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taboo5 | profile | all galleries >> Ukraine >> Kiev, the Ukraine (May 2006) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Kiev, the Ukraine (May 2006)

The statue of Michael Archangel, Kiev’s historic protector, stands on top of the Treachery Gate in Independence Square. The statue is the symbol of the city’s endurance over the years. Kiev is one of Europe’s oldest and most beautiful cities. Ukrainians and Russians have referred to Kiev as "the mother of all cities." Its art and architecture are world treasures. Kiev is famous for its onion-domed cathedrals such as St. Sophia, St. Michael and St. Andrew. St. Sophia Cathedral and the Kiev Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves) are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Since Ukraine became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991, many positive changes have come about. The center of Kiev has been restored and enhanced, especially along Khreshchatyk Street and Independence Square. Western-style residential complexes, nightclubs, classy restaurants and luxurious hotels have opened in the city center. Today, Kiev is a mixture of old and new. Due to the easing of the visa rules in 2005, it has become a popular tourist destination. May Michael Archangel continue to watch over and protect by the golden domes of this beautiful city so that Kiev’s magnificence will endure.
Kiev, the Ukraine cover page.
Kiev, the Ukraine cover page.		 Map of the Ukraine with a star indicating Kiev's location.
Map of the Ukraine with a star indicating Kiev's location.		 Ukraina (Glory to Ukraine) on Ploshcha Nezalezhnist (Independence Square).
Ukraina (Glory to Ukraine) on Ploshcha Nezalezhnist (Independence Square).		 Hotel Kozatsky (where I stayed) is located in the very center of Kiev on Independence Square.
Hotel Kozatsky (where I stayed) is located in the very center of Kiev on Independence Square.
View from Independence Square with the Hotel Kozatsky in the background in the center.
View from Independence Square with the Hotel Kozatsky in the background in the center.		 More views from Independence Square.
More views from Independence Square.		 Treachery Gate in Independence Square & statue of Archangel Michael, the patron saint of Kiev.
Treachery Gate in Independence Square & statue of Archangel Michael, the patron saint of Kiev.		 Close-up of the statue of Archangel Michael, the patron saint of Kiev.
Close-up of the statue of Archangel Michael, the patron saint of Kiev.
A fountain in Independence Square.
A fountain in Independence Square.		 Soviet-era looking building off of Independence Square.
Soviet-era looking building off of Independence Square.		 People hanging out in Independence Square
People hanging out in Independence Square		 Ukrainia monument by Anatoly Kushch (2001) for the 10th anniversary of Ukraine's independence.
Ukrainia monument by Anatoly Kushch (2001) for the 10th anniversary of Ukraine's independence.
Close-up of the Ukrainia monument as seen from Independence
Close-up of the Ukrainia monument as seen from Independence		 Prominent collinade building off of Independence Square.
Prominent collinade building off of Independence Square.		 Fountain and monument at Independence Square of the mythical founders of Kiev.
Fountain and monument at Independence Square of the mythical founders of Kiev.		 Another view of the mythical founders monument.
Another view of the mythical founders monument.
Bessarabka (flower) Market on Khreshatik Avenue. It is an example of Ukranian Art Nouveau.
Bessarabka (flower) Market on Khreshatik Avenue. It is an example of Ukranian Art Nouveau.		 More of Khreshatik Avenue. A couple unsuccessfully tried to pickpocket me there.
More of Khreshatik Avenue. A couple unsuccessfully tried to pickpocket me there.		 Bogdan Khmelnitsky memorial (located in Bogdan Khmelnitsky Square) by sculptor M. O. Mike
Bogdan Khmelnitsky memorial (located in Bogdan Khmelnitsky Square) by sculptor M. O. Mike		 Bogdan Khmelnitsky headed Cossack-peasant uprisings against the oppression of the Polish masses.
Bogdan Khmelnitsky headed Cossack-peasant uprisings against the oppression of the Polish masses.
Another view of the statue in Bogdan Khmelnitsky Square.
Another view of the statue in Bogdan Khmelnitsky Square.		 People strolling in Bogdan Khmelnitsky Square.
People strolling in Bogdan Khmelnitsky Square.		 A view of a beautiful building off of Bogdan Khmelnitsky Square.
A view of a beautiful building off of Bogdan Khmelnitsky Square.		 View of Bell tower of Saint Sophia Cathedral as seen in from Boghdan Khmelnitsky Square.
View of Bell tower of Saint Sophia Cathedral as seen in from Boghdan Khmelnitsky Square.
Bell tower of Saint Sophia Cathedral.
Bell tower of Saint Sophia Cathedral.		 Closer view of the bell tower of Saint Sophia Cathedral.
Closer view of the bell tower of Saint Sophia Cathedral.		 People strolling in front of the bell tower of Saint Sophia Cathedral.
People strolling in front of the bell tower of Saint Sophia Cathedral.		 View of more strollers.
View of more strollers.
Frontal view of the bell tower of Saint Sophia Cathedral.
Frontal view of the bell tower of Saint Sophia Cathedral.		 View of Saint Sophia Cathedral which you get to by entering through the bell tower.
View of Saint Sophia Cathedral which you get to by entering through the bell tower.		 Sign showing the plan of Saint Sophia Cathedral.
Sign showing the plan of Saint Sophia Cathedral.		 View of 12th century St. Michael Golden Domes Cathedral walking from Bogdan Khmelnitsky Square.
View of 12th century St. Michael Golden Domes Cathedral walking from Bogdan Khmelnitsky Square.
Getting closer to St. Michael Golden Domes Cathedral.
Getting closer to St. Michael Golden Domes Cathedral.		 Ukrainian President's Administration Blg. next to St. Michaels Golden Domes Cathedral.
Ukrainian President's Administration Blg. next to St. Michaels Golden Domes Cathedral.		 Sculptures of the Holy Ancestors in front of a jeans billboard (near St. Michaels Cathedral).
Sculptures of the "Holy Ancestors" in front of a jeans billboard (near St. Michaels Cathedral).		 Close-up of one of the Holy Ancestors.
Close-up of one of the "Holy Ancestors."
Two more Holy Ancestors.
Two more "Holy Ancestors."		 Great juxtaposition of Holy Ancestor next to the skateboarding kid in the jeans billboard!
Great juxtaposition of "Holy Ancestor" next to the skateboarding kid in the jeans billboard!		 Balloon vendor in the square in front of St. Michaels Cathedral (note the jeans billboard).
Balloon vendor in the square in front of St. Michaels Cathedral (note the jeans billboard).		 View of the St. Michael's clock tower and Golden Domes (to the right of it).
View of the St. Michael's clock tower and Golden Domes (to the right of it).
Moving in closer on St. Michael's clock tower.
Moving in closer on St. Michael's clock tower.		 Side view of the top of the St. Michael's clock tower.
Side view of the top of the St. Michael's clock tower.		 Frontal view of the top of the St. Michael's clock tower.
Frontal view of the top of the St. Michael's clock tower.		 Religious mural seen before entering the grounds of St. Michaels Golden Domes Cathedral.
Religious mural seen before entering the grounds of St. Michaels Golden Domes Cathedral.
Upper façade of St. Michaels Golden Domes Cathedral.
Upper façade of St. Michaels Golden Domes Cathedral.		 Side view of the cathedral.
Side view of the cathedral.		 Another one of many photos that I took of St. Michaels.
Another one of many photos that I took of St. Michaels.		 Top view of the façade of St. Michaels (I couldn't get it all in with this camera lense).
Top view of the façade of St. Michaels (I couldn't get it all in with this camera lense).
Middle view of the façade of St. Michaels Cathedral.
Middle view of the façade of St. Michaels Cathedral.		 Bottom view of the façade of St. Michaels Cathedral.
Bottom view of the façade of St. Michaels Cathedral.		 Later that day, I came back with a wide-angle lense to get all of St. Michaels Cathedral!
Later that day, I came back with a wide-angle lense to get all of St. Michaels Cathedral!		 Another wide-angle shot (it looks kind of curved and distorted)!
Another wide-angle shot (it looks kind of curved and distorted)!
A wide-angle vertical shot of St. Michaels Cathedral.
A wide-angle vertical shot of St. Michaels Cathedral.		 View of the very top tower of St. Michaels Cathedral.
View of the very top tower of St. Michaels Cathedral.		 Canopy next to St. Michael Golden Domes Cathedral.
Canopy next to St. Michael Golden Domes Cathedral.		 Nice shot of flowering salmon-colored plants in front of the blue house.
Nice shot of flowering salmon-colored plants in front of the blue house.
View of Peoples' Friendship Monument commemorating the of Reunion of Ukraine and Russia.
View of "Peoples' Friendship Monument" commemorating the of "Reunion" of Ukraine and Russia.		 Heroic looking sculpture near the Peoples' Friendship Monument.
Heroic looking sculpture near the Peoples' Friendship Monument.		 Another impressive monument near the Peoples' Friendship Monument.
Another impressive monument near the Peoples' Friendship Monument.		 An interesting angle of the sculpture next to Peoples' Friendship Monument.
An interesting angle of the sculpture next to Peoples' Friendship Monument.
Looking at Peoples' Friendship Monument from a hill with the Dnieper River in the background.
Looking at Peoples' Friendship Monument from a hill with the Dnieper River in the background.		 Nice building that I saw off a park on a walking tour that I took and got lost!
Nice building that I saw off a park on a walking tour that I took and got lost!		 Close-up of the previous building. It was at the top of some stairs.
Close-up of the previous building. It was at the top of some stairs.		 Typical Soviet era Stalinist-style building that resembles others that I have seen in E. Europe.
Typical Soviet era "Stalinist-style" building that resembles others that I have seen in E. Europe.
Someone told me that this building is now an apartment building.
Someone told me that this building is now an apartment building.		 Saint Volodymyr's Cathedral (1862-1882) as seen from across the street through the trees.
Saint Volodymyr's Cathedral (1862-1882) as seen from across the street through the trees.		 Close-up of Saint Volodymyr's Cathedral (a lot of people were there because it was Sunday morning).
Close-up of Saint Volodymyr's Cathedral (a lot of people were there because it was Sunday morning).		 Saint Volodymyr's Cathedral is located across from the Kiev Botanical Gardens.
Saint Volodymyr's Cathedral is located across from the Kiev Botanical Gardens.
Entrance to the Kiev Botanical Gardens. Everyone was out on a beautiful Sunday morning.
Entrance to the Kiev Botanical Gardens. Everyone was out on a beautiful Sunday morning.		 View of a modern sculpture in the Kiev Botanical Gardens.
View of a modern sculpture in the Kiev Botanical Gardens.		 A building located in the Kiev Botanical Gardens.
A building located in the Kiev Botanical Gardens.		 The main Red Building of the National University named after Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861).
The main "Red Building" of the National University named after Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861).
Another view of the Red Building from the park across the street.
Another view of the "Red Building" from the park across the street.		 Monument to Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861) who was Ukraine’s national poet and a famous artist.
Monument to Taras Shevchenko (1814-1861) who was Ukraine’s national poet and a famous artist.		 View with flowers of the monument located in a park across from the Red Building.
View with flowers of the monument located in a park across from the "Red Building."		 Close-up of Taras Shevchenko.
Close-up of Taras Shevchenko.
Nice lamp post in the park!
Nice lamp post in the park!		 A little boy in the park riding a horse with a pony following.
A little boy in the park riding a horse with a pony following.		 Monument to Mykhailo Grushevskyj in front of Teacher's House. He was Ukraine's first president.
Monument to Mykhailo Grushevskyj in front of Teacher's House. He was Ukraine's first president.		 View of the former Pedagogic Museum (built between 1909-1913).
View of the former Pedagogic Museum (built between 1909-1913).
View of the Taras Shevchenko Opera & Ballet House built by Victor Shreter & Vladimir Nikolai.
View of the Taras Shevchenko Opera & Ballet House built by Victor Shreter & Vladimir Nikolai.		 Another view of the Taras Shevchenko Opera and Ballet House.
Another view of the Taras Shevchenko Opera and Ballet House.		 A beautiful building on Volodymyrska Street.
A beautiful building on Volodymyrska Street.		 View of the ornate building at 39 Volodymyrska Street (built 1900-1901).
View of the ornate building at 39 Volodymyrska Street (built 1900-1901).
Another nice building near Volodymyrska Street around the corner from the Golden Gate.
Another nice building near Volodymyrska Street around the corner from the "Golden Gate."		 The Golden Gate, (11th Century) was the main ceremonial entrance to ancient Kiev.
The "Golden Gate," (11th Century) was the main ceremonial entrance to ancient Kiev.		 Close-up of the Golden Gate.
Close-up of the Golden Gate.		 Statue of Yaroslav the Wise next to the Golden Gate was a great prince at the time it was built.
Statue of Yaroslav the Wise next to the Golden Gate was a great prince at the time it was built.
Close-up of the sculpture of Yaroslav the Wise. He is holding a model of Saint Sofia Cathedral.
Close-up of the sculpture of Yaroslav the Wise. He is holding a model of Saint Sofia Cathedral.		 St. Andrews Descent is the Montmartre of Kiev, where artists display their talents.
St. Andrews Descent is the Montmartre of Kiev, where artists display their talents.		 Another shot of artists and potential buyers at St. Andrew's Descent.
Another shot of artists and potential buyers at St. Andrew's Descent.		 St. Andrew's Descent's wide range of painting styles on display.
St. Andrew's Descent's wide range of painting styles on display.
View of St. Andrew's Church which was built by B.B. Rastreli (1747-1753).
View of St. Andrew's Church which was built by B.B. Rastreli (1747-1753).		 In my opinion, St. Andrews is Kiev's most beautiful cathedral.
In my opinion, St. Andrews is Kiev's most beautiful cathedral.		 View of the top of the cathedral (again, I couldn't get it all without my wide-angle lense).
View of the top of the cathedral (again, I couldn't get it all without my wide-angle lense).		 View of the middle of St. Andrews Cathedral.
View of the middle of St. Andrews Cathedral.
View of the bottom of St. Andrews Cathedral.
View of the bottom of St. Andrews Cathedral.		 A continuation (of lower part) of St. Andrew's Descent. The street is called Andreevsky Street.
A continuation (of lower part) of St. Andrew's Descent. The street is called Andreevsky Street.		 View of Zamok Richarda (Richard's Castle) on St. Andrew's Descent.
View of Zamok Richarda (Richard's Castle) on St. Andrew's Descent.		 An impressive monument after completing St. Andrew's Descent (I don't know who this is of).
An impressive monument after completing St. Andrew's Descent (I don't know who this is of).
Main entrance called the Golden Gate to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra (a huge monastery complex).
Main entrance called the "Golden Gate" to the "Kiev-Pechersk Lavra" (a huge monastery complex).		 The Great Belfry (1731-44) bell tower of the Pechersk Lavra Monastery.
The Great Belfry (1731-44) bell tower of the Pechersk Lavra Monastery.		 After entering the Holy Gate, the path leads to the bell tower and to the Dormition Cathedral.
After entering the Holy Gate, the path leads to the bell tower and to the Dormition Cathedral.		 Upper Lavra yard as you enter through the Holy Gate of the Pechersk Lavra Monastery.
Upper Lavra yard as you enter through the Holy Gate of the Pechersk Lavra Monastery.
The Lavra (with over 80 bldgs.) was founded by monks in 1051 & was a center of enlightenment.
The Lavra (with over 80 bldgs.) was founded by monks in 1051 & was a center of enlightenment.		 Me (with a sunburn on my neck) in front of the rebuilt Dormition Cathedral at the Pechersk.
Me (with a sunburn on my neck) in front of the rebuilt Dormition Cathedral at the Pechersk.		 The Dormition Cathedral at the Pechersk Lavra Monastery (it was rebuilt in 2000).
The Dormition Cathedral at the Pechersk Lavra Monastery (it was rebuilt in 2000).		 View looking back at the Golden Gate from inside of the Lavra.
View looking back at the Golden Gate from inside of the Lavra.
A closer shot of the Golden Gate from inside of the Lavra.
A closer shot of the Golden Gate from inside of the Lavra.		 A close-up shot of the Golden Gate from inside of the Lavra.
A close-up shot of the Golden Gate from inside of the Lavra.		 Another view of the Dormition Cathedral.
Another view of the Dormition Cathedral.		 View of the Dormition Cathedral and another building to its right.
View of the Dormition Cathedral and another building to its right.
View in the distance from the Lavra of the WW II Monument to the Motherland.
View in the distance from the Lavra of the WW II Monument to the Motherland.		 Pechersk Lower Lavra Monastery (site of many caves). Lavra means caves in Ukrainian.
Pechersk Lower Lavra Monastery (site of many caves). "Lavra" means "caves" in Ukrainian.		 The Lower Lavra has extensive caves which were used as catacombs.
The Lower Lavra has extensive caves which were used as catacombs.		 View of the Uspensky Cathedral in the Lavra.
View of the Uspensky Cathedral in the Lavra.
More views from the Lower Lavra.
More views from the Lower Lavra.		 View from the Lower Lavra of the Refectory Church of St. Anthony and Theodosius.
View from the Lower Lavra of the Refectory Church of St. Anthony and Theodosius.		 People walking down Khreshatik Avenue. It was closed to traffic for the Europe Day holiday.
People walking down Khreshatik Avenue. It was closed to traffic for the "Europe Day" holiday.		 People milling around Independence Square celebrating the Europe Day holiday weekend.
People milling around Independence Square celebrating the Europe Day holiday weekend.
Europe Day holiday activity around Independence Square near the Hotel Kozatsky (where I stayed).
Europe Day holiday activity around Independence Square near the Hotel Kozatsky (where I stayed).		 A huge crowd of people were outside (near my hotel) for a Europe Day music concert.
A huge crowd of people were outside (near my hotel) for a Europe Day music concert.

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Liz 03-Jun-2014 05:21
I visited this beautiful city and have been to all the places . To my greatest disappointment MaidanSquare and Kreshetyk Street has been demolished and will never be repaired to it's original beauty. What happened to the wonderful people of Kiev? What happened to Ukraine? God bless them and give them wisdom to restore the calmness in the land on the edge!!
teresa 19-Feb-2014 20:15
Does this have a parking Garge anywhere near?
joseantonio27-Feb-2011 05:44
Very nice gallery. Love the information on every picture
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