The Great Gates of Kiev

Kristina pulled out a map, suggested the best things for us to see in Kiev, and sent us on our way. Took the minibus - yep packed in like sardines again - haven't seen a bus that isn't - then the metro - packed in like sardines too, back into the city. Walked down the top of the embankment along the river past the Fame Monument and Eternal Flame into Kiev-Pechers'k Lavra, an ancient orthodox monastary founded in about 1000AD. There were brides and bridal cars everywhere. A huge Big Lavra Belfrey, and two cathedrals.

After exploring that for a while, and seeing the current cathedral built over the original cathedral, we walked down the hill to the Near Caves. Free to enter, but its expected that you will buy candles otherwise you're blundering around in the dark. All of the notable monks are buried down there, and visited by orthodox pilgrims kissing each one in turn - kind of like a huge speed date. Emerging from that, we walked up the cloisters and into the Far Caves. More extensive and elaborate than the Near ones.

The Lavra, a world heritage site, is near the Soviet built 'National Museum of WW II History', so that was our next destination. It's an outdoor park with tanks, planes, sculptures and a museum, all dwarfed by the Motherland Statue. The statue holds aloft a shield of the Soviet Union (!?) and a 12 ton sword. Symbolically the eternal flame wasn't burning.

A fair hike back into the city centre to see the main square and large Ukrainian Independence Monument, and a monument to the founders of Kiev, before we had a rather late lunch.

Next it was up the hill to St Sofia's Cathedral, also on the world heritage register. It was built by Prince Yaroslav the Wise beginning in 1017, and is decorated with mosaic icons. It also has a huge belfrey. Finally, down the hill to the Golden Gate of Kiev, fairly newly reconstructed we guess, but very impressive. Metro and bus back to the apartment, a bit of a shop at the first real shopping centre we've been to, then tea by candlelight as the power went off.