L’viv
Ukraine
June 18, 2018
You Can read Cyrillic
In the photo galley I posted from Uzhhorod, Ukraine, in the caption under the photograph of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, I deliberately mentioned the exact location: Cyril and Methodius Square.
Who are Cyril and Methodius?
L’viv
Ukraine
June 16, 2018
I decide to rent a car for a few days and drive from L’viv to Uzhhorod and back.
Along the way I visit several villages and rural churches.
The mountain scenery is quite lovely.
On the way back to L’viv I stop for lunch. I order soup and salad and potato pancakes.
In fact, throughout my trip in Ukraine I feast on food from “the Old Country”
Palanok Castle
Mukacheve
Transcarpathia
Ukraine
June 15, 2018
How can I resist?
An hour’s drive east from Uzhhorod near the Austro-Hungary-Czech town of Mukacheve, the hilltop Palanok Castle pops up from the surrounding plain. How can I resist the climb? (Actually, there is a parking lot about half way up.)
“This 14th Century castle is famous as the site where Croatian-Hungarian princess Ilona Zrini held off the Austrian Emperor’s army before finally capitulating in 1688.”
Uzhhorod
Transcarpathia
Ukraine
June 14, 2018
Hello,
Can you imagine?
At a Philharmonia concert last night, the local orchestra played two of my favorite pieces: the complete incidental music to Midsummer Night’s Dream Op.61 by Felix Mendelssohn and after a brief intermission Anastasia Dziciak, a young Ukrainian pianist, performed the Piano Concerto in A minor Op.16 by Edvard Grieg. The price of admission was 50 Hryvnia (gryvna), or about $2.00 US!
The magnificent Philharmonia with its carved Moorish style façade is certainly the most impressive edifice in Uzhhorod. It lies in Theatric Square. Built in 1904, Philharmonia began life as the Uzhhorod Synagogue! Before World War Two, 85,000 Jews lived in the area.
Bangkok
Thailand
Sunday
July 15, 2018
Hello,
I had the most delightful afternoon at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. I attended the “Pakistan Single Country Exhibition.”
My goal was to obtain tourist information. I had heard excellent stories from a group of German motorcyclists who I met last year in Tashkurgan, Xinjiang Province, China near the Pakistan border. I had traveled from Kashgar through some spectacular mountain scenery. Apparently, to the west, the Karakorum Highway in Pakistan is even more spectacular.
At the exhibit today, I did find a few brochures about the mountain and lake regions of Pakistan. But the convention center had exhibitors from a variety of other businesses: Rock Salt Products, Marble and Onyx, Wooden Furniture, Rugs, Gems and Jewelry, Garments and Textiles, Agro Foods, Brass Artifacts, Cutlery, Surgical Instruments, Sports Goods, Leather, Fishery, Pipe and Steel, Handicrafts, and of course, a Food Court.
L'viv
pop 728,350
Ukraine
June 10. 2018
Nataliya is my excellent, imformative and gracious guide here in L'viv.
We wander together in the City Center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and then climb the hill for a panoramic view.
I am intrigued by an image of Christ atop the old Chapel of Boim. The figure is seated in a thoughtful pose that reminds me of "The Thinker," the Auguste Rodin sculpture. Is there any connection between the two?
I am especially saddened at the site and the ruins of the Golden Rose Synagogue. Also known as the Nachmanowicz Synagogue, it was the oldest Jewish place of worship in Ukraine. The synagogue was built in 1582 and was destroyed by the Nazis 1942.
