walk from where we were.

 The above and to the right pictures show the St. Sophia Cathedral and Clock tower.  This site is one of the UNESCO World heritage Sites.  Beautiful Cathedral, and a great tour sharing what we were actually looking at inside. 

 Prior to our lunch on this day we stopped at the St. Michael's cathedral and the Golden Gate, marking as one of the entrances into the old city of Kyiv. 

During the afternoon we took a cruise on the Dnieper River, and witnessed the city from a new view.  From the River you were able to see the Monastery and the Iron Lady Statue.  The Iron Lady was built during the Soviet Union.  The Iron Lady faces towards Moscow, Russia.  This is one of the sites that still is marking the time of the Soviet Union in Ukraine.  At the base of the statue is the Museum of the Great Patriotic War, which we did not get a chance to go in, but would be a great place to visit and learn of the cities history during the time period.

This picture is of the statue of the three brothers and sister who came upon the city of Ukraine. 

The above pictures are taken at the St. Michael's Monastery, which today is an active Monastery.  A number of buildings of the Monastery were destroyed during World War II and been rebuilt following.  While at the Monastery we also attended the Museum of Micro miniatures and Historical Treasure museum of Ukraine.

The afternoon we attended the Outdoor Museum where we had our third meal provided with the tour.  This museum had a number of rebuilt buildings that were among the history of Ukraine.  Our entire trip the temperature was in the upper 80's-90's and topped off on Saturday afternoon in the lower triple digits.  This was not at all what I was expecting, and we were all told that the weather was very unusual of that time of year.  Guess we were just lucky enough to be there during the hot spell. 

The below pictures were a number that I took during a walk we all took Friday evening.  This took us down one of the main streets in Kyiv where a there were a number of street performers.  So many  sites to see in such a short period of time.

Located at the Friendship Arch

In the end I think everyone had a great time discovering a new city.  I meet some very great people that have traveled all over the world.  I hope my passport can be filled as much as there's.  I now have a contact that is putting together a trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg for next year.  Hoping that we will be able to go on it!!

I know this was a bit behind, but this week/weekend has given me the opportunity to finally catch up with my posts.

Hope everyone enjoys the pictures, to view more check out My Picasa web site.  If any one has questions, I will do my best to answer them about Kyiv.

Brooklyn Misses Me

These two photos Sam took while I was in the States for Training and leave.  I though did not get to see them until I returned Home!!

Love this, she does so well sitting, probably waiting for a treat though, too funny!!

Even better one, Brooklyn had some help with this haha.  On the paper it says "Now that Mom is gone Time to Party!!!"

The Big Apple

So as part of my blur of a week, I spent 3 days in the Big Apple. New York City!!!

I began my trip to the states with 4 days in New Jersey, then taking New Jersey transit into New York City where I meet my Sister in Law Jennifer who has lived and worked in New York City and the surrounding area. This was my first trip to anyone of the Major Cites on the East coast besides Washington DC. 

Sight from the High Line, an old elevated train line, now converted into a beautiful Garden/walk

In Front of Madison Square Gardens!!

I saw a number of sites in the three days that I was there.  A lot of walking, and beautiful weather.  We were very lucky, and were inside every time it began to rain.  Took in some sites my first day out to include the High Line, beautiful park area that takes you away from the busy city.  Continued through the center by Madison Square Garden.

 A short walk takes us to Times Square, seen above is one of the many pictures I took that looked at all the advertisements seen in the area.  You can see above where the ball sits until New Years Eve.

Our final stop was walking by the New York Public Library and Grand Central Station.  Here you can see Grand Central Station and the Chrysler Building.

Second day in the city we started off going through a Flea Market in Brooklyn where I found a cute dress.  We then walked over the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan Financial District.  From the picture below you can see the bridge and some of the high rise buildings. 

Jennifer and I

Freedom Tower, stands where the World Trade Centers stood

 In order to see the Statue of Liberty, we took the free Staten Island Ferry, which took us by the statue.  At the time the Statue is undergoing renovation inside, and prices of tickets were quite high.  Great way to see such a historic piece!!

One of many pictures I took from the Staten Island Ferry.  Here you can see a large part of Manhattan and just off of center the Freedom Tower.

Saturday evening we also went and saw a Comedy show, near Times Square.  This was my first ever Comedy show, I was kinda skeptical, but two of the comedians were great and very entertaining.  

 

 

Sunday Morning, Tiffany's

 Sunday Morning we began out in Central Park and continued our way through down 5th Avenue, checking out a number of the window displays and also stopping in the Museum of Modern Art.  We took the above picture in Tiffany's.

 Throughout the afternoon we walked through Rockefeller Plaza and also saw Radio City Music Hall.

One of the Highlights of the trip was getting the opportunity to see the Musical Chicago just off of Broadway at the Ambassador Theater.  I truly can say that I do enjoy Musical's!!

I had a great time having Jennifer as more so my  tour guide through the center.  Had some amazing tasting food and saw some sites I never thought I would have the opportunity too. 

It was a great experience to spend a few days in the City that Never Sleeps

A blur!!

The past two weeks have been a blur.  I've spent most of my time on the East cost of the United States.  I had to attend a 4 day training course for work.  After completing the course I took eight days of leave.

My leave started out in New York City and finished up with a few days in Wisconsin.  I have some great stories that I want to share about my time on leave but really want to get a quick post in about the Saturday I had before going to the states.

21 July, Rich, Svetlana, and I were on tour of festivals in the area.  Our local paper provides a number of the local festivities that are occurring in the area.  This day we visited three different places.

The first was near the Wienstrasse, where we tried a white Riesling, and all got crepes.  Delicious!!

Our next festival took us to Lawn Mower Races!!! I really never thought I would be seeing Lawn Mower Races in Germany, but guess it can be every where.  This reminded me of something my brother would do for a weekend hobby.  Once again, great food, despite a little rain had a good time watching some of these mowers race around the track.

 

We ended the day at a festival by the shore.  There is a beautiful lake area not very far from where we live where all around the lake.  It was a beautiful area, if there was no rain and a bit warmer would have been most enjoyable time.  

 All in all this was a great day to the weekend to enjoy some German Culture and Cuisine.  The following day I left for the States to begin my training and leave.  This week I am off of school and hope to catch up on some of my blog posts as well as projects I want to finish in the house.

Everyone have a great week,

Jane

The Weekend

It was a very Rainy weekend here!!We were though able between all the rain fall have the opportunity to enjoy a festival in the city of Freinsheim on Saturday 14 July. 

Our original plan for the weekend was to go to Mainz for a beer fest, but with the such unpredictable weather we decided to stay a bit closer to home.  I actually heard about the Festival in Freinsheim through Facebook.  I follow the website Buzz off Base and occasionally there are events posted on the Facebook page.  

  The festival had a number of good foods as well as wine.  Freinsheim is located in the area that is called Weinstraße (Wine Street).  In September in the city of Bad Dürkheim there is a very large Wine Festival every year. 

I know very little about the area, but from my experience most of the Wine I've drank is a white wine, this one in the picture was a Riesling. 

Svetlana and I

Take note, we are both wearing pants and long sleeve shirts.  It is July 14th.  Very ready for Summer here!!!

Brooklyn and I on our walk viewing the City

 We enjoyed some very good food and Ice Cream during our short stay in the city.  A great way to enjoy the afternoon, on a day that did turn out to be quite nice. 

One of the Buildings, part of the City Wall

Sunday we used to run errands and I finished up some schoolwork.  Sam and I both worked on a large project of consolidating our DVD collection to the binder type cases.  Project not yet complete but a big dent into it.  

I'm hoping to have up a post about my trip to the Ukraine soon.  There are so many pictures and more that I'm waiting on.  A wonderful trip and a great opportunity to visit a growing city.

Trier

On July 1st Sam and I were able to go to Trier.  For me this is the second time, and Sam third trip to Trier.  My first trip to Trier was in November 2011, we went to go check out the Christmas market.  Unfortunately the day we decide to go it down pours and didn't stop.  We had along Brooklyn and with all the rain she was not a happy puppy, so our trip to Trier didn't go so well with very little of the city being seen.

We decided to take the bus this time to Trier, and we were very lucky to have beautiful weather. The city of Trier is about an hour from our house easy drive up the autobahn.  Had a wonderful lunch at an outside restaurant.   There are a number of shops to visit and historical sites to see when in Trier.  One being the remains of a Roman Bath, the home of Karl Marx, and the Trier Cathedral.

The Trier Cathedral has been the seat of a bishop since the second half of the 3rd century.  The Cathedral's most precious relic is the Holy Robe, called the Tunic of Christ.  The holy robe since 1974 has been kept in its wooden shrine from 1891, encased in an air-conditioned glass shrine.  The shirne is only open on the the days of the Holy Robe Days, but the garment is not seen.  The last time the robe was seen out on display was for a month in April-May.  Before then it was last displayed in 1996.   There is no way to determine when the next time the Robe will be on display. 

Today the it is an active cathedral, with many services and always open to the public for viewing. 

To learn more about Trier, and the Cathedral check out this site.

Medival Castle

In order to not fall behind on some of our activities I wanted to write a quick bit on the Medival Summer Market I went to with our friends Rich and Svetlana. 

It was a beautiful day, those are sometimes, far and few in between.  A beautiful day, I was able to bring Brooklyn with me and she enjoyed herself, all things to smell and see.  Sam during this time was brewing a beer at a friends house. 

 

Kusel is about 20 mins from our house, here you can see the castle from a distance.  

 At this Festival there were many performances by dancers, jugglers, and horseback demonstrations.

So many neat things to see and do, and we are right in the middle of it.

Knight Camp

 Brooklyn, Svetlana, and Me

This past weekend Sam and I enjoyed a day trip to Trier, more to come about our day.  

Jane