Exploring!!

 This morning we decided to take our chances and go for a walk--the past 2 days we recieved calls telling us to be ready to be picked up in 15 minutes, but we went anyway.


It was just about 1 mile from our apartment that we found an open air market, very similar to the one in Kiev, but as hard as we tried, we couldn't find our hide on sheep head, or feet on chicken, or even the fresh dog with the furry feet still on them!

 The produce selection is pretty amazing considering the time of year--there are tomatoes that were definitely kept in some type of root cellar, tons of root crops, pomegranate, fresh herbs, dried herbs, mushrooms of all kinds, and apples.  None of the produce is washed, at the grocery store or at the market, and the quality of the product doesn't seem to matter; much of what was there is misshapen, bruised, or small...but they sell like crazy none the less!

 There are dried goods vendors throughout the market area.  Chips, noodles, pasta, flour, sugar, and cereal--it's all there!

 Here is a small Christmas tree lot within the market, we have seen parking lots full of these trees!  Svetta tells us that she knows where we can find a lot with real trees...a 4' tree goes for about 50 Grivna (less than $5), so once we talk to the orphanage director, our hope is to be able to buy a tree for each of the groups.

Fresh fish anyone??

All I can say about this one is that it smelled like dead fish! 

This is leaving the market and heading towards our apartment.  There is a small grocery store, and just behind it, is a pizza shop.  We ate there once while the whole gang was here--it's definitely a hangout for the younger crowed!

Here is one of the many buses rolling around the city.  In most parts of town they have the electric street cars ferrying folks around.

An elementary school. 

The playground at the school...

The little village our apartment overlooks...

Once again, during our walk, we seemed to be a spectacle!  Svetta says, yes, we do stand out...our skin is different, our clothes are different, and our hair is different!  And, I think I am the only guy in Ukraine with facial hair!!!  So much for not standing out!