The Pirogovo Open-Air Museum
One of the most popular museums in the Kiev area is “Pirogovo – the Museum of Ukrainian Folk Architecture, Rural Life, and Folk Art”. It is located southwest of Kiev in a picturesque setting. With its more than 150 hectares, this open air museum is divided into seven “villages” representing everyday life between the 17th and 20th […]
Day 2 – a trip to the Ukraina countryside
On the second day of our stay, Oksana took us on a drive through the countryside, south of Kiev. We drove through miles upon miles of flat, fertile farmland. It was plain to see that Ukraina once had had, and is rapidly regaining the position of Europe’s main producer of grain. We passed through small […]
Three days in Kiev, Ukraine
This spring brought three very pleasant days in Kiev, the capital of the Ukraine, or Ukraina as the ukrainians themselves say. Purely by chance, it turned out that the third day of our visit was on the Ukrainian National day ot Victoryday on may 9th (A real stroke of luck) This beautiful city is situated […]
Kiev Pechersk Lavra
Kiev Pechersk Lavra or Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, also known as the Kiev Monastery of the Caves, is a historic Orthodox Christian monastery and has also given name to one of the city districts where it is located in Kiev. Since its foundation as the cave monastery in 1051 the Lavra has been a preeminent center of the Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe. Together with the Saint Sophia […]
Going to Kiev, Ukraina
Day 1: A Kiev city walk We arrived late last night, installed ourselves in the excellent apartment and went straight to bed. The apartment is situated on the main street of Kiev, the Khreshchatyk street close to the main square. Hired through www.bestkievapartment.com, it was very good value for money. The Guide, Oksana Tsupko showed […]
Kiev and the Ukraine – a short history
Kiev is one of the oldest cities of Eastern Europe and is believed to have been founden in the lte 9th century The origin of the city is obscured by legends, the most famous one is about a Slavic tribe leader named Kyi, who, together with his brothers Shchek and Khoryv and his sister Lybid […]
Your favorite Kiev / Ukraine Guide – Oksana Tsupko
Without a basic knowledge of the Cyrillic alphabet, a visit to Kiev (Kyjiv) or the Ukraine can be quite a challenge. There is a definite need for a guide ! A quick Google-search will produce a number of personal guides in and around Kiev. Choosing one at random or by intuition led me to book […]
Azores, a journey through Nature
A Moscow Pictures Gallery
Prague; Eating at the Blue Duck
U Modré Kachnicky, Prague U Modré Kachnicky (The Blue Duckling) offers an elegant setting for delicious food. Located at no.6 Nebovidská Street in the Malá Strana. The interior gives an air of times long forgotten. It’s like entering a patrician home of the 1800’s. As the name indicates, the main dish served is duck, […]
Das Ostel – Real “Ostalgie” in Berlin
THE ORIGINAL GDR-DESIGN HOTEL IN BERLIN Take a trip back in time, relive East Berlin of the seventies and eighties. In a massive apartmentbuilding you find the Ostel, designed to take you back. There is a new trend in Berlin, the so called “Ostalgia” – The memories of how was in the GDR before the […]
The Berlin Wall
Walking the Wall There are very few bits left of the infamous Berlin Wall, but what remains has been turned into a sort of open-air gallery. It is considered to be the world’s largest open air gallery, and contains 105 separate painting by artists from all over the world.
Being in Berlin
Berlin is a central part of our recent history. and the Brandenburger Tor (or square) is Berlin’s iconic center. The gate is spectacular by night with all the lights. It stands at the end of Berlin’s famous avenue, Unter den Linden (linden tree). No visit to Berlin is complete without a vist here.
Kremlin, Changing of the guards
Inside the Kremlin An event not to be missed when inside the Kremlin is the changing of the guards. It is quite a spectacular event, with horses and guards, guardsmen firing guns in the air and the only sound drowning the yelling of the commander is the clicking of cameras from the huge crowd of […]
Figuier d’Antibes, fine dining.
Le Figuier de Saint Esprit, Antibes. Dining “Chez Christian Morisette” in Antibes is an experience not to be missed! I’ve been to a lot of different restaurants in a lot of places, but in my memory, the “Figuier” stands out. There is an atmosphere of calm there, you litterally dine under a figtree. The staff […]
Antibes – Hip and Historic
Antibes, Côte d’Azur – la belle Vie!
Antibes is both a city and a municipality in the south-eastern part of France in the region of Côte d’Azur
Park Guell is Barcelona’s dedicated Gaudi-park
A magical park with amazing buildings, sculptures, and tile work designed by Gaudí. Here you also find Gaudí’s old home, now made into a small museum, open to the public.
Barcelona – Designed by Antonio Gaudi
Barcelona is famous for , among many other things, the architecture and art of Antonio Gaudi. Gaudí’s work is one of the most unique and distinctive architectural styles in the world. His work is visible all around the city.
A magic night of Spanish Guitar in Barcelona
Barcelona Duo de Guitarra Let it be said at once; a more intense and vivid experience of Catalonia and Spain is not to be found anywhere! This intimate concerto took place in an old church inside the monastery Santa Anna in Barcelona. In the modest church room there was room for just a […]
The Kremlin
The Kremlin The Kremlin is a city within the city. It is the mythical power center of Russian federation as it was in the Soviet era. Surrounded by big walls it has also got the characteristics of a fortress. As the power and dominance of Kiev was crumbling under the Mongol invasion in the 11th and […]