My Adventures Where in the world is ….

So I apologize but life is so crazy busy right now and it seems that just when it might calm down something else needs to be taken care of.  Weekends I just feel like vegging but tonight I have a little time and want to finally post the last of our pictures from our trip.  First, the actual mileage from our trip.

The total time of travel for our trip when it was to be eight days was 19 hours 46 minutes. Our actual time was 19 hours 52 minutes at least according to google maps but if you add in the potholes we had to avoid and the swerving we had to do and the bumpy roads that slowed us down – perhaps another half of that time was actually spent in driving on our six day trip minus one city.  The mileage was supposed to be 755 miles but without the extra city and having to travel back to Dnipro instead it was 739.7 miles, again according to google maps and going as the crow flies.  One funny thing happened on the way home and I thought of a favorite movie.  At one point we turned off a very busy road and went on a dirt road for a while and then on a paved road the led to a four lane paved road with almost no cars on it.  Alex called it a “shortcut to the shortcut.”  In Holiday Inn the driver for the Inn takes Miss Linda on a short cut and then on a shortcut to the shortcut.  I had to chuckle when I thought of that.  I don’t know if it was shorter or not but it was a very nice drive compared to most of the roads we were on.

So here are some pictures from the rest of our trip.

In Poltava we stayed at the Palazzo Hotel.  A really old but very nice hotel in downtown Poltava.

We had dinner in the Hotel Dining room as we were all very tired.  Some were not so impressed but I had Roasted Trout Ratatouille and it was delicious.  The trout was so tender and one free and the vegetables were done perfectly.  Then off to bed for some rest.  The next morning we headed to the Poltava Church.  The have a lovely two story building downtown Poltava.  We were set on the second floor for blessings and again I was at the top of the stairs but this time it was not cold.

At the end of our day we were off to Kremenchuk but not without dinner at the Tau Asian Restaurant.  The missionaries live above this restaurant and that must be hard and the aroma is delightful.  I had a sweet and sour chicken and vegetables with noodles.  It was excellent.  Everyone said their meals were excellent as well.  We would definitely go to this restaurant again.

It seemed to take forever to get to Kremenchuk because of the traffic and the bad roads but finally we got to our hotel – Kremenchuk Hotel Europeyskiy.  At first I was not impressed but once inside – well it is another “more than we would ever choose” hotel.

We took time to use the “ironing room” and iron the tablecloth for the patriarch’s table before heading to bed for a good night’s rest.  We had breakfast downstairs in the dining room and were glad for Aleks explaining the menu because unlike other places it was only in Ukrainian.

The next morning it had “wetted” and I thought the ground was just wet but Aleks assured us it was very very icy.  I learned that the hard way as I slid on a step and landed hard – mostly on my padded bottom.  I was achy for a while but it didn’t last.  When we got to the Kremenchuk chapel (a small basement chapel – very nice but very small) Aleks and Elder Morgenegg were careful to assure that Elder Neuenschwander and I were safely inside.  Later the ice had all melted and it was fine for walking and driving.

We headed back to Dnipro for a warm meal and a good night’s rest but as we neared Dnipro Sister Sullivan called and warned us that there was an ice storm and that all the transportation in and out of Dnipro was stopped so there were missionaries that had come in for meetings that were not stranded.  She said to be careful and for Aleks to call when he got to the Mission Home so President could come down and help Elder Neuenschwander walk in.

Aleks took Elder Morgenegg and I home first and when he and Elder Morgenegg got out they told me to wait as the area outside our complex was a sheet of ice.  Once we got into our complex though it was fine.  We were so happy to be home in our nice comfortable warm apartment.  We did go out to get milk so we could make pancakes for dinner but the market is a very short walk and soon we were inside for the night.

A funny aside.  We went to the office the next morning and when the missionaries that had covered for me while we were gone came in Elder Gerasimov gave me a big hug “You’re back.  I am so glad you are back!”  Elder Eliason, who had the bulk of the responsibility, shook my hand firmly and said I am SOOO happy to see you.  It is nice to have a little “vacation” but also nice to be welcomed home and missed.

All in all it was a great trip and we are so glad we were able to go and to have had the wonderful spiritual experiences we had as well as to be treated to great food and good company.

 

 

November 24 – November 30 2017

So this is the original tour we were going on.  However, Elder Neuenschwander needed a rest day so instead of going to Krivoy Rog we headed home after a day in Kremenchug.  So instead of coming home on Friday we were home Wednesday night – to an ice storm.  In fact that morning as we left the hotel I took a fall when I stepped off the prepared path – icy is an understatement and from then on we worried about Elder Neuenschwander falling.  During the day it warmed up and we left just fine that afternoon and the roads were fine until we got closer to Dnepropetrovsk.  Then when I stepped out of the van Aleks said be very careful and Elder Morgenegg was right there to guide me to safety.  Interestingly in our complex the walkways and roads were mostly fine.  We had to go out to get milk and had to be careful where we walked when we left our development – fortunately the little market is just outside our complex so a short walk and then home to pancakes for dinner.  It was so good to be home but then I am getting ahead of myself and giving you the end before the beginning.

Except for the first day most of our traveling was when it was dark so not many pictures of the cities we were in so enjoy what little I have.

 

 

November 24 to November 27 2017.  From Dnepropetrovsk to Kharkov and then on to Sumy for three days.

We left our apartment about 10 in the morning to drive the three hours to Kharkov where we went in October for the special meeting with Elder Kearon.

We soon were seeing actual houses something we don’t see in our little world.  Interesting thing here is that all the houses are surrounded by walls – brick, stone or other.  Later we saw some with fences but mostly they have walls.  I think perhaps it is for privacy but I don’t know.

For some reason I am having trouble getting pictures to be side by side so I am just putting them in a string for here on.  Sorry if that makes this very long.

Driving from Dnepropetrovsk to Kharkov was mostly on four lane highways like home – all in very good condition.  Driving from Kharkov to Sumy was a different story.  There were so many potholes that Aleks was weaving back and forth.  The road was sort of two lanes but it was so bad.  When there were no pot holes the road was like a washboard.  On occasion we would get a small section of smooth road and we all relaxed and then back to the pot holes and washboard.  It was so terrible.  We were exhausted and I know Aleks was as well.

When we finally arrived in Sumy we drove past our hotel and began to understand what President Sullivan meant when he said it was a little over the top.  The hotel they usually stay at is very noisy on weekends and Elder Neuenschwander needed a quiet room to rest in so we were booked here.  Before we checked in we went to eat at a Ukrainian restaurant the Aleks (our driver) recommended.  We are so glad we did as it was delicious and we all enjoyed our meals there.  The restaurant is Shalena Shkvarka and I had Borscht with pork and a delicious roll with a garlic topping and, of course, sour cream.  Then I had Vareni with potatoes and spices.  Aleks said the are best boiled but I had mine fried and it was so delicious.

Then off to check into our hotel and we saw that is was truly over the top in side as well.  Elder Morgenegg and I travel simply and although we have stayed in some very nice hotels and motels over the years and some very nice bed and breakfasts as well – we are simple and don’t need anything fancy especially when all we are going to do is sleep.  So here are some pictures of the hotel we stayed at.  It was actually quite nice to have this nice place to stay on Sunday afternoon when Elder Neuenschwander was resting and so did we.

We spent Friday night relaxing after we had dinner and then we had a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel before heading to the church for blessings.  As we were finishing we wanted to go back to the Ukrainian restaurant so Aleks called for reservations but they were booked solid so we went to the restaurant under the church for dinner.  It is called “Vin&Gret.”  Elder Morgenegg felt it was very overpriced and it was but I enjoyed my meal of pumpkin puree soup with greens and prosciutto and pasta with grilled chicken and mushrooms with a cheese sauce.  Then back to the hotel to relax.

Sunday morning we again had the buffet breakfast (which included some Ukrainian pastry, dumplings, sausage and beans as well as the standard fare of scrambled eggs.  There was also yogurt and dried fruit and some things we did not try.  One highlight for me was the bag of hot chocolate that Elder Neuenschwander had brought from home.  We both enjoyed it very much.  Then off to Church.  The branch is not large but the members are so friendly and were so happy we were there.  We really enjoyed visiting there.  Then as Elder Neuenschwander was so tired we headed back to the hotel so he could rest.

While we waited Elder Morgenegg and I decided to leave our room so they could clean it and so we took our books and kindles and went to the “Library” to have our Family Home Evening reading.  Here are some pictures of the library.

Later, Aleks and Elder Morgenegg and I went to dinner at the Ukrainian restaurant again.  I had Borscht again – I do like it a lot.  Then I had dumplings with ground pork.  Then we all decided to have dessert – not because we were hungry but just because.  We had cherry vereniki – boiled not fired and oh my goodness it was so delicious.  Another absolutely delicious meal. Then we went back to the hotel to rest and relax and check our e-mail.

Monday morning we went to breakfast but on weekdays they have menus.  You order English, French or other from the menu.  I ordered French and got scrambled eggs, bacon, a croissant and two little apple dumplings.  I also have gained a taste for pomegranate juice and again hot chocolate.  Then off to to the church for more blessings.

When the day ended we headed off the Poltava on roads not as badly potholed but with construction and many washboard areas.  Not a very pleasant drive but we got there safely.  I am going to write about that in another post.

It has been so wonderful to get to know Aleks and Elder Neuenschwander on this trip.