Yulia Tymoshenko Protest In Kiev

While visiting Kiev back in December Laura and I came upon the liveliest political protest we have seen in Ukraine so far.  It was organized by the political party All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland" in favor of jailed politician Yulia Tymoshenko and against current Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

This was a hardcore protest as people seemed to be living in the tents on the sidewalks.

Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is currently in jail after being found guilty for breaking Ukrainian laws while setting up a gas contract with Russia while she was in power.  She has actually been held in prison  and then later in a hospital in Kharkiv.  

The sign below reads "No Political Repression" across the top.

This sign reads:  

Yulia 

Revolution 

Ukraine!

A collage of Yulia who wears her hair in a traditional Ukrainian braid.

This sign reads "Freedom From Political Repression."

This sign protests current Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

Baby's First Haircut

In my time here in Ukraine I've successfully avoided nearly all the potentially bad experiences that living abroad could throw at you...I've never been yelled at in the street in Russian [that I've been aware of], haven't had an icicle fall on my head, or have even fallen on the sheets of ice that go for sidewalks around here.  It's part of the reason I'm having so a good time here, I imagine.  So the thought of finally having to get my haircut in Ukraine and the possible horrible outcomes had me a little frightened as I walked into the salon today.  Laura and I...let's be more honest...Laura had thoroughly researched such phrases as...

"short around the side, longer on top"

"2-3 centimeters off the top" [that's an inch in America]

"please do not shave my head"

Thankfully, everything turned out well and the women of the salon seemed to be amused that Laura was taking photos like this was baby's first haircut.  

I should have gotten my barber's name but forgot to.  She was not happy that I didn't want to have a shave as well.

In the end it was a great experience and I didn't end up looking like Telly Savalas.

1930's Kharkiv Tourism Posters

Radio Free Europe recently posted some 1930's posters advertising the Soviet Union to the West.  Since many of the key tourist areas [Crimean peninsula, the Black Sea, Kiev] are in Ukraine, Ukrainian locations were the focus of many of the posters.  

Kharkiv, as the second largest city in Ukraine, had a few posters too.  Here are a few highlighting the famous  statue of poet Taras Shevchenko.  

Kharkiv even made the list of the top tours of the Soviet Union.

The View From My Window #10: Bombs Bursting In Air

Fireworks are a pretty regular occurrence around our house on the weekends but it was surprising for them to be so loud and so close on a Monday night.  They were being shot from the roof of a building a block away.  I must admit that whenever they go off in back of my mind I wonder if Russia has invaded.

Don't Tell Stan Lee

Don't tell Stan Lee but the Kharkiv Circus is selling what I'm sure are unlicensed Spider-Man masks...I bought one of these for about three dollars and the webbing on the face is put on with magic marker.  

The Kharkiv Circus

One cold winter evening a few weeks ago Laura and I went to the The Kharkiv Circus which has been around since 1883.  I didn't quite know what to expect before going in...would we see tons of animals?...high flying gymnastics like Cirque Du Soleil?...or maybe some Ukrainian hybrid? 

It was a circus in the round with a carpeted main stage so at this point I'm doubting that I'm going to see some elephants tonight.

They had a full band that was very very entertaining throughout the night...

 ...along with two clowns that filled the entertainment void while the crew was changing sets.

We saw acrobats, roller skaters, magicians, and tumblers but the stars of the show without a doubt were the dog performers.  They opened the show and would do just about any trick you could think of for a treat from their trainer.   

Eventually they all took turns jumping rope and then a little dachshund came out and did some jumping and melted everyone's heart.

During the intermission you could get your photo taken with the performing dogs.

Also during intermission smaller kids could go down to the arena floor and get strapped in to be lifted to the ceiling.  I was a bit too far away to see exactly how they were connected to the apparatus but let's just say that I was pleasantly surprised no one ended up hurt.

The second act brought out the pyrotechnics and the high flying acts...

The gymnasts were portrayed as one big family ...

...but I'm not seeing too much of a family similarity...

Overall, it was a lot of fun and one of the best nights we've had out and about in Kharkiv.

Icicles

 We've had snow this week and above freezing temperatures and so we are getting into dangerous icicle season.  All over the sidewalks you'll see the area closest to the buildings cordoned off so that you can't walk there and get an icicle to the head.  

In America about 15 people each year die from falling icicles but the problem can be particularly bad in Europe where building and walkways are often very close together.  Each year thousands of people are injured from falling icicles and St. Petersburg had a particularly bad winter in 2010.  

The worst areas are the places where you think you are not in danger.  Behind our apartment building you might not realize that five stories up there is a balcony with some dangerous looking icicles forming.