Artist to Tourist in the Countdown to Kiev
UEFA European Football Championships
Part 4
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.
" The Kievites" - Short men and Beautiful Women?
What about the Ukrainian people? Are the men short? Well I am just over 5 foot 11, so above average height but not tall. I was at one point standing in the crowd of celebrating Ukrainians in the central square. There could have been anything up to 20,000 and I am sure only about 200 people were taller.
Are the women beautiful? Well facial beauty is just a preference but I can speak regarding the quality of the shape as related to health and fitness. I did find that the women did remain within, what most fitness professionals would consider to be, healthy parameters and some reached excellent proportions. On the subject of fashion, one might compare them to their Slavic neighbours. Whereas Russian women would wear Prada and Gucci, the Ukrainians wore much more affordable (some may call it cheap) C&A and Marks & Spencers; or the Ukrainian equivalents.
In this city, I felt as though I was in a zoo but as the main attraction. This happens in many cities in the world but it is never something one gets used to. A strange dark skinned being from some distant country but do not let it see you looking in case it eats you (which, by the way, is the surest way to make looking obvious). The UEFA European Football Championship 2012 will drastically change this for at least a few weeks
There were many styles of male fashion making them, in other countries, considered skinheads and therefore associated with some right wing groups. There were some moments of worry. Being a physically well-trained person, and now unaccustomedly larger than most around, I had some probably false confidence in my size advantage. There were no moments of real physical threat. My Russian is still basic, so I understood nothing said to me so perhaps there was in fact more danger than I felt or perhaps even much less. Were they admiring my charm and good looks or insulting my ancestors and me? To be honest since I enjoyed my time and the city, I do not really care if I missed some negative comments or not, I will stay with the positive feelings.
Are the women beautiful? Well facial beauty is just a preference but I can speak regarding the quality of the shape as related to health and fitness. I did find that the women did remain within, what most fitness professionals would consider to be, healthy parameters and some reached excellent proportions. On the subject of fashion, one might compare them to their Slavic neighbours. Whereas Russian women would wear Prada and Gucci, the Ukrainians wore much more affordable (some may call it cheap) C&A and Marks & Spencers; or the Ukrainian equivalents.
In this city, I felt as though I was in a zoo but as the main attraction. This happens in many cities in the world but it is never something one gets used to. A strange dark skinned being from some distant country but do not let it see you looking in case it eats you (which, by the way, is the surest way to make looking obvious). The UEFA European Football Championship 2012 will drastically change this for at least a few weeks
There were many styles of male fashion making them, in other countries, considered skinheads and therefore associated with some right wing groups. There were some moments of worry. Being a physically well-trained person, and now unaccustomedly larger than most around, I had some probably false confidence in my size advantage. There were no moments of real physical threat. My Russian is still basic, so I understood nothing said to me so perhaps there was in fact more danger than I felt or perhaps even much less. Were they admiring my charm and good looks or insulting my ancestors and me? To be honest since I enjoyed my time and the city, I do not really care if I missed some negative comments or not, I will stay with the positive feelings.
Sight seeing The City
Because of Kiev’s 1530 years history much is to be seen in the cities sights. It is a small city built on very hilly ground, reminiscent in parts of a slightly flattened San Fransico. It claims to have the deepest underground station in the world. This one can believe when standing on the long escalators that take you up and down into these metro-stations. The cost of traveling on the Metro is an amazing 16p per journey. (Yes! £0.16.)
The buildings are almost scarily colourful. The university is painted bright red and the churches are all painted startling yellows, whites and blues. The “top” of the city is the St. Andrews church which sits on the edge of a steep hill at probably the highest point of the city.
Khreshatyk Street is the main street in Kiev, is weekly closed to traffic, and has many cheerful street performers. One cannot say that these performers are among the worlds most talented musicians, human statues or jugglers but the atmosphere is social and worth experiencing. There is even an unusual lemon and chocolate mix ice cream sold there which should be sampled.
I am no fan of walking but the main sights in the center can easily be seen by foot, at a leisurely pace, in one day.
If you have that ubiquitous iPhone, the sight seeing app “pocket guide” is an excellent aid to finding your way around.
Kiev turned out to have beautiful women, short men and mainly a friendly atmosphere. I would say it is a small big city and am more afraid that aggressive UEFA European Football Championship "fans"may damage and scare it, so if you go, be gentle.
The buildings are almost scarily colourful. The university is painted bright red and the churches are all painted startling yellows, whites and blues. The “top” of the city is the St. Andrews church which sits on the edge of a steep hill at probably the highest point of the city.
Khreshatyk Street is the main street in Kiev, is weekly closed to traffic, and has many cheerful street performers. One cannot say that these performers are among the worlds most talented musicians, human statues or jugglers but the atmosphere is social and worth experiencing. There is even an unusual lemon and chocolate mix ice cream sold there which should be sampled.
I am no fan of walking but the main sights in the center can easily be seen by foot, at a leisurely pace, in one day.
If you have that ubiquitous iPhone, the sight seeing app “pocket guide” is an excellent aid to finding your way around.
Kiev turned out to have beautiful women, short men and mainly a friendly atmosphere. I would say it is a small big city and am more afraid that aggressive UEFA European Football Championship "fans"may damage and scare it, so if you go, be gentle.
