I got up at 5, hoping to have a skype call with friends at home but that didn't happen. I left the house around 7:30 and walked to St. Volodymyr Cathedral to visit my saint friends. After making the rounds of my special saints, I realized that I'm more like my father than I thought. We had statues of saints and holy pictures all over the house. when my dad got home from work, he'd made the rounds and visit all his saints. That never occurred to me until today. I wonder if it's genetic. After leaving the cathedral, I walked the long way down to Khreshchatek St. to McDonald's where I was meeting Anna for coffee. She brought me a cell phone to use while in Ukraine since I left mine at home. Anna headed off to visit her grandmother about an hour away from Kiev and I walked home, again the long way. I walked through a farmer's market and was amazed at all the possibilities. There were so many flavors and colors of honey for sale at several stalls.
When I got home, I got a message from some of my friends, telling me that my friend Vladimir had gone to Russia and been ordained and consecrated bishop. He's 30. He's coming home by train arriving early Sunday morning. I'll be with other friends at the train station to meet him.
In the afternoon I walked to International Square and met Zoryan for lunch. We went to a Crimean reastaurant where I left my borrowed phone. I went back but the waitress who was obtuse when she waited on us was also obtuse about my phone. I'll try again tomorrow but will bring a native speaker with me. Hopefully they have it.
While Zoryan went to get set up for an international LGBT arts/crafts festival, I went and had a cappuccino then headed over to the place of the festival. Some of the photography was very impressive and I saw many people I had met in the spring when I was here. Lots of hugs and kisses.
I left about 6:30 and walked home, mostly uphill. I don't think I'm going to use the metro very much this trip since everything is within a mile or two walk from my apartment. Good deal. My legs and feet are protesting but I'm happy to be getting the exercise.
P.S. (added Sunday Morning) After I went to bed, I heard the stranges thing: music. I thought it was Liszt. I then thought I must be hearing a neighbor's stereo. I then realized it was the phone I thought I had left at the restaurant. It was in a side pocket of my backpack. A relief!
When I got home, I got a message from some of my friends, telling me that my friend Vladimir had gone to Russia and been ordained and consecrated bishop. He's 30. He's coming home by train arriving early Sunday morning. I'll be with other friends at the train station to meet him.
In the afternoon I walked to International Square and met Zoryan for lunch. We went to a Crimean reastaurant where I left my borrowed phone. I went back but the waitress who was obtuse when she waited on us was also obtuse about my phone. I'll try again tomorrow but will bring a native speaker with me. Hopefully they have it.
While Zoryan went to get set up for an international LGBT arts/crafts festival, I went and had a cappuccino then headed over to the place of the festival. Some of the photography was very impressive and I saw many people I had met in the spring when I was here. Lots of hugs and kisses.
I left about 6:30 and walked home, mostly uphill. I don't think I'm going to use the metro very much this trip since everything is within a mile or two walk from my apartment. Good deal. My legs and feet are protesting but I'm happy to be getting the exercise.
P.S. (added Sunday Morning) After I went to bed, I heard the stranges thing: music. I thought it was Liszt. I then thought I must be hearing a neighbor's stereo. I then realized it was the phone I thought I had left at the restaurant. It was in a side pocket of my backpack. A relief!
The ringtone is Liszt???!!! Glad you did not lose the phone. It does sound like you have found in Ukraine another "home away from home." I do believe that we make our communities and spheres of influence. We touch people by being ourselves. [You haven't yet mentioned the varieties of borsch you're having.]
ReplyDelete@Doug Oddly enough, Doug, I haven't had borsch yet. I did have an incredible cream of mushroom soup at Glossary, though. I haven't even had my favorite cabbage salad yet. I will remedy that today.
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