Ukrainian Delicacies

Do you ever feel like in the United States, you have it all?  You can have a breakfast burrito in the morning, sushi for lunch, and finish the day off with some curry for dinner.  This is one of the first times in my life that I have tried almost all new foods.  Claudia went to an open air market before our bus ride out of Yalta and bought some local Ukrainian food and snacks.  It was delicious!  Even if got strange looks from the people after eating in the street next to the stray cats and dogs.

Pea pod shaped candle looking nuts on a string dipped in some sort of jelly candy

Homemade Honey

Pickled everything

I am afraid that I will be constantly craving borsht when I get back to the states.  Russian and Ukrainian food has really grown on me.  I can’t believe that I never had borsht during the six weeks that I studied in St. Petersburg four years ago.  

Here, Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!

One interesting thing about this city is that it is covered in cats!  Claudia suggested it is so they can eat the rats that come off the many boats that dock here.  Some are more aggressive than others.  They run under our tables at dinner, jump into our laps while we are drinking wine and even dig their claws into our thighs while we try to photograph them.

 

OUCH!!!! BAD KITTY!





Hungry Cats looking for their next meal under our table









We enjoyed the duration of our stay in Yalta.  Some of my favorite memories are as follows:

 

Seeing the highest waterfall in Europe

Ukrainian Park

Taken before we ran into the mist!

Finding a piece of Claudia's heritage at the Swallow's Nest





Check out my kitty trying to sneak into my picture!



Lady Claudia Trotch

The views from the Swallow's Nest back to Yalta

The main street in Yalta at night



Where statues go to die



What do you do with the relics of your slightly unpleasant past? Well, some countries, rather than look the skeletons in their closet in the face, will destroy or burn the memorabilia they choose to forget.  Russia, on the other hand, tore down their Soviet monuments and converted their grim past into something the future can appreciate and enjoy – what follows is a colorful and somewhat disturbing addition to my Trans-Siberian Collection 2010 taken at a statue park in Moscow.

Some of these statues reminded me of Burning Man.  There were people climbing them and taking silly pictures just like me.  I promise I wasn't that annoying tourist!  I was just joining in on the fun!



I was a little surprised that parents bring their children to this park.  The kids eat ice cream and run around a torn down statue of Stalin while the parents drink beer and watch.



Fetus Fish







Enjoying the ride

That looks like fun!  Let me try!



Random Naked Wooden Men

 

You can speak English here

We made it to Yalta, Ukraine!!  Besides it being in the middle of now where, I don’t know why more people have not been to this area of the world.  Yes, you might be slightly damned or ripped off trying to get to the city from the airport if you don’t speak Russian.  Even though I speak Russian, our cab ride from the airport to the bus station cost more than three days of food.  Yalta is a beautiful city that I hope everyone will at least consider coming to someday.  I am definitely happy to be in a city that does not require gloves and a hat. 

After eating at a delicious Ukrainian restaurant, we decided to walk via the promenade to the McDonald’s to get dessert and utilize their Internet.  Turns out no one really speaks that much English. - except at McDonald’s.

Claudia: “Два МакСандаi”

McDonald’s Employee:  “You can speak English here.”

Claudia: “Oh, two MaKSUnDaiis?”

International Airports

We got dropped off at the airport by our overly proud of American culture Russian taxist.  We had some Roubles to kill before heading to Ukraine so Claudia and I enjoyed an amazing American breakfast at the airports TGIF.  I was so enthralled with our waiter’s collection of soviet pins all over his TGIF overalls, that I didn’t even realize that the orange juice Claudia and I ordered were close to ten dollars each!  Not to self: Do not drink fresh squeezed orange juice in Russia.  I have read that during the Soviet Times, one was unable to obtain oranges; I thought that times had changed by apparently oranges are still a commodity not to be taken lightly.   

Claudia: “Erica, we have made the poorest beverage decisions on this trip.” 

Erica: “Never thought I would say this, but from now on we are moving to Vodka, pure and straight- with an occasion splurge on bottled water.”

After enjoying our breakfast, we leisurely walked to the Aeroflot flight departures.  Turns out, our ticket had failed to state that we needed to fly out of a totally different terminal than the one we were currently at.  I managed to figure out where to go using my knowledge of the Russian language; I found out we needed to run.  Running with a 40 pound back pack is not fun; I am slightly regretting having purchased Atlas Shrugged in Moscow.  Even though we were highly mistaken as to where our plane was flying from, we made it to our flight on time – further proving my point that you most definitely do not need to be at an airport three hours prior to take off.  

Can I get some vodka with my Red Bull?

Claudia went out in search of a dance club and managed to stumble upon Picasso’s DJ Bar.  After successfully using the “Hello!  We are from California!” bit, we were happily admitted into the basement club.  We checked our jackets and were pleasantly surprised by the remixes we heard.  Yes, it was techno, but I actually felt we could dance to it!  Excited to get the night started, Claudia and I made our way past the glittery dresses and ties to the bar.  Feeling a bit tired still from the traveling, Claudia asked for vodka Red Bull to wake her up.  I asked for two vodka Red Bulls and after a minute, our bar tender returns with a can of Red Bull with a straw.  Confused, I take a sip and after getting a concurrence from Claudia that the drink was indeed non-alcoholic, I tell the bar tender I had asked for VODKA with Red Bull.  “Ohh!  OK!” he says and asked for 200 more Rubles.  I pay the man, get my vodka Red Bull and decided it is time to run away, since it sounded like he was asking for even more money.  All that was left of that 1000 Ruble bill Claudia had given me for both drinks was a mere 50 Ruble bill.  Apparently, not only is drinking vodka with another beverage highly foreign in Russia, but also they really hammered the “Moscow is the most expensive city in the world” concept into my head.  We had just paid $30 to share vodka Red Bull.  Friends, just another example of how Moscow is, in the words of Lady Gaga, Beautiful and Dirty Rich.  

A nice Russian boy offered to give us a mini photo shoot

Our dates have arrived!

James and I wanted to have a chill night last night because both of us had friends who were flying into Moscow today to meet up.  Last night we went to dinner with an old friend who we met on the epic train ride to Yekaterinburg.  Not the crazy one who attempted to prove his love for me via dull switch blade, but the other more relaxed and coherent one.  He and I started to dance floor initially by doing what he calls the Shuffle, to me it just looks like 20's Charleston.  He was visiting his childhood best friend who really wanted to meet me and James.  They were so nice to take us out to dinner, buy us a couple of drinks and even drive us around the city to give us a night tour.  I am so taken back by how kind people can be to complete strangers.  They all had to work the next day, but still we were out until 2AM, seeing the sights and chatting about Russian and American life.  It was definitely great to be in a car, even if we were going over 10MPH on the surface streets.  

Claudia with a Пирожок

This morning, I heard my alarm and was excited to get ready to head off to the airport to meet my best friend, Claudia.  I wanted to make sure she made it to the hostel alright, so I decided to brave the Moscow Metro to find her.  I speak Russian, how hard can it be?  Well, to make a long story short, I made it through the Metro without any issues, but as soon as I had to find the bus to take me to the airport, I was completely lost.  I asked people, looked around, and even had to yell at a cab driver for trying to rip me off by offering an extremely over priced cab ride.  I finally found my way, feeling like I was about to cry.  Sadly, I was not the composed friend, waiting patiently at the international arrivals area with a smile adorning my face.  It didn't matter, because as soon as I saw Claudia, all my frustrations slipped away!   I now have a female accomplice to romp about Russia with.  James has been great, but I don't think he understands my fascination with women wearing jackets that match their stiletto heels, and leopard print nylons.  Claudia and I already have great plans to obtain metallic colored leggings to wear instead of jeans.

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that Swing!

We got all dressed up and walked to the Red Square to take pictures.  This picture up top reminds me our old times swing dancing with The Movement at UC Berkeley!  Ever girl's dream: dress up, photo shots, and strong men that treat us like ladies.  Grand old times.  

James and Johnna

My date is cuter: FACT

 We have both been eagerly anticipating the day our dates arrive in Moscow.


James' date, Johnna, is super nice and very fashionable.  I am really glad that we both have friends who came all they way around the world to hang out with us and join the adventure. 

 

Marx, where have you been all my life!?

Lenin was found in every city we have visited so far, but strangely, Marx was no where to be found!