Trip to the Ukraine, Days 9, 10, 11, Kiev

From Kaniv, burial place of Shevchenko, we sailed upstream to Kiev, the capitol, arriving on September 26. Kiev is one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back more than 1,500 years; it is sometimes called the "Mother City." The locals spell it "Kyiv," and pronounce it "Keeve." At a time London had a population of 5,000, Kiev had 25,000.

We toured the city and learned more about how Stalin treated the people of the Ukraine. During a time of good harvests, he starved to death farmers because they would not willingly give up their farms as required by Stalin's version of Communism. So Stalin took their harvests and starved to death more Ukrainians during the "Great Hunger" than the number of Jews Hitler killed. There are very few statues of Stalin left in Ukraine, but most statues of Lenin have survived.

Stalin, who had studied for the priesthood, tore down a very large number of churches in Kiev and elsewhere. One church was spared, however, because the French Ambassador went to its defense. I think that is the church in the photo at the bottom. It is a slightly smaller version of Haggia Sofia in Istanbul. Most of the destroyed churches have now been rebuilt.

The next photo up is "The Great Gate of Kiev," the inspiration for a piece in an orchestral suite entitled "Pictures At An Exhibition," by Mussorgsky. (The music was the first thing Carol thought of when we saw the gate.)

We went to the Kiev Opera House and saw the "Barber of Seville." Carol posed by the orchestra pit. The opera was very well done and was sung entirely in Ukrainian which, our hosts told us, is the second most musical language, Italian being first.

On Sunday we saw the Mormon Temple being build in Kiev, top photo. We flew home on September 28 through Moscow; with several plane changes and it took 30 hours to get home.

Trip to the Ukraine, day 8, Kaniv

On September 25, we stopped at near Kaniv and visited the burial site of Taras Shevchenko, a rebel-rousing poet and artist who wrote in Ukrainian after the Soviet Union banned the language. In defying the ban, he probably saved the language. In addition, he prodded the Ukrainians to long for independence, which he did not live to see. Ukraine has no one like George Washington, and Shevchenko is the nearest to a national hero of Ukraine, and is known throughout the world (though not previously by me). There are monuments to him throughout the world, even in Washington, D.C.

The bottom photo shows us walking up the stairs from the ship to the top of the hill where the great man is buried. Next photo up shows Wilf, Meka, and Kim overlooking the river and our ship. There is a giant statue of Shevchenko but the light was not right and I could not get any detail of his countenance. The top photo is of a barge moving by.

He died at age 47, having spent most of his life in various prisons, and is buried on a beautiful hillside overlooking the great river because of something he wrote.

Here it is in English.

The Testament

Dig my grave and raise my barrow
By the Dnieper-side
In Ukraina, my own land,
A fair land and wide.
I will lie and watch the cornfields,
Listen through the years
To the river voices roaring,
Roaring in my ears.

When I hear the call
Of the racing flood,
Loud with hated blood,
I will leave them all,
Fields and hills; and force my way
Right up to the Throne
Where God sits alone;
Clasp His feet and pray...
But till that day
What is God to me?

Bury me, be done with me,
Rise and break your chain,
Water your new liberty
With blood for rain.
Then, in the mighty family
Of all men that are free,
May be sometimes, very softly
You will speak of me?

Trip to the Ukraine, days 5, 6, and 7, The Dnieper

On September 22, we sailed back across the Black Sea from Sevastopol to the delta of the Dnieper River (Ukrainians refer to it as Dnipro). This time, sailing the Black Sea was uneventful with calm waters. The balance of our trip ,was sailing up this river, which is very large. Combine that with the flat land along the river, "steppes," (think Kansas) and the river widens in places to miles. At one time there were rapids here and there, but dams have been built in these locations. What this means to those in boats is LOCKS. One of the five locks we went through is the highest in the world.

On September 23, we visited the island where the Cossacks headquartered, the city of Zaporizhia. The island protected them from their enemies and they took over a large portion of the Ukraine from there. In the morning, we visited a museum on the island and in the afternoon saw a horse show put on by actors pretending to be Cossacks. Cossacks were great horsemen. Below is a video of Wilf participating in this. Then, we boarded the ship and ascended the world's highest lock. See the video below

On September 24, Thursday, we visited Kremenchuk where we wondered around, looked at the modern shopping centers, and I bought a Pepsi and a candy bar. Aah! The food on the ship was very good, but they had only Coke and had no candy bars.

Trip to the Ukraine, day 4, Yalta -- Part 2

Here is the famous photo of the "Big Three." I will later add the photo of the "Three Wise Guys" taken in the same location. (My camera battery was flat, so the photos were taken on Kim's camera).

Trip to the Ukraine, day 4, Yalta

On September 21, we drove from our boat in Sevastopol across the Crimean Peninsula. On the way we stopped at Alupka Palace. During the month of February, 1945, the "Big Three," Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met at the Livadia Palace near Yalta and made final decisions concerning World War II. Churchill stayed at Alupka and Roosevelt stayed at Livadia. Stalin, I think, stayed in a Dascha not far away, right on the Black Sea (maybe the same one where during the 1991 coup Gorbachev was placed under house arrest and replaced by Yeltsin).

The bottom photo is Alupka Palace and you see our group, minus me the photographer, going in (the two young people work for Wilf's company and are acting as our guides). The Palace is located on the side of a very high mountain and the next photo up shows the view of that. If your eyes are sharp, you can see a tram going up the mountain suspended from a cable. On the other side of the palace is the Black Sea. The photo above that shows the outside of the rooms where Churchill stayed during the conference. He choose this location, even though it is about 3 hours by winding roads from the conference location, in part because it looks like an English castle. The top photo shows the front of the Livadia Palace, built by the last Tzar, where the Big Three met, negotiated, and signed the agreement.

Trip to the Ukraine, day 3--Part 2

Here is something incredible! Germany, during WWII had a fleet of submarines in the Black Sea. To protect them from the eyes of the allies, they built this base. After the war, the Soviet Union took Crimea back and improved the base for their nuclear submarine fleet. The base was a very secret, and very cool, way of servicing those submarines. There is a bay off the Black Sea into which the submarines sailed. They then went right, left, and right again and then into a tunnel! They were serviced inside the tunnel and then moved through the tunnel and out a different way. I wonder if the U.S. knew about this?

The top photo shows the bay in the foreground and the Black Sea beyond. It is not apparent from this photo, but a ship sailing by on the Black Sea and looking in would only see a small bay. The middle photo is a diagram of the man-made tunnel. Note that they came in one side and out the other. We did not have time, but for about $4 we could have gone into the facility. The bottom photo is the actual tunnel. I think this is cool.

Trip to the Ukraine, day 3, Yalta

We left Odessa on the afternoon of September 19 for the Crimean Peninsula. This meant sailing all night on the Black Sea in our little riverboat. During the night we awoke during a serious (to me) storm causing the boat to rock, roll, shimmy and twist. During the Second World War, Crimea was in the hands of Russia and a major battle was fought there. Now there are memorials to the soldiers and sailors who fought the Germans. In about 1951, Stalin gave crimea back to the Ukraine and, with the Ukraine now an independent nation Russian no longer owns the peninsula. Pursuant to a treaty, the two nations each have a Black Sea fleet headquartered in Sevastopol. We saw both Russian and Ukrainian sailors there. The two nations are not friendly, but the locals say no problems exist between the sailors of the two nations. The treaty expires in a few years and will probably not be renewed requiring the Russians to leave.

The top photo shows our ship leaving Odessa; in the foreground are Carol and Meka (looking surprised at the jelly fish), and Kim and Wilf are in the background. The second one down shows German bullet holes in a very old Orthodox church. The third from the top shows a memorial located in Sevastopol honoring the Soviet soldiers and sailors who fought together; the memorial is a stylized bayonet and sail. The bottom photo, like the one above it, honors the two branches and shows a sailor and a soldier in warlike poses. (The man in the foreground, with his wife, is a retired U.S. nuclear submarine captain). Meka Voge and Romaine Romney are in the background. The Crimean peninsula remains a major naval area.

Trip to the Ukraine, days 1 and 2, Odessa

We went to the Ukraine with our friends Kim and Romaine Romney. Our hosts, Wilf and Meka Voge, were already there. We left the local airport on September 16, and landed in Odessa, Ukraine on September 17. We were met by our hosts at the airport and driven to the port; we stayed the entire time on a riverboat. Odessa is a newer city started by Katherine the Great. It reminds me of Washington, D.C. with its straight, broad streets. On the evening of September 18, we went to the Opera House there to see Swan Lake. The opera house is an exact duplicate of La Scala. For about $12 each, we got seats in a box. The top photo is the Opera House. The middle one is of the six of us in our life jackets during the mandatory safety drill; from left to right: Wilf Voge, me, Meka Voge, Carol, Romain and Kim Romney. The bottom photo is our sister ship.

And . . . She's Back

My daughter and her fiancee decided they wanted to drive from the wedding reception to the hotel on Friday in the 'Vette. So Ardell and I picked it up today from Lang's new shop. He was not able to finish everything on the long list of items to sort it out, but he did set up a second radiator fan with a shroud to, hopefully, keep the engine cooled.

The top photo shows Preston and Melanie about to leave in the reception in the car. The second one down shows them posing in the car and the third one shows me driving "my girlfriend" back home. The top three photos were taken by Sonya Pearson who, as you can see, is a very good photographer.

Here are two older photos of Evan and Seth taken on the Fourth of July during the parade.

Gone again!

We went on a vacation two weeks ago and I drove the car back to Lang's on the way. It needs a little work. Hope to get it back by mid-August.

She Is Here!

After two years in various shops, and more money than I care to reveal, my Corvette is finished and is home.

Melanie and Preston

Our daughter, Melanie, became engaged this evening to Preston Day.  They both live in Las Vegas.  

The wedding is scheduled for August 21 in Newport Beach.

Here is part of an email from Melanie:

So as you may or may not know, Preston Day proposed to me Tuesday nite in front of a crowd in the middle of a dance recital at Henderson Pavilion.  He definitely surprised me!  I couldn't be happier to marry such an amazing guy.

 

Here is the video on youtube... You'll have to suffer through Preston's and his brothers'/cousins' dance, but right after is when the proposal occured.  P.s. Preston is the one in the middle in the baby blue shirt that says "Kirk" (well the bigger guy of the two in the same shirt)... just click on Preston's Dance/Proposal

http://www.youtube.com/user/oilandwater10

 

The photo is them at a National's game in Washington, D.C. a couple of weeks ago.

May 15, 2009 at Lang's

Some very slow progress has been made on the 1959 Corvette from Hell.  The engine is almost finished and can be started once the distributor arrives and the fuel line is attached.  The exhaust manifolds are in place and the exhaust system is being built.  The rear bumperettes need to be attached along with some other minor trim pieces.  We are waiting for the speedometer cable, and the windshield wiper switch.  Best guess?  Three weeks.

Update on May 25, 2009.  Frank, Doug, and I went to Lang's today and saw my girl friend.  She has come along a little.  The speedometer cable and wiper switch are on the way, the accelerator linkage is installed.  I think all the parts that Walden had are at Lang's or on the way.  About two weeks I think.

Update on June 2, 2009.  Lang called, said he had started the engine!  He has yet to finish the exhaust system, but most of the car is done.  He thinks by Sunday or so.

Cinnamon Milk

The boys came over today and, because we were low on certain items, we went to the grocery store.  Evan was certain that he had seen cinnamon milk in a store and he wanted some. Albertson's had none and two employees there had not heard of it.  Seth was happy with his strawberry milk, but Evan had to have cinnamon milk.  

We got on-line and found no reference to cinnamon milk as a product in a grocery store.  But we did find a recipe.  So Evan and I made some cinnamon milk today.  It was, well, not that good; but Evan loved it and drink quite a bit.  

A Walk In The Woods

I took Evan and Seth on a little hike on Thursday, about 2 miles up and back down Shady Canyon.  I told them that I had seen road runners, rabbits, eagles, lizards, and other critters; so they were disappointed as we saw only some ducks and bugs.  They had a magnifying glass and studied the bugs, seeds, and rocks.  At one point they made a pile of rocks in a small gully on the trail.  The hike is very nice and is isolated from any road.  There is a lake and vistas up there.  But they mostly like the rolly polly bugs.

Trip to North Carolina

Carol and I flew to North Carolina and spent a week with Andy, Jamie and Emma.  It was a lot of fun.  I hadn't seen Andy's house even though they have lived there almost a year.  Here is the amazing part:  Andy and I were able to make his riding mower and other gasoline powered tools work.  We took Emma to Hiro's, a Japanese eatery where the chefs put on a show in chopping and cooking the food.  We saw a 3D film called something like, "Aliens v. Monsters."  

We ARE Number One

My last post was rather negative about things here in the Golden State.  Of all the places I have lived or visited, I would rather be here. Irvine is the safest city in the country.  The city is well thought-out and has everything.  The weather is perfect, it doesn't get hot or cold or rain often.  The beach is nearby, as is Disneyland and many other great things.  

Houses cost too much, taxes are absolutely too high, our legislature is comprised of the worst people in the state, and the freeways are often crowded.  But there is no better place.

CNN today reported that New Jersey and a couple of other NE states have higher taxes than does California.  Hard to believe, but might be true.  

We're Number One!!

In the mid-Sixties, when I was in here in California, we had the best education system in the country.  JC's were free, Universities were almost free, high schools were producing scholars; freeways, houses, cars and airplanes were being built at full pace, and workers were moving in from all over the country.  

Today, the people moving in are illegals and others needing or demanding governmental help. Every year for the past several the receipts in Sacramento have increased--but spending has increased faster.  A few weeks ago our legislature, made up of the dumbest and most corrupt among us, passed the largest tax increase in the history of the republic.  That on top of a tax rate that was already among the highest in the country.  So now we are Number One again, this time in taxes.  And what has happened to our top-rated educational system during the decades of ever increasing tax receipts?  It fell 48 places.  Only Mississippi has worse schools. 

We should number one on our elected officials.

Arizona Trip part II

The day after Ardell and visited Taliesin West, we went to the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction.  For those of you who have not heard of this annual event, it takes place in Scottsdale, AZ and is the mother of all such auctions.  The very best cars appear there, including old Rolls Royces, Packards, and so.  The very first 1957 Chevy was there as was the first 1957 Thunderbird.  The sellers are prohibited from having a reserve on the cars, so each one sells. There were some serious show cars, all beautiful and historic.  One among many that caught my eye was a 1942 12-cylinder Lincoln.  There were only a few 1942 cars produced due to the outbreak of the war.  Anyway, the whole experience was religious both for Ardell and for me, two car nuts.  Observations:  first, the cars were incredible; second, the prices were very low.  If I had any money, it would have been a good time to buy.  

On the way back from Arizona, Carol and I stopped at LP Racing, dropped off some parts, and looked at the car which Carol calls my "girl friend."  Lang says it should be finished about the end of February, 2009.  Lang had the steering column in, carburator on, brake system almost done, wiring almost done, and most of the parts had arrived.  The car looks great.  

Update on February 23, 2009

Carol and I went to Las Vegas over the weekend to fete Ardell and LaNetta who have now been married fifty (yes 50) years!  All of their children were there along with some grandkids and great-grand kids.  Melanie was there and we had a great time.

On the way home, Carol and I stopped and saw "my girlfriend."  The progress has slowed and I do not believe it will be done by the end of February as was the schedule.  The carburator was being set up, the tail lights are partially installed, and they figured out how to install the ash tray, which I thought would have been impossible due to lack of space in the transmission tunnel.  It looks great!

Update on March 24, 2009

Yesterday my friend, Frank, and I drove to Upland to look at my car and his 1956 Oldsmobile. We were a little disappointed as not much progress had been made.  However, our cars have, according to Lang, risen to the top of his list.  He had a 1400 horse power race car he finished over the weekend.  He promised to have the motor in my car running by the end of March.  He did not say what year.

Update on April 11, 2009

Frank and I drove to Upland again to pick up his 1956 Oldsmobile 98.  It his attempt, like my Corvette, to regain his youth.  He had a car like this in High School.  We had intended on driving the Olds home, but it was not ready.  It is beautiful and will be great for him (and for me when we go someplace in it).  

My Corvette was not finished either although I had not expected it.  Lang has made progress. One area that is driving him nuts is the exhaust manifold.  He ordered one, installed it, and started working on the exhaust system.  He then discovered that this manifold blocked the spark plugs and had to be replaced. So he had to stop working on the exhaust system and reorder.  I complained about how long it is taking to finish this car.  He agreed to have it done by the end of April. While he made the same promise about the end of February and the end of March, this time we shook on it.  Therefore, it is a binding contract and you are my witnesses. Hope to have significant news in early May.

Trip to Arizona

Carol has two wonderful sisters. One lives in Sun City, AZ, near Phoenix, and the other is a "snow bird," who spends the Winter in nearby Salome, AZ, with her husband Ardell.  The three sisters decided they needed to get together for whatever reason girls need this.  Thank goodness for another male; otherwise, I might have gone nuts.

The girls, sewed and did scrap-booking and re-lived old times.  Ardell and I hung out together and had two notable adventures:  we visited Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's Winter home and school.  The next day we went to Barrett-Jackson and saw some cars that brought back memories from our youths, oh so long ago.

When I was in high school, I worked for a small decorating store in Idaho Falls, my home town. The owners' sons were Frank Lloyd Wright fans and it rubbed off onto me.  I love Wright's work and think his structures are the most interesting and beautiful buildings around.  His Taliesin West was built as a place to get away from the cold at his Taliesin in Wisconsin. He brought his school with him and they built the place from nothing in the desert near Scottsdale. The apprentices studying under him, and paying him for the privilege, did drafting and built the buildings by hand mostly using local rocks held together with concrete diluted with lots of sand.  In his genius way, he got a beautiful building for free and earned money while doing it.