Kiev, Ukraine is a beautiful place that took me mere minutes to fall in love with. I could have stayed forever. Though crossing the border was a royal pain involving many guards and incredulous people questioning my sanity for entering a war zone for sight seeing reasons, it was well worth the effort.
This is the Lavra, which is a type of monastery consisting of a cluster of cells or caves for hermits. It was like an underground labyrinth with coffins of dead priests everywhere. We were given scarves for our heads, and candles for light before descending into the dark and narrow tomb, where we immediately became lost. It was brilliant.
Inside the Lavra, where we most definitely were not supposed to take pictures.
And afterwards??? Yes. There were booths selling honeycomb and beeswax candles right outside of the Lavra. It would seem that they keep bees. Dreams can come true.
This was a memorial we walked through to get to Big Momma. Background music courtesy of Courtney, who is the one recording the video above.
Big Momma. It's pretty much their version of the Statue of Liberty. It was amazing.
Kiev Temple, where we spent Saturday afternoon.
St. Michael. One of many cathedrals visited.
St. Andrew. This was at the top of a very steep and monstrous hill called St. Andrew's descent that we climbed multiple times a day. The hike was beautiful.
Our traditional flower crowns.
My marvelous friend, Courtney, at our favorite restaurant. Ukrainian food is scrumptious, and the tea is even better. We never dined out without ordering a pot of tea.
We also payed a visit to the Lviv Chocolate Factory and walked the cobblestone streets on market day, but I don't have pictures of these events. In short, Kiev is happiness.
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