Ziluks in Ukraine

Ziluks in Ukraine
This time I will tell my diary about my trip to Ukraine, a beautiful country
with a long history, rich culture and wonderful people.
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km2,
making it the largest country entirely within Europe.
Ukraine borders on Russia to the east and northeast, Belarus to the
northwest, Poland and Slovakia to the west, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova to
the southwest, and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south and southeast,
respectively.
The national flag
The national emblem
(Trident)
First of all, I would like to share with some interesting facts about Ukraine I
have learned:
1. “Carol of the Bells” is a Ukrainian folk song
One of the most famous Christmas songs “Schedryk” (a folk song written by
a Ukrainian composer, Mykola Leontovich) is known to the rest of the world as
“Carol of the Bells” or “Ring Christmas Bells”. Based on an old Ukrainian folk song,
the original lyrics describe a swallow flying into a household to proclaim the
plentiful year that the family will have. The song's title is derived from the
Ukrainian word "shchedryi" which means "bountiful." The folk melody was sung
in many Ukrainian villages.
The song has been used many times in the soundtracks for films and
television.
2. Ukraine is geographic center of Europe
The geographic center of Europe is on the territory of Ukraine not far from
Rakhiv in Zakarpatia oblast. As far back as 1887, experts of Austria Hungary had
determined this point with a sign marking it. In Latin, the following words were
engraves there: LОСUS РЕRЕNNІS. Dilicentissime cum lіbеllа lіbrаtіоnіs guаееst
іпАustrіаеt Нungаrіасоnfесtасum mеnsurа grаdum mеrіdіоnаlіum еt
раrаllеlоumіеrum Еurореum. МD ССС LХХХVІІ, "that translated state such a
thing: “Permanent, exact, and eternal place. Very precisely, using special
apparatus made in Austria and Hungary, with scale of meridians and parallels, set
the Center of Europe. 1887.”
3. World's First Constitution
In 1710, Ukrainian Hetman Pylyp Orlyk introduced “Pacts and Constitutions
of Rights and Freedoms of the Zaporizhian Host”, at that time a super-progressive
document which meant to separate powers into three branches and regulate the
rights and responsibilities of the government and citizens. Some researchers
believe that this document is one of the world’s first constitutions. For example,
U.S. Constitution was adopted in 1787 and French and Polish in 1791.
4. One of the world’s most famous songs “Summertime” is inspired by an
old Ukrainian lullaby
George Gershwin wrote one of the world’s most famous songs,
“Summertime”, after being inspired by an old Ukrainian lullaby called "Oi Khodyt
Son Kolo Vikon" (The Dream Passes by the Windows) performed by the Ukrainian
National Chorus. And it's not surprise because parents of George Gershwin were
from Odessa (Ukraine).
Lyrics "Oi Khodyt Son Kolo Vikon"
(The Dream Passes by the Windows)
The Dream passes by the window,
And Sleep by the fence.
The Dream asks Sleep:
"Where should we rest tonight?"
Where the house is warm,
Where the child is small,
There we will go,
And rock the child to sleep.
There we will sleep,
and will rock the child:
Sleep, sleep, my little falcon,
Sleep, sleep, my little dove.
5. The deepest metro station in the world (105 meters)
Arsenalnaya Metro Station located in Kiev is the deepest in the world (105
meters). The station was built in 1960, very close to the House of Parliament.
According to some reports, the tunnels near Arsenalnaya house secret shelters
built specially for the political elite.
6. The third most visited McDonald’s in the world
The third most visited McDonald’s in the world is located in Kiev, near the
train station. This restaurant has always been in the top five most crowded
McDonald’s in the world.
7. The shortest main city street
Khreshchatyk Street in Kiev is the shortest yet widest main city street in the
world. Its length is 1.2 km
8. The first university in Eastern Europe (1576)
The National University of Ostroh Academy is the successor of Ostroh
Slavic, Greek and Latin Academy, the first higher educational establishment of the
Eastern Slavs. It was founded in 1576 by Prince Vasyl-Kostiantyn of Ostroh.
9. The world’s heaviest aircraft
The world’s heaviest aircraft is An-225 Mriya is created by the Kyiv-based
Antonov design bureau. The plane was designed to airlift space shuttles and
rocket boosters, however is now carrying oversized payloads.
10.Ukraine was a motherland for Trypillian Civilization
Ukraine was a motherland for one of the world's most ancient civilizations
Trypillian Civilization. Neolithic archaeological culture which existed between
5500 BC and 2750 BC on the territory of modern Ukraine
And now my memories about the triparound Ukraine…
Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine
Kyiv is the capital and largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central
part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population in July 2013 was
2,847,200 making Kyiv the 8th largest city in Europe.
The city's name is said to derive from the name of Kyi, one of its four
legendary founders. Kyiv is one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, it probably
existed as a commercial centre as early as the 5th century. It was a Slavic
settlement on the great trade route between Scandinavia and Constantinople.
In the mid-9th century the city became a capital of the Kievan Rus', the first East
Slavic state.
Kyiv is rich in sights. It’s really impossible to see everything during one
visit. Here are some of them:
St. Andrew’s church
St. Volodymyr cathedralThe Golden Gate
Heavenly Hundred Alley
Kyiv Pechersk Lavra
Mariyinsky Palace
Mykhailivsky cathedral
Lviv, the soul of the country
As the centre of the historical region of Galicia, Lviv is now regarded as one
of the main cultural centres of Ukraine. The historical heart of Lviv with its old
buildings and cobblestone streets has survived Soviet and German occupations
during the Second World War largely unscathed. The historic city centre is on the
UNESCO World Heritage List. Lviv celebrated its 750th anniversary with a son et
lumière in the city centre in September 2006.
If you go there once, you would to come again and again…..
Rynok square
Lviv Opera House
Staying in Ukraine I had a chance to taste some of the most
popular Ukrainian diashes and I want to tell you about them…
1. BORSHCH
This traditional soup, made out of beet root and up to 20 other ingredients,
is a staple dish in every Ukrainian family. Ukrainians love their borshch with all the
depth of their Ukrainian hearts – hot and cold, fresh and stale, for lunch or for
breakfast, as a meal or even as a healing medicine against the winter colds. Every
housewife has her own secret version of borshch, and no restaurant trial can ever
compete with the real, steaming hot home-made borshch.
2. VARENYKY
Conveniently varenyky can be made out of the cheapest ingredients
available. Dough is a simple mix of flour, water and salt. And stuffing can be
anything: from mashed potatoes with mushrooms and fried onions, pickled
cabbage, minced meat and even cherries! The sweet version of varenyky is
usually served with sour cream and honey, and is a tasty and healthy substitute
for the calorie-counting sweets lovers.
3. UZVAR
Uzvar is traditional Ukrainian drink of choice! It’s typically served
during Christmas Dinner, and is regularly cooked in the local
households. This refreshing beverage is actually a compote, made out
of dried fruits. Most popular ingredients are dried apples, pears and
apricots, with some grandmas adding prunes, raising and honey to
sweeten the already savory drink.
4. PASKA
Paska is the favorite staple of Ukrainian Easter breakfast tables
and is loved by both adults and children. Baked in dozens, it’s a popular
give-away during Easter family visits.
Curiously enough, one has got to try 12 different paskas for Easter
to get plenty of good luck for the next year. And the task could not be
easier! This mouth-watering bread is made of eggs, flour, sugar, butter
and yeast. The best paskas are usually baked in wooden ovens, and
with as little disturbances as possible.
Great Ukrainian housewives instruct that during the baking of
paska, no one should be allowed into the kitchen, except the housewife
herself – to avoid the unnecessary noise and not to distract the bread
from molding up into the most delicious pastry of Ukrainians. Keep in
mind that paska is baked only once a year, on Orthodox Easter!
My trip to Ukraine was coming to an end and I thought what I
could buy as a souvenir to remember my stay there…. This is what I
have bought and will take home:
Rushnyk is a ritual cloth embroidered with symbols and
cryptograms of the ancient world. They have been used in sacred
Eastern Slavic rituals, religious services and ceremonial events such as
weddings and funerals. Each region has its own designs and patterns
with hidden meaning, passed down from generation to generation and
studied by ethnographers.
Vyshyvanka is the Ukrainian traditional clothing which contains
elements of Ukrainian ethnic embroidery. Many variations of its design
were created. Usually, it was made of homemade linen which was
produced by loom. Local features are usually represented in the shirt's
ornamental pattern.
The motanka doll is one of the most ancient of Ukrainian,
handmade household items. Motanka-doll is a Ukrainian people’s doll,
symbol of women’s wisdom and family bounds. Motanka is made by
winding only, it has no face and keeps the warmth of people’s hands,
love and care with which it’s made. Not by chance has motanka-doll no
face. It is either faceless or there is a cross in the place of the face
representing the solar sign, the symbol of the Sun. It is believed to be a
symbol of well-being and a very strong charm.
It’s time to say goodbye to Ukraine but I know I will come here again
and will visit more places and learn new interesting things….