Holiday Weekend in Kiev

Happy Memorial Weekend!

This is also a holiday weekend in Kiev.   On both Friday and Saturday nights there were big concerts, which we could hear all the way up the hill at our apartment and fireworks, which we could see from our balcony.  It was very fun! 

Friday was also the last day of school in the Ukraine.  All of the graduating seniors dress up and wear ribbon sashes.  These sashes are basically their version of the cap & gown in America.  We saw groups of teenagers, like this one, everywhere we went on Friday afternoon. 

Sunday we walked down to Andriyivsky Usviz Street, one of the oldest cobblestone streets in Kiev and a popular tourist attraction. This street is one of the highest points in Kiev.  The street goes downhill (Usviz means to descend)  toward the Dnipro River that runs through Kiev. 

These cobblestone streets are the oldest in Kiev, built around 900 A.D.

Many street vendors sell souveniors, art & antiques in their booths.  This Sunday they closed off the street to cars for even more vendors to display their goods.

St. Andrew's Cathedral

 We met Alex, a friend of Igor's, who runs some souvenior booths.  Alex was very knowledgeable in regards to what was authentic and the history/symbolism in the art and spoke very good English, which is not easy to find in the Ukraine.  We found some wonderful keepsakes to add some Ukranian heritage into our home. 

Many people sing & play music in the streets.

Some of our days here can be quite long both literally and emotionally. This weekend is extra hard as it would be our 10th year of family camp at Shamineau.  We are pleased that Emily, Matthew & Nicholas still wanted to go and keep the family tradition going.  We also are so thankful to many good friends who are up there with them and to Camp Shamineau for their Godly influence in the lives of our children & family over the years and for their generousity in providing food for our kids this weekend.  Wait until they see how much Matthew & Nicholas can eat!   We know God has many wonderful new memories for us as a familly that now will include Alena & Caleb and for that we are truly thankful.

"Sing to him. Sing praise to him. Tell about all of the wonderful things he has done."  1 Chronicles 16:9