Day 7 - Kiev some more

Alright back to the trip. Kiev was actually the place we stayed the least amount of time. It was also when the real blistering heat started. We only had half the day to visit since we were getting back on the train to Simpferopol that afternoon. Here I am on the windowsill of the window in our hotel room waiting for Bela and Julia to wake up. I fit comfortably sitting here with room to spare. That a wide windowsill/thick wall.

Just outside the window on the boulevard down below was a prominent statue of Lennon with a campaign tent for the communist party in front of it.
Also very close to where we were staying was this awesome farmer's market selling fresh produce, lots of berries, flowers, meat, cheese, fish and lots of caviar. Béla of course go a carrot from one of the market people while we were buying delicious blueberries and raspberries.
Here is a picture of the strange art... advertizing... panoramic scene thing that went all the way around the market's walls.
After the market we went to see some parliament buildings that were up a giant hill. Big blocky and commie looking, they were pretty impressive.
One of the buildings, or at least one near the parliament is the House with Chimearas. This art nouveau building has a bunch of crazy looking gargoyle-like animals running all over it.

Walking further along we saw this majestic looking building. Again very solid and blocky looking but still very ornate, especially this one. Directly adjacent to it was an entrance way to an underground parking garage that was done in the same style. Needless to say this was a more affluent neighbourhood.
Then we walk in a park that went along the Dnipro river. Here I am next to a nice big fountain.
Here a cool looking outdoor theatre.
Here are Julia and Béla at a nice view point where you could see the other side of the river and the Dnipro itself way down below.
We were steadily making our way south to get to the big orthodox chuch complex (more on that soon) and made a pit stop at this play ground so Béla could stretch his legs. The playground was in need of some upkeep but Béla didn't mind. Here he is climbing this wavy ramp.
Here he is being adorable on the wavy ramp.
Going down the slide with Papa.
There was also one of those giant inflatable slides that mushroom themed. Big blown up 'shrooms were holding the slide up. Very eastern-european. We also saw a horse and carriage with a bridal party in it. We had seen it earlier seeding by at a fair gallop going through the city. Hopefully it made it on time.
Here is a war monument of some kind.
Here we start to see what was are final touristic goal in Kiev: the Caves Monastery. But it was still a little while away.
Here is a monument to the victims of the Holodomor, the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33. It's far more elaborate than this picture could capture.
And finally we got to the golden domes of the Caves Monastery. This is just the entrance to the grounds.
The Caves Monastery in a big complex holding several churches and other monuments and buildings. It's a site of pilgrimage for the Eastern-European Orthodox Christian fate. Below is the Great Lavra Belltower. And here is the view right after entering the grounds. Directly in front is the Dormition Cathedral. There are yet another 8 churches on the grounds according to wikipedia, and a monastery or two.
Here I am next to a big bell I presume went in the belltower at some point.
All these pictures are from the higher grounds. There is also the lower grounds that also houses some churches, etc. and below the whole thing are caves also used for religious going ons hence the name Caves Monastery.

More fanciness.
We were a little strapped for time by this point and the way down to the caves was not the easiest with a stroller apparently to we didn't get to see them. We opted for getting to the train on time and skip seeing the relics that populate the caves.