The Fellows plus Lisa Harshbarger, our Regional English Language Officer (RELO).
From my hotel room. The windows actually open and they don't have bars or screens, imagine that!
There is a huge underground mall and the domes are skylights. This same exact layout is also used in Minsk and Moscow. My friend, Elise, told me it's easy to forget which city you're in :-)
Hotel Ukraine.
Me on one of the inner streets of the Lavra Monastery. Too bad it was winter time, because this place is covered with gardens.
Random people...
Street vendors inside the Lavra.
I really liked the street lamps.
One of the many churches inside the Lavra complex. Cameras were not allowed in the caves.
Same church. Too bad it was closed for repairs.
Close up of artwork.
So much gold... No wonder the Soviet's banned religion.
This rock was part of the original church.
The gate leading in and out of the Lavra complex.
St. Sophia's Cathedral. This is my favorite church so far. It has never been rebuilt, like much of the Lavra. And the inside is gorgeous: warm earthy colors and beautiful mosaics, and of course plenty of gold. I could see this church from my hotel room, it is in the upper left corner of the second photo above. You'd be amazed at how steep the road is leading up to it.
The bell tower at St. Sophia.
Kiev at night, also from my hotel room.
Me and Kathy Taylor at the opera house.
The marquee for the week.
Inside of the opera house. I just loved hanging out inside this place.
Another view with the orchestra.
The ornate ceiling.
