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Ukraine blog Your Ukraine blog 2008-07-15T11:27:57+01:00 DotClear daily 1 2008-07-15T11:27:57+01:00 Zarvanytsia – Home of a Religious Relic 2008-07-15T11:27:57+01:00 2008-07-15T11:27:57+01:00 http://www.ukraine.com/blog/zarvanytsia-home-of-a-religious-relic Editor Features

At first glance the village of Zarvanytsia looks like a quaint settlement surrounded by the beauty of the mountains and the Strypa River. Situated in the Podilia Valley, the village seems almost forgotten amongst the natural wonders of the region. However, in truth, it is all but disregarded for the village of Zarvanytsia is the keeper of one of the most precious icons of Ukraine – the Mother of God. Natalka Poltavka – A Legendary Tale of Love 2008-07-01T12:06:49+01:00 2008-07-01T12:06:49+01:00 http://www.ukraine.com/blog/natalka-poltavka-a-legendary-tale-of-love Editor Features

Ukrainian writer, poet and playwright, Ivan Kotlyarevsky’s renowned play, Natalka Poltavka, has certainly stood the test of time. Written in 1819 and first performed on stage in the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine, in 1821, Natalka Poltavka (Natalka from Poltava) has been made into a number of films, both in Ukraine and abroad in the early to mid 1900s. The story was also the inspiration and basis for the operetta by Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko, which premiered in 1889 and is still enjoyed today.

Undeterred by the lightning, thunder and torrential rain, Sir Paul McCartney gave a memorable performance in front of a crowd of about 350,000 fans in Kiev’s Independence Square. After greeting the drenched crowd in Ukrainian, Sir Paul launched into the well-known Beatles hit “Drive My Car”. Thanking the cheering crowd for coming out in the rain and telling them how great it was to be in Ukraine, Sir Paul went on to entertain his fans with 33 hit songs from his days with the Beatles and as a solo performer.

There is a growing trend on a world-wide scale for people in need of medical care to travel across international borders to obtain the best, and most cost-effective, medical care available. This is generally referred to as “medical tourism” or “health tourism” and is a combination of healthcare and leisure, aimed at rejuvenating the patient mentally, physically and emotionally. Ukraine is the medical tourism destination of choice for many who are in need of dental work, eye surgery, cosmetic surgery, reconstructive surgery and relief from a host of illnesses. Ukraine offers world class medical facilities, as well as the ideal surroundings to aid a rapid recovery.

Khreschatyk is the main street of the bustling city of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. The street is not only the business and administrative center of Kiev it is also a popular place for tourists and Kievans alike. During weekends, as well as public holidays, the street is completely closed to road traffic, and pedestrians can stroll around at their leisure as they enjoy the many sights, including top class department stores, restaurants and cafés.

Situated on the shores of the Black Sea, the seaport city of Odessa, Ukraine, is a popular tourist destination. There are many places of interest to visit, including the Tolstoy Palace, Vorontsov Palace, Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater, as well as a number of museums dedicated to local folklore, fine arts and literature. The most notable of the many beaches that are popular with Ukrainians and tourists alike, is Arcadia Beach. Journey Through the History of Andrew’s Descent 2008-05-27T12:45:21+01:00 2008-05-27T12:45:21+01:00 http://www.ukraine.com/blog/journey-through-the-history-of-andrews-descent Editor Features

The street in Kiev, Ukraine, that is known as Andrew’s Descent is an eight hundred and fifty meter long street that is located on a steep incline and winds its short way between the hills of the city. It is a street that oozes history and nostalgia through the cracks of its cobble-stoned surface, and each building on either side is eccentric, fascinating and hides the secrets of its own unique story. One building on Andrew’s Descent holds the key to all the treasures on the street, past and present – the Museum of One Street.

Tucked away in a picturesque valley of the Carpathian foothills in the Lviv Oblast of Ukraine, the town of Truskavets is famous for its mineral springs that are reputed to have a wide range of therapeutic benefits. Although many of the more than 200,000 visitors to Truskavets each year are from Ukraine or neighboring Russia, the reputation of this mineral rich area also draws visitors from other parts of the world as people seek relief from their ailments and a better quality of life – or maybe the elixir of youth!

Along the southern coast of Crimea, nestled between Alushta and Yalta, lies the quaint and beautiful town of Partenit. Known for its landscapes that are always covered in rich shades of green, the breathtaking Au-Dag Mountains (Bears Mountain) and a valley where legends and tales of old can be discovered. It is a part of Ukraine that is nothing short of spectacular and the over the years, this earlier settlement known as Frunze, has grown into a town that is steeped in history and offers city dwellers tranquil surroundings to escape to.

Across the road from the ordinary presidential administration offices in Kiev, Ukraine, stands a house that is spellbinding and very unusual. It quietly looms from its location on a hill in Bankovaya Street, and has been the source of many legends and folklores; some that are buried in grief and loss and others that make the hair on your neck stand up. The building itself has an air of mystery and uncertainty about it, and even though most visitors compare it to a castle, the house and its extraordinary decorations inspire visitors to conjure up their own tales of ghosts and goblins.