Kiev

Draft program, may change without notice.

July 30, Friday

PM

03:00 – 05:00 registration at the hotel

05:00 meeting at hotel’s reception,

a short walk in the hotel’s vicinity

06:00 boat trip on the Dnieper river

08:00 dinner at the local restaurant

We shall start our stay in Kiev by checking in at the hotel. Later in the afternoon we shall take a short sightseeing tour round the city centre. Then a cable car will take us down to the bank of the Dnieper where we’ll board a boat for an hour’s trip on the river. Afterwards we’ll repair to a nearby restaurant for a traditional Ukrainian meal. The walk back to the hotel will not take more than 20 minutes.

July 31, Saturday

AM

09:00 sightseeing tour with a guide

12.30 visit of Andriyvskiy Uzviz Street museum

PM

01:00 individual lunch and free time

06:00 dinner at the hotel

07:30 departure by coach for a lesson

of Ukrainian folk dances

09.00 Black and White Ball with Richard Powers

10.30 return to the hotel

Our stay in Kiev should be devoted mostly to relaxation and sightseeing, so we cannot avoid a tour of the city with a guide. Unlike in Prague, the tour may be undertaken in a tourist bus. The tour will be concluded at Andriyvskiy Uzviz, a street full of stalls with traditional, and less traditional, Ukrainian products. We shall walk along the street up to the museum devoted to the history of this unique Kievan street. After the museum visit there will be free time for individual lunch and more sightseeing for the rest of the afternoon. The museum is only two stops by underground train from our hotel and we will give you all necessary information you might need for your individual city exploration. We shall meet again at the hotel restaurant for dinner. After dinner, a coach will take us for a lesson in Ukrainian folk dancing. This class will be followed by Black & White ball with Richard Powers. Don’t forget to dress up in Black & White!

August 1, Sunday

AM

09:00 coach departs for Pecherska Lavra monastery,

a tour of Miniatures museum and catacombs

free time for individual lunch

PM

02:30 a tour of Folk Culture museum

03:30 a tour of the National Museum of the History

of the Great Patriotic War

06:30 dinner in a local restaurant

08:30 return to hotel

Today will be a museums day for us. And very special museums they are. First in the morning we are going to visit Pecherska Lavra, the Kiev centre of the Orthodox Church with magnificent cathedral and churches. The centre includes a unique museum of miniatures – most exhibits are smaller than 1mm (1/25 of an inch)! Next, we shall descend into the catacombs and visit one short section. We have to point out that this part of the tour may not be suitable for people suffering from claustrophobia. For most people, however, this will be an experience not to be missed: to watch strong believers at prayer over the relics of some of the local monks. Before entering the catacombs, women have to cover their heads with a scarf and must wear a long skirt. It is possible to buy a cheap scarf and borrow a long skirt at the entrance.

After leaving the catacombs there will be free time for individual lunch. Next stop will be at the Museum of Ukrainian Traditions, to be followed by a visit to another museum: The Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945). One may doubt that a museum devoted to war could be appealing, but we have to admit this exposition has been created on a grand scale, and even women who have not the slightest interest in military affairs will find it fascinating. We shall conclude the day’s doings with a dinner in one of the most famous Kiev restaurants.

August 2, Monday

AM

09:30 leaving hotel, travel by underground

10:00 visit to Chernobyl museum, followed by free time

PM

05:30 dinner at the hotel

07:00 departure for the ball

07:30 ball with local dancers

11:00 return to hotel

The name of Chernobyl reminds most people of the nuclear power station catastrophe , comparable to the drop of the atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. An explosion of an atom reactor in 1986 created a radioactive cloud which covered many European countries. The museum shows how this dramatic event happened, and its consequences – how people were staking their lives trying to limit the radioactive spread, and the inadequate support they received from their communist rulers.

After visiting the museum, it will be free time for everybody until dinner: choose for yourselves – more sightseeing, shopping, resting. After dinner, a coach will take us to meet the local dancers for the final ball. Unfortunately, it was beyond our possibilities to secure a live orchestra, so we shall have to dance to a recorded music. Nevertheless, we hope it is going to be a very successful evening and will leave us with good memories.

August 3, Tuesday

AM

Departure after breakfast.

Everything must come to an end one day, and this is such a day for our Vintage 2010 course. Reluctantly, we shall have to say goodbye and hope that we’ll meet again in two years’ time. Have a pleasant journey back home!

St.Michal

cable way

Market

Market

kyjev

Lavra

Lavra

Museum of miniatures

Dnepr river

Kiev dancers

Kiev dancers

Kiev dancers

Kiev dancers

Museum of Chernobyl

Museum of WWII

Memorial