Speaking Russian, Chocolate, and Friends...Some of My Favorite Things

Yesterday I didn't post because all we did was travel and there wasn't much to say.  Copenhagen to Amsterdam to Kiev, Ukraine.

It has been SO nice to be able to speak Russian again!!!  I can't even begin to explain how much I missed it!  It is fantastic :)
Yesterday we got to Kiev and made our way to the hotel.  Which was actually quite a struggle.  But a very nice marshrutka man helped us get there!  Then we checked in and were so tired that we just stayed in and Lisa fell asleep early.  But we did go to the hotel diner and MAN their food is great.  Ukrainian food is DELICIOUS.  Reminds me of Russia again - and it is SO GOOD!

Our hotel is super close to the temple!  We can see it from our windows!!  And they provided us with little тарочки (slippers) - very Russian. :)

Ukraine feels a lot like Russia!  The buildings look the same, marshrutkas, street vendors, and the biggest thing - everyone is speaking RUSSIAN.  Ah.  I love it.

The money looks really cool here too!

Today, before Ksenia got in, Lisa and I explored the city a little bit.  We went to Майдан Незалежності (Independence Square), which is one of the city's main squares.

As soon as we started taking pictures, some people came up to us asking if we'd like some pigeons on us to take pictures with and before we knew it, we had pigeons on our heads and on our arms....so we took some pictures of course.

Then Ksenia called and said she just got to the temple hotel!  So we raced back to the temple and found her.  The most happy reunion EVER!!  I couldn't believe that she was here and I was here and we were all together again!  I had missed her terribly.

We went to lunch, and then after lunch we went back into the city where we walked all around Kiev seeing the cathedrals and going into candy/chocolate shops. :)  I have missed this chocolate and candy!  I stocked up!

 This place is perfect for someone with a sweet tooth like mine ♥

 Wandering around!

Собор святої Софії (Saint Sophia's Cathedral).  The cathedral is one of the city's best known landmarks and the first heritage site in Ukraine to be inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Києво-Михайлівський Золотоверхий чоловічий монастир (St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery).  It is a functioning monastery in Kieve and located right on the bank of the Dnieper River.

After wandering around for the day, we went back to the temple guest housing where we had a small dinner and hung out and had a tiny bachelorette party for Ksenia.

Then Lisa and I made our way back to our hotel to get some shut eye.

Temple on our way home. SO BEAUTIFUL.