Happy Friday! I'm finally settled into the place I will live for the rest of my time in Kiev. It's so nice to be able to unpack and relax!
As a bonus, this place is going to be perfect for parties. Planning a housewarming for the 24th (Ukrainian Independence Day).
As a bonus, this place is going to be perfect for parties. Planning a housewarming for the 24th (Ukrainian Independence Day).
Sometimes this city can be the most disappointing place I've been. I was walking around near Arena when I see a pair of attractive girls walking towards me. The one to my right was particularly gorgeous, young, well dressed, and everything a man could want at first glance. She smiled at me and took a slow drag from her cigarette. As she walked closer she leaned towards me and went to hand me something. Now, I KNOW not to take anything from someone on the street, but my weakness for beautiful girls clouded my judgment for just a moment and before I knew what happened I had it ... Her business card.
I don't know what's more disappointing: the fact that this one girl is ruined, the fact that there are so many more like her here, or the fact that so many tourists are here to fuel their industry. All I know for sure is that I'm disappointed.
Also, there's a greasy pimp who's always near there who is always making offers - which I can ignore, and whenever a girl walks by he looks at her like a rancher looks at livestock - which drives me nuts. I can literally see him tallying potential profits and deciding whether or not it's worth trying to enlist her. I know its not my business, but it makes me ill.
I don't know what's more disappointing: the fact that this one girl is ruined, the fact that there are so many more like her here, or the fact that so many tourists are here to fuel their industry. All I know for sure is that I'm disappointed.
Also, there's a greasy pimp who's always near there who is always making offers - which I can ignore, and whenever a girl walks by he looks at her like a rancher looks at livestock - which drives me nuts. I can literally see him tallying potential profits and deciding whether or not it's worth trying to enlist her. I know its not my business, but it makes me ill.
So I'm swearing off dance clubs. I never liked the "club girls" I met back in the USA, I have no idea why I thought it would be any different here. I think there are plenty of chill little bars here that would be fun to just relax and have a few drinks in. Bonus points if it's quiet enough to manage a conversation.
Also found out the other day that there are tons of beer tents in the park, so you can enjoy the beautiful monuments and a cool beer, which is a great environment to chat with friends. Sure beats overpaying for drinks in a crowded club full of people who would prefer to use each other and hope to come out on the winning end of the deal, rather than actually get to know each other.
Also found out the other day that there are tons of beer tents in the park, so you can enjoy the beautiful monuments and a cool beer, which is a great environment to chat with friends. Sure beats overpaying for drinks in a crowded club full of people who would prefer to use each other and hope to come out on the winning end of the deal, rather than actually get to know each other.
So apparently the bars and clubs don't close here. Someone mentioned this to me once, but somehow I didn't see that as a warning to keep track of the time. So much harder to go to sleep when the sun is awake ...
I met the cutest girl last night. Besides being gorgeous, she was fun and bubbly. Pretty much best night in Kiev so far.
She said she was in love with my accent, so we're halfway there
She said she was in love with my accent, so we're halfway there
That's right, I had another great night. Huge thanks to Satelina for letting me know that this was going on tonight. For what come out to about $60 USD I got a ticket to the concert, a hotdog, and 6 pints of beer. It was a pretty good time.
However, I think something got lost in translation. I was under the impression when I bought the ticket that there were only 3 sections open, all in the nosebleeds. I planned to pay the highest possible price available (supposedly a little more than twice what I paid) and hopefully get tickets on the lawn - and based on my assessment, those tickets should have still been available. Not that it was an empty stadium by any stretch, but I have a hard time believing that all the better seats were sold out.
My cab driver looked a whole lot like Milla Jovovich, which isn't a huge surprise since half the young women in the Ukraine would seem fit that mold. She was easily the most aggressive cab driver I've ever had, but she was so cute I didn't really care if she almost got us killed a few times.
The thing about this area is, it's not just that the women are gorgeous, but that they know precisely how to present themselves. I think SG fans (since this is basically a modern pin-up site) should be able to understand how important a classy presentation is. I consider myself a well put-together guy, and being around beautiful women who put a little effort into showcasing their beauty (rather than beautiful girls who wear pajama pants and flolo's and expect to be treated like princesses) is a refreshing change.
Also, I'm knocking the rust off my Russian. It's much more passable already, which is good since I have yet to have an encounter where someone spoke English. Not that I mind ... I'm in their country, and frankly just happy they speak Russian so I don't need to try to learn Ukrainian. Though the first thing I noticed was their months are completely different, and I really need help so I know when the local concerts and movie releases are ... (the rest of the Ukrainian language seems similar enough that i can handle the basics)
The thing about this area is, it's not just that the women are gorgeous, but that they know precisely how to present themselves. I think SG fans (since this is basically a modern pin-up site) should be able to understand how important a classy presentation is. I consider myself a well put-together guy, and being around beautiful women who put a little effort into showcasing their beauty (rather than beautiful girls who wear pajama pants and flolo's and expect to be treated like princesses) is a refreshing change.
Also, I'm knocking the rust off my Russian. It's much more passable already, which is good since I have yet to have an encounter where someone spoke English. Not that I mind ... I'm in their country, and frankly just happy they speak Russian so I don't need to try to learn Ukrainian. Though the first thing I noticed was their months are completely different, and I really need help so I know when the local concerts and movie releases are ... (the rest of the Ukrainian language seems similar enough that i can handle the basics)
Well I'll spare the gory details but my recent travels have been riddled with inconveniences and minor tragedies. I'm just glad I make enough money, I couldn't imagine being repeatedly stranded like that and not being able to afford the hotels.
Anyways, I'm finally in the Ukraine. I've never felt so truly lost, but it's an adventure for sure. Oddly enough, my conversational Russian is acceptable, but my basic "survival" shit is failing me. It's the simplest little 2-word phrases that take you by surprise. They blurt them out and you just sit there like an idiot ... whereas in a conversation you can figure things out in context, when the salesperson asks you if you need a bag you have no context to figure it out. It was like "do I need a what now?" Or earlier when I had money exchanged, apparently if you want to exchange it back you need a certificate, some word I'd never heard before, a proper term for that specific thing. I felt funny, I had no idea what she was asking and some other customer had to explain it to me.
It's going to be an interesting adjustment.
Anyways, I'm finally in the Ukraine. I've never felt so truly lost, but it's an adventure for sure. Oddly enough, my conversational Russian is acceptable, but my basic "survival" shit is failing me. It's the simplest little 2-word phrases that take you by surprise. They blurt them out and you just sit there like an idiot ... whereas in a conversation you can figure things out in context, when the salesperson asks you if you need a bag you have no context to figure it out. It was like "do I need a what now?" Or earlier when I had money exchanged, apparently if you want to exchange it back you need a certificate, some word I'd never heard before, a proper term for that specific thing. I felt funny, I had no idea what she was asking and some other customer had to explain it to me.
It's going to be an interesting adjustment.
I'm stranded. I was driving back to Ohio from California and my car broke down 7 hours into the drive, in Barstow, California of all places! For reference, Barstow is probably my least favorite place on the planet.
The problem is quite simple and will be a cheap fix, but the part may take a week to come in. In the meantime, I rented a car and drove to Vegas. Better to be stranded in Sin City than Barstow.
The problem is quite simple and will be a cheap fix, but the part may take a week to come in. In the meantime, I rented a car and drove to Vegas. Better to be stranded in Sin City than Barstow.
