(S looking dutifully somber at the gravesite after laying the flowers that Daddy purchased at the bottom of the stairs.)This post should be more appropriately titled "Why Ukraine needs a Ukrainians With Disabilities Act." We had a good time, but it was not a stroller friendly event. We finally located the actual gravesite and park by, once again, asking someone for directions. A had found on the web that there was a bus service, but once again, we were fooled. There is a bus, but only to the bottom of the aptly named Mt. Tarasoba (aptly named as the grave is for Taras Schevchenko.) You still have to go up 143 steps - we know that's how many there were as the nice salesman at the bottom had lovely wooden bookmarks that commemorated this. He was the same one that looked at us blankly when we asked if a bus took you to the top. Thankfully, the steps were well-maintained - in fact, they were repainting the bannisters - and were in sets of 12 steps each. This way I could take S by the hand, and G on my hip and do them in manageable style, while Daddy returned the stroller to the car and caught up. The steps were through a lovely forest, and it turned out to be quite a nice walk. Halfway up there was a fountain, which for S was the best part of the trip. She played there on the way up, and then again on the way down, when we were standing under the overhang since it started drizzling again. 
Of course, though, despite the pleasant walk, there's always a catch. When we got to the top, they were renovating. They had taped off the main path, so we asked two babushki how to get to the monument. They pointed to the left - and we dutifully followed that way, until we ran into more tape. Finally, out of frustration, we just ducked under the original tape and stepped over the freshly-laid concrete. I think you get the picture here as G and I sit on the steps surrounded by construction. 
The view reminded me of the view from Mt. Vernon near DC, along the banks of the Potomac. In this photo, you can see the future tourist center, which was being built. I was pleasantly surprised by this investment in infrastructure.
G and I are also dutifully somber as we ponder the great words of Ukrainian's greatest poet, and the first to really write in the Ukrainian language.
Of course, though, despite the pleasant walk, there's always a catch. When we got to the top, they were renovating. They had taped off the main path, so we asked two babushki how to get to the monument. They pointed to the left - and we dutifully followed that way, until we ran into more tape. Finally, out of frustration, we just ducked under the original tape and stepped over the freshly-laid concrete. I think you get the picture here as G and I sit on the steps surrounded by construction. The view reminded me of the view from Mt. Vernon near DC, along the banks of the Potomac. In this photo, you can see the future tourist center, which was being built. I was pleasantly surprised by this investment in infrastructure.G and I are also dutifully somber as we ponder the great words of Ukrainian's greatest poet, and the first to really write in the Ukrainian language.
No comments:
Post a Comment