Location, location, location!
Ukrainian Victory Day is actually May 9, but there is a monument with a soldier, a sailor and a marine just a few feet from our ship that is the site of speeches, dozens of school kids who walked across the pedestrian bridge to attend this morning. Our group was meeting this morning and heard the loud speaker so we simply watched them from the 5th deck as two older veterans and three younger politicians gave speeches. Then all the guests and the children, ages 9-15?, laid their flowers at the base of the statue.
We have a few hours of free time before an interview with an Orthodox seminary professor, then we fly to Istanbul for two nights. It is difficult to believe our time in the Ukraine is ending. At a farewell party last night we thanked our cruise guide, ate a bit of cheese and salami, drank a bit of vodka and shared a funny story and appreciation with her. Masha has worked on this ship several years, April to late October, so the crew is like a big family (110). We were their first cruise of the year, but everything has gone very smoothly. We will miss our beds being made every morning, our beds being turned down every evening and the candy on our pillows. The starched napkins are folded differently every lunch and dinner (shoes, pillow, book, rose, etc.) Waitress Diane and waiter Budalay serve every course, get our drinks, refill our coffee .... We are spoiled.
The Ukraine and its people will be dear to my heart now. Their centuries of suffering are beyond my comprehension but I so admire their tenacity and strong love of their heritage. All our guides have had amazing candor about hard times, even under the Soviets or current politicians.
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