My Adventures Where in the world is ….

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.

If you saw this sign what would you think it was?

This is the building with the sign.

So this is the name, Staker’s, a steak house and bar. Oh, well.

Here we go into the park – looks like a nice place – right?

Lots of people are going – many with children.

Views as we go in include a large playground area.

More of the playground.

This looks like a major train station but we know the train station is farther down the road from where we are. We learned later that this train just goes around the park. At a distance it looks so nice – freshly painted and all.

Up close it is just an old train with fresh paint and lots of dings.

There it goes.

A river runs through the park. I expect it is connected to the Dnepr but am not sure about that – it is certainly as dirty as the Dnepr is. there are boats to ride.

Close up of some of the boats

Another view of the river and boats

An Angry Birds game to play

In the middle of the river is an outside theater. This is the area behind the stage on the water side.

We wondered about this one. They spent a long time filling the ball with air. There is a man inside (I would never do that). They spent some time also securing the zipper closure. It seems to be some kind of a daredevil ride from the signs.

The ball is on a tether but it is out in the water. We thought maybe he would walk around but he just laid down and took a rest.

Several views of the park from one intersection in the middle.

The other side of the theater.

You can see all the pigeons sitting on the roof – looks like lots of things just sticking up.

Another view of the theater.

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

And the park goes on and on.

This poor swan is confined in this area. It is pretty disgusting. The kids were throwing bread crumbs in but the swan was ignoring them. The pigeons on the other hand were gobbling them up.

Close up of the swan – look at that ugly water.

Around the corner from the confined area where it was open were two more swans and some ducks/geese and lots more pigeons. The water is still disgusting but not as bad as in that small confined area. – maybe.

I titled this a Domed Doma. We think the roof is very interesting and modern building.

You can see the synagogue we pass on our way to Church to the right of a tall building. It is called ??????? ????? ???? – the Steps Business Center. We noticed the clock and its closeness to the synagogue.

This is a sign you see everywhere – ??????? – Notary. There are so many of them how would you ever know which ones to choose?

Great house. We pass this house often and I have always liked it – it is neat and clean and well taken care of. The sign over the door says 1890. There are flower boxes on each upstairs window and they have lovely flowers in them.

This is a view into the back and garage of the same house.

And like often happens here – right next door is…

And across the street a dumpster. Interestingly these are all around. People just walk by and throw their trash bags in. When it gets to this stage a truck usually comes and empties it but often the mess around it stays until someone – not sure who – cleans it up.

The building with the interesting roof is called the Circus and it actually is a Circus – I understand with animals and acrobats and trapezes and all.  There is always music coming from it as well.

This bowling alley is a short walk from our house and we passed it on our way home today.

Sitting in front of the bowling alley is a chair with pointy stick like nails on it and this bowling ball game.

Carl trying out the bowling ball game – these are actually bowling balls and heavy – but same idea.

Why is this major road blocked off?

A few bikers on the road.

A couple more bikers. what is going on?

In our complex there are flowers planted in the tire planters and also around the playground area. Here is a picture of some of them. They are lovely.

The playground freshly painted and ready to use.

This is a picture that I probably should not have taken. This woman is sweeping her walkway with a little broom. The funny part is a big broom is sitting nearby but she prefers the small one that makes her bend way over. Makes no sense to us – traditions.

This is the entrance into our apartment building. You climb up the stairs you can see Elder Morgenegg’s head.

This is our address. It says St. Polia, 2 – which means 2 Polia Street.

This is right inside the gate at the top of the stairs going into our building. You have to punch in a code to get the gate to open.

These are the mailboxes in our apartment – there are no keys so you would probably not want your mail to come here – but our utility bills are delivered here so we check for those. Our box is on the top just to the left of the plant.

So here you see (from our stair balcony) the lopped off trees are growing.

This is an interesting thing. Our heat is steam (through radiators) and the steam comes through these pipes that are covered with what seems to be rags. They are all over, some on the ground and some up high.