Artist to Tourist in the Countdown to Kiev
UEFA European Football Championships
Part 3
As a music artist/singer who has spent time in countless cities across the world, I never really having the opportunity to get a ‘feel’ of any of the cities outside of the arenas, event locations and clubs. This time I was going to take some time to try to enjoy a city and get experience some of the atmosphere and the real people.
This is the third of four reports on the Ukrainian city of Kiev – 13 days before the opening of the UEFA European Football Championship 2012. My pop formation “Never2Loud” has a football anthem “We need a goal” featuring the football legend, ex Brazilian National Player, Pelé, so this seemed to be the right time and place.
This is the third of four reports on the Ukrainian city of Kiev – 13 days before the opening of the UEFA European Football Championship 2012. My pop formation “Never2Loud” has a football anthem “We need a goal” featuring the football legend, ex Brazilian National Player, Pelé, so this seemed to be the right time and place.
Kiev Olimpivskiy Football Arena
The first thing I visited was of course the Football Arena. It is a huge brand new structure. At that point they were still completing some parts of it, with cement mixers and work tools set out everywhere, though there seemed to be a lack of people actually working. It is a large building that from one side seems crammed into the space between buildings in the center but actually opens out on the other side into a roomy entrance. A look inside was not possible but it apparently has two different Metro stations that service it front and back. My impression is that though it is large and there will be some crowding issues when there are the large numbers of fans which are to be expected at such events.
As an artist, I have twice had concerts in the impressive Donetsk Football Arena. It will have no problems in handling these events. Let us hope that they will have passed on their experience to the managers of this new, or better said, refurbished arena.
There are a number of bars and cafes around the arena and some shoe and clothing shops. What is not to be found were many open areas for the large gatherings of people that will be needed. The bars were nice but not the sort of drinking institutions that we are used to seeing around large event locations. This could well be a good thing as large amounts of alcohol will probably be difficult to find unless they bring in many mobile drinking bars. However, during the UEFA European Football Championship 2012, people will probably have to disperse in order to find more alcohol. I would not like to be the clean up crew after the events. The Germans have a good solution in that they give money back to people who return bottles and even cups.
I happened upon a hilarious photo-shoot. Hilarious because it was clearly supposed to be an international group of fans. Their idea of international was very unimaginative. All of which looked obviously Ukrainian. This was the first clue that diversity in nationalities is not a characteristic of the Kiev population. On day one in Kiev, I did not see one Asian face never mind a black one. I saw my first black African on the second day and we did that black to black “oh my God I am not alone” greeting that had everyone looking at us as if we must be relatives. In total, I saw ten Asians and eight black Africans in four days. You could easily count due to the conspicuously small number, and there were no other diverse cultured facial features to be found amongst the people, not even olive-skinned south Mediterraneans.
As an artist, I have twice had concerts in the impressive Donetsk Football Arena. It will have no problems in handling these events. Let us hope that they will have passed on their experience to the managers of this new, or better said, refurbished arena.
There are a number of bars and cafes around the arena and some shoe and clothing shops. What is not to be found were many open areas for the large gatherings of people that will be needed. The bars were nice but not the sort of drinking institutions that we are used to seeing around large event locations. This could well be a good thing as large amounts of alcohol will probably be difficult to find unless they bring in many mobile drinking bars. However, during the UEFA European Football Championship 2012, people will probably have to disperse in order to find more alcohol. I would not like to be the clean up crew after the events. The Germans have a good solution in that they give money back to people who return bottles and even cups.
I happened upon a hilarious photo-shoot. Hilarious because it was clearly supposed to be an international group of fans. Their idea of international was very unimaginative. All of which looked obviously Ukrainian. This was the first clue that diversity in nationalities is not a characteristic of the Kiev population. On day one in Kiev, I did not see one Asian face never mind a black one. I saw my first black African on the second day and we did that black to black “oh my God I am not alone” greeting that had everyone looking at us as if we must be relatives. In total, I saw ten Asians and eight black Africans in four days. You could easily count due to the conspicuously small number, and there were no other diverse cultured facial features to be found amongst the people, not even olive-skinned south Mediterraneans.
Food In Kiev City
Having seen what will be the center of the coming European Championship, my next task was food. I wanted to try some Ukrainian food. I had used the internet to gain some recommendations and to check out prices. The internet turned out to be correct in predicting that a decent meal would be cheap.
I had to try that most obvious famous Ukrainian dishes, Chicken Kiev. This is an egg shaped chunk of chicken fried in breaded batter which when you cut into it oozes butter. I also admit to still being very English and had a craving for some traditional chips. I found at a very good traditional Ukrainian restaurant “Pervak”, in the center near to the hotel, although their chips were more like the American skinny chips. (Isn’t it a funny that‘skinny’ chips produce such fat people).
The whole meal, including two drinks cost less than £15. This price, in fact, would gain anyone a good meal at most establishments around this price. Both food and drink is cheap. This was still outside of the European Football Championship dates. I am sure that these prices will not change due to business opportunities of demand and occasion.
If you want to enjoy a more modern and slightly more expensive atmosphere also in the same area, “Touch” bar/restaurant has a the psychedelic colourful almost sixties style. They serve Pan-Asian and European food with a good value business lunch offer.
Read Part 4 for more on Kiev just before the UEFA European Football Championship 2012.
I had to try that most obvious famous Ukrainian dishes, Chicken Kiev. This is an egg shaped chunk of chicken fried in breaded batter which when you cut into it oozes butter. I also admit to still being very English and had a craving for some traditional chips. I found at a very good traditional Ukrainian restaurant “Pervak”, in the center near to the hotel, although their chips were more like the American skinny chips. (Isn’t it a funny that‘skinny’ chips produce such fat people).
The whole meal, including two drinks cost less than £15. This price, in fact, would gain anyone a good meal at most establishments around this price. Both food and drink is cheap. This was still outside of the European Football Championship dates. I am sure that these prices will not change due to business opportunities of demand and occasion.
If you want to enjoy a more modern and slightly more expensive atmosphere also in the same area, “Touch” bar/restaurant has a the psychedelic colourful almost sixties style. They serve Pan-Asian and European food with a good value business lunch offer.
Read Part 4 for more on Kiev just before the UEFA European Football Championship 2012.
