May day

After so many days of rain and snow we finally got a fair weather. In the middle of May all I can think of is summer break. Let me tell you my biggest news: I got the tickets home. This time we will do the seaside and the capital – it’s the best of the country, Kiev and Odessa. Late spring – early summer is the best time to go, if you like to be outside and experience all kind of urban hikes. Kiev is the place to have fun. Locals love tourists and the cost of living is really low. A lot of free entertainment is offered here and there, it’s not as big and overwhelming as Paris, but it is a movable feast, for me at least.

Food options are great, tickets for concerts and shows are very affordable, public transport is multiple and taxi services are super cheap. When I get there I’ll probably take a tram to Pushcha Voditsa to be in the nature. Park Golosiivo is also a great place to go if you are tired of a busy city life.

Famous old churches are within walking distance of the main square, Maidan Nezalezhnosli. Lavra is the monastery where many of the visitors go for the museums and cultural experience, in order to get there you need to take subway and then walk for about 20 minutes, but it’s totally worth it. A beautiful panorama of the city and another monument is there for you.

Park Slavy, the second wold war memorial, is a must see walking treat. Rodina Mat’ is the local statue of liberty situated in the center of this famous place. There’s a little museum in it’s foundation.

Odessa is another world war two city with lots of history, unique culture and а great vibe. The Black Sea and a great variety of entertainment are there for the rich and poor. The famous Odessa catacombs are the tunnels underground that can offer a great insight into the past. Free music shows and sea vistas are all around the place. I believe, you can camp there as well if you want. It could also be a great place for shopping and photoshoot.

I miss my country so much despite living in the best country of the world, this is what most of my friends believe anyway. And I kind of enjoy being an exotic foreigner with a strange accent but going home feels so much better. It’s like discovering your true self by flying east for only 20 hours. You should try it!

Frisco

Last Saturday we visited a town of Frisco, Colorado, how could we have lived here so long and never heard of it before? We both loved it so much that decided to bring family over some time soon. The reason we got there in the first place was a sleigh ride we booked via Internet which was the cheapest option available, ha-ha. It was really fun, we had mules for horses and a country singer performing in the hot chocolate break. The company we shared a ride with was families with kids mostly, it was absolutely adorable.

Arriving 3 hours early was a good idea since the town has a little open air museum and a lot of stores and places to eat. We did the Schoolhouse first, it is the main building in the village. The museum is free, by the way. Inspired by this good news we ate at The Lost Cajun, yum-yum, food and service were excellent, besides you can try samples before you order. Upon leaving this inexpensive and super authentic place we wandered around noticing there is more to see in the historical part. So we came back to check out the first church, hunters’ cabin and barber’s which was absolutely stunning. This is where we learned that the town was founded by a Swedish immigrant who came to get rich during the gold rush, a time of dreamers and thrill seekers.

This tiny tourist destination was not packed with folks despite the sunny weekend in the middle of the spring break. I loved to see dogs here and there, they only made it better. Walking up and down narrow streets was a nice way of finding great views. Parking was not a problem and the whole place felt like home.

 

 

The City of the Future

Denver is a city of the future or the past, I am not really sure. It has some absolutely mysterious places like Cheesman Park or Brown Palace. Also the longest and evilest street in the US, i.e. Colfax, is right here for you. Check it out when the main construction projects are over and you can actually enjoy your visit, haha.

Colorado is a great place to travel any time and not just because everyone talks about it. It has a lot to offer for hikers, climbers, skiers and all kind of thrill seekers. The city of Denver and the state of Colorado can and will be immensely enjoyable if you are informed and prepared well. Here is a list of things to consider before visiting.

 

 

1. Plan to stay an extra day or two before you climb the fourteeners. Time to acclimate will make your trip 10 times better.
2. Experience the local music and art scene. Dazzle, Nocturne and Mercury cafe are great for jazz, blues and more. Denver Art Museum and Kirkland Museum of Decorative Art are definitely worth your time.
3. Check out local breweries like Coors, Prost and Tivoli. There are 95 more names I can’t remember, but I am sure you will find something to your taste.
4. Eat. Places to eat are so multiple and diverse, I am easily lost. Mexican food is delicious and authentic here, try local cafes and enjoy the vibe. My favorites are: Bourbon Grill, Viet’s, Wokano’s, Pho Haus ($), Pete’s Kitchen, Irish Rover, La Cour Bistro and Parisi ($$).
5. Walk. 16 Street Mall is a major attraction for tourists who love shopping, rooftop bars, cabaret, ballet and movies to catch the spirit of the city.
6. Celebrate. Summer time is full of festivals and all kind of fun events, check out the calendar to choose something to suit your taste at Denver.org/events.
7. Hike. Red Rocks, Lookout Mountain and Garden of the Gods will be easy nearby nature spots to enjoy. If you are willing to spend some time driving Mount Evans and Pike’s Peak are two car accessible fourteeners, check out the weather before you go.
8. Drink lots of water. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses. Bring comfortable shoes / clothes.

For transportation you can ride a bike, walk, get an Uber or try RTD for some destinations. Rent a car to explore Colorado on your own or take a train to Granby which is one of the train accessible destinations. Denver is a city of the future, soon it might turn into a fairy tale and I believe it will.

 

 

 

 

 

Ukraine

August 24 is Independence Day in Ukraine. It’s a big deal for Ukrainians since latest events have not been the greatest. Lots of people immigrated different places still dreaming to come back one day. Who knows maybe in the future things will be back to normal? Keep praying and hoping for the better.

If you ever want to travel somewhere nice and cheap go visit Ukraine. I miss it terribly! Kyiv is the best city I have ever lived, for me it’s the place where miracles happen and history is still alive. Explore and you will be surprised how much more there is to discover…

This country has a lot of problems and stuff but it feels real with four seasons, good and bad smells, street markets and all the pleasures of public transport. People are so direct, sometimes you wish they weren’t that way and women are so beautiful that it’s hard to keep up to par. Population is mostly poor, there is no middle class but it doesn’t seem that way.

Ukrainians love foreigners thinking that all of them are milliners. Foreign culture is considered to be better, a lot of loan words are used just because it’s cool. Traditional food is great, hospitality depends on the money paid and part of the country you are in. If you want to see the contrast go to Lviv where people speak Ukrainian and Odessa which is mostly Russian, fantastic tourist destinations with tons of things to enjoy. I wish I was there to be your guide…