My Adventures Where in the world is ….

This is the John the Baptist Chapel that is not far from our apartment and maybe you remember it from an earlier walk. It is a lovely little chapel.

What we didn’t notice before is the little like pier out behind the Chapel.

You can see the cross and there is a pool with steps going down into it – a baptismal font? We didn’t know that the Orthodox church believed in baptism by immersion. Interesting.

I don’t know if you can see the gulls but they seem to be feeding or riding the waves. Not sure but there were many of them there.

An interesting sculpture of a giraffe.

All along the walkway there are people with fishing poles in the water. We saw one man pull out a fish. I suspect they must eat the fish but I don’t know. I certainly would not eat anything that was caught in the Dnepr River. It may look inviting from a distance but up close it is as bad as the Hudson River – maybe even worse considering what is up river.

This is a map of the city from the walkway and includes all the walkway. It was interesting to look at.

From a distance this looks like a wonderful building but as we got nearer it is obviously vacant and falling apart. Very sad because at one time it was probably a very nice building.

The abandoned building and a building attached to it.

When I was doing some research for President Sullivan I learned about the Alfred Nobel University. I knew it was near our apartment and here it is. It is quite a young university and very prestigious.

The grounds of the University

Elder Morgenegg and the very busy road we had to cross.

More of the University.

This very interesting statue is on the grounds of the university. It appears to be a large hand holding the world with a figure coming down to it Probably more but we were not very close.

I love the name of this little cafe – Eatme Kafe. The pictures of the inside look so cute as well. Mostly these places are just coffee clubs but this one seems to have other things as well.

Happy Birthday Hot Wheels. Who knew I would see this sign on a street in Dnepropetrovsk Ukraine. The window displays were darling as well but after I took on picture I got some funny looks so stopped after one.

Here is the one I took – I was careful not to get any people in it. Gotta love legos – world wide.

As we told you there are actually some streets with what appear to be single family houses. We don’t see any of these where we normally travel so this was interesting to us.

Many of the houses have high fences that you can see over on the tram and gates like this one does.

Another house we saw. There are many along the route the tram takes. I imagine they don’t like having the tram in their back yard. One interesting thing. The workers who collect the tram fees get off before the end – several stops before the end. Maybe they go on break because today the same two got back on at the same stop when we returned.

Not far from where we started walking the road was divided by a very nice island along the middle. There were several flower groupings and the grass was actually being watered. We haven’t see that anywhere else. Since we were heading toward the University and the Botanical Gardens perhaps this is all part of that.

Along the way we saw some more single family homes. this one seems very nice. Most had nice lawns and lots of flowers.

Dnipropetrovsk National University Botanic Garden – Sadly when we walked up to the gate we learned that they are closed on Saturday and Sunday so we were not able to go in today. We will save this for some day when we have a week day off work – not very often does that happen but you never know.

A view into the gardens – there appear to be pathways and lots growing.

Oles Honchar Dnipropetrovsk National University – This appears to be the main building although there are many others as well. It looks very modern.

More lawn sprinklers.

Just past the University we noticed a pathway into a wooded area. Later we learned this is Yurry Gagarin Park. We decided to walk in and see what all we could see. Maybe it is not the botanical gardens but it seemed interesting anyway.

As we walked back in we could see many walking apparently through the woods so we walked along to see what was there. There seem to be tall buildings in the back. Perhaps campus housing?

Yes, these seem to be dorms or at least apartment buildings.

There is a playground there as well.

A large athletic field with a track of sorts going around it.

Past the field more housing.

So now we went back into the woods.

Okay, I tricked him and got a pictures=.

There were so many birds singing we stopped to see if we could see them. We were not successful but it was enjoyable to listen to the variety of voices.

This is a thick lush forest

More of the forest

All too soon we were back on the road we went in on but farther along the way.

Pigeons are everywhere here and I am amazed at the color variety. There are pigeons like you might see in NYC or elsewhere in the states but there are also brown ones like this one.

There are also white and various combinations.

There is graffiti everywhere here just like at home but sometimes it is very creative like this one.

This is one of many vendors along the roads. This one specializes in cigarettes. Smoking is a huge problem here. Not inside, but just outside any store or restaurant or bus. You never see it in stores – although you can buy the cigarettes there – but right outside the smoke assails you.

Across the street from the botanical gardens is the Dnipropetrovsk National University of Railway – Transportation). It is a beautiful building with carefully manicured lawns and bushes.

As we often see, there are beautiful almost new buildings right next to ones that seem to have been abandoned.

This tram goes a different direction and seems to be much older than the ones we usually ride.

We also stopped at ATB and bought two 2.5 grivne (that is about 9 cents for a nice sized full cone) ice cream cones. The missionaries told us about this great deal and we bought some the other day. It was a great treat to eat while we waited for the tram to come.

Since there was almost no one on the tram I snuck a picture. They now have TVs on most of the trams. You can see the trams are actually quite nice inside.

This vendor sells only bread – any many different varieties.

Here is another home behind a brick wall on the way back home.

I thought this store looked interesting.

In the “dump” near our apartment there are often what we call Ferrell dogs napping during the day. We think they may run wild during the night.

So we crossed the street after we got off the tram just a block from the office and walked up the middle of the street (Yavornytskoho Avenue (Karla Marksa)) It is a lovely place to walk. You can see a statue up ahead – we have not yet discovered who it is.

Here is a close up of the statue. Probably some great general or leader.

We think this is a school. Perhaps a college – there are lots of them around Dnepro

The Library – again one of many.

Dnepropetrovsk Museum of History

These statues are all around Dnepro and there is like a garden of them here next to the museum. Inside there is a section which talks about them – looked like they were excavated. However, we are not sure as we couldn’t read the words just looked at the pictures.

The first room showed all the restoration work that was done by the people who work at this museum. It was amazing and luckily you can take pictures so I did.

There are so very old paintings that have been restored and I am not putting up all I took but some I think are interesting. Like these.

The picture in the back on the left shows what this looked like before they restored it – like putting a puzzle together – amazing.

This cup was also a puzzle to put together.

This shows the before of a picture.

This is the after – it is a little blurry but you can see it is much improved.

A bottle that was fractured.

A wooden desk set restored.

Look at the glasses in this one – interesting – right?

A poster showing some of their restoration work.

This is a huge tapestry hanging on the wall in one room – it is quite amazing in color and detail.

I know this is a dark picture but I hated to take a flash in this room that was obviously protected with special lights. I thought the old carriage was very neat.

These are very old examples of vyshyvanka – the special embroidery that Ukrainians believe have special protecting powers.

Although the bed is very small – it is so cool with the pictures and all. I also like the nightclothes on display.

More clothes and more vyshyvanka – these are very old.

Close up of the vyshyvanka cloth in the background.

When Elder Morgenegg saw these he asked a very friendly guard if one was a balalaika. No she said that is a Russian instrument – these are Ukrainian. They are very cool either way.

This carriage was converted to a primitive tank – the gun is attached and it has a star and is labeled for the war.

Native Ukrainian dress – notice the plaid skirt under the overdress with balalaika trim.

This is an example of a much more modern room of probably a fairly wealthy family – most people would not have the luxuries in this room.

A tractor – nicely painted and preserved.

Much more modern dress – probably the 1920s or 1930s.

More vyshyvanka examples

So this room is part of their war exhibit – mostly this is World War II. I immediately thought of Rosie the Riveter. I know it’s not the same but the same determined look in her eyes.

This, I believe, was meant to show how a soldier who had to send messages might live – notice the vyshyvanka on the door. The woman who cleans says they give protection.

Back outside we are walking toward the river and that tall statue is the Victory Monument.

A clear view of the Victory Monument and the river.

On the way one of many rose gardens we saw.

Down the stairs to the Victory Monument.

Base of the monument with people from the war.

Top of the monument – the “lady victory.”

Date on the monument.

A bride preparing for a photo moment at the Victory Day Monument.

Tank Statue at the other end of the walkway going back to the office.

Just after we walked past the History Museum we noticed this sign and some interesting things inside (outside). So we walked in.

It is actually part of the Museum but all outside around the Museum.

All part of the Ukrainian way memorial.

War trash turned into war memorial art.

The sign says Donetsk – a town south of here that is once again in a war zone – this time with Russian.

More art.

I like this statue of the little girl giving the soldier an apple.

Sunflowers grow here in fields. They are considered good luck.

Battle for Dnepro

Back on the road here is a sign for the Renok we sometimes go to. There are lots of signs advertising it.

Just outside our apartment complex is this building. It is a Wedding Palace. We have only seen an actual wedding come out one time. They just redid the front. The grass is all artificial but it looks nice.

Activities across the street by the river. One is a tramp where you put on a harness and get to jump up and down with a bungee cord.

This is a caged tramp and a blow up castle.

At the other end of that area there is this ball sitting toward the edge. At a distance it looks cool.

Close up you can see it is old and corroded. Still kind of cool though – despite the disgusting water it is in.

Can you see the snow – actually it is the fluff from the cotton wood trees that are everywhere and causing some terrible allergy problems. It seriously is like it is snowing sometimes.

You can see the fluff collecting in the grassy areas.

Yet another playground area. this one has huge tunnel slides.

Here comes the train.

Closer view of the playground.

This building is up the hill from the park. Looks like a nice new building. Don’t know if it is apartments or businesses or both.

Entrance into another amusement area.

Closeup of the amusement area with a small train and blow up boat.

The flowers and fountain fo the Opera House

The Dnepr Opera House

Another view with one of many unfinished buildings in the background. They are all over the city.

All around the building there are advertisements for upcoming events, symphonies, ballets, operas and more.

The newest advertisement.

Going behind the Opera House. The Opera house is actually also a famous school for preforming arts and so behind it are the buildings used for the education and practicing.

Another view of the back of the Opera House

There are many signs that are in English. This one is all around the city.

We asked what this was and it seems that the city of Dnepr has been building an underground Metro for many years (like 30 or so) and it doesn’t seem to be progressing too fast. We have never seen anyone working on it but the trams go around it and people seem to ignore it.

Close up of the Metro.

A Catholic Church we pass every week. This one is often busy. Last week there was a wedding or perhaps confirmations with lots of white dresses and flowers

We sometimes pass this building and we hear piano music or other music. I learned it is a Music Academy.

In the winter you can see this building better. It is a school and perhaps an exclusive one. The balloons are because yesterday was graduation and there were graduation ceremonies all over town. Everywhere from the kindergarten near us to the various elementary and high schools. Then later lots of families celebrating.