Discover Ukraine

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Chernobyl

Chernobyl: the perfect place for extreme tourism

Technogenic catastrophes started to be the most important problem in the modern world. But not so much people know about the real tragedy which happened in Ukraine in 1986. Earlier Chernobyl was a typical city situated in the north part of our country. But after the tragedy which happens in nuclear power plant people lost their homes. According to experts, this city will be possible for living only in 3000 years. But people are still interested in Chernobyl and look for a chance to go there for a trip. By the way, it’s possible even for foreigners but you must find a professional guide with a license. For understanding why people want to visit this city and which dangers you can find there, we recommend to learn a bit history of this catastrophe and then see real consequences.

Life in Chernobyl Before Accident Chernobyl was based in 1139. This city was a part of Kyiv region. ,, Russian and Byelorussian, Jewish and even Polish people lived there. There were parks with attractions, schools, library and a lot of other important places in the city. So it was a common city with ordinary life. By the way, in 18th. Chernobyl was one of the biggest centers of Hasidism. However, in 1905 Jewish had been subjected to pogroms. So after 14 years the most of them moved into other cities. And in 1970’s communists built first Ukrainian nuclear power plant. And a lot of professional specialists from all of the countries of USSR moved there.

Chernobyl Accident 1986 In the evening of 26th of April in 1986 Ukrainians were preparing for the celebration of Orthodox Easter. Fire service center accepts a call. Few cars with firefighters went to the nuclear plant. It appeared that some accident has happened. However, there was no information given in any news. So people went to sleep without knowing that the biggest technogenic catastrophe in the world has already happened and that their lives are about to change. In 1970-1980’s people didn’t know much about nuclear energy. So everybody was sure that there was only some explosion. Soviet radiometer fixed only 10 points of radiation. However, later it was found that the true level was 10, 000. Individuals had been evacuated just for the day within the afternoon.

After Accident Still, there was not much information about what happened. And the whole world got to know about the tragedy from Sweden. By the way, all firefighters and soldiers who went to the plant first died in few hours. Because they didn’t use any means of protection. Nobody knew what really happened and how to fight with it. And other rescuers died in few next days and years in horrible pain. Most of them have got cancer and other diseases because of radiation. Nuclear power plant still works in Chernobyl. But workers come from other towns which located close. There are 2 café and little shop work in Chernobyl. Also, Ukrainian and foreign tourists can come there. But you must have a guide with a special license and big experience. It’s impossible and dangerous to go to Chernobyl alone.

Chernobyl Puppies A lot of professionals and animal rights activists work in Chernobyl nowadays. Foxes, wolfs, rabbits, moose, bullock and rare kinds of animals live there in the forests. Also, there are a lot of dogs, cats, and puppies. Ukrainian activists regular help all animals. And our animal rights activists control their population and life. But that’s not enough for helping animals. So foreign charity organizations help to make a big company to save them. For example, only Americans took 200 puppies. So if you want to help animals, we recommend contacting https://cleanfutures.org . What do you think about this tragedy affecting the whole world? Please share with us in comments. Discover Ukraine Culture & History Read the full article

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Ukrainian Literature

Ukrainian Literature: the most famous authors and books. Every person knows that literature it’s a mirror of a political, economic and general situation in a country. From books, we can learn mentality, traditions, and art. And Ukrainian literature shows all these spheres. We have a lot of writers which are famous in the entire world. So if you are interested in knowing more about Ukrainian literature and life we recommend to get to know the most popular and authentical literature.

Taras Shevchenko

He is the most famous Ukrainian writer and artist. Despite the fact that he had lived for only 47 years, it was enough to become the most important writer for Ukrainians, and his poems are still very actual. For example, in the “Heretic” author thinks about life and a role of a person in the world. And in the “Katerina” you can understand traditions and mentality of people, and a life of a single mother in 19th. Also, his poems can help you to learn a lot about Ukrainian history and feel the spirit of the independent nation. The good fact that “Kobzar” you can find in English translation in almost every bookshop. And his face adorns a 100-hryvnia banknote.

Ivan Kotlyarevsky

He was the first who wrote a book in Ukrainian nonliterary language. His most famous book its “Eneyida”. Kotlyarevsky shows a real life of Ukrainian people in 18th Century. Burlesque story formed the basis of other books. A lot of books by this author are about the real life of Ukrainian people. You can get to know about mentality. Study some traditions and our history. Also, we are recommending reading “Natalka Poltavka”. By the way, the author’s face adorns a 500-hryvnia banknote.

Ivan Franko

Franko was not only the writer but also historian, ethnographer, and politician. He lived in the western part of Ukraine on the edge of 19-20th. Also, Franko was an applicant for the Nobel Prize. He wrote a lot of books, but the most famous is “Zakhar Berkut”. The story shows a fight between Ukrainian and Mongolian conquerors in the 13th Century. And in the collection of poems “In the Sweat of the Brow” (Ukr. – “В поті чола”) Franko shows a real life of workers and poor class of the people. In all his works there are historical, philosophic and political topics. By the way, you can see a Franko’s face adorns a 20-hryvnia banknote. And the city Ivano-Frankivsk is called in his honor.

Lesya Ukrainka

She is the most romantic author. Lesya had lived for only 41 years, and was fighting with pneumonia. But she made a significant contribution to Ukrainian literature and art development. She thinks about love, live, history in her poems and mixes her personal feelings with traditional myths and legends. And in the poem “The Forest Song” you can find a lot of interesting facts about mentality, superstitions, myths, and traditions. By the way, in 2017 a cartoon “Mavka” was presented. This poem formed the basis of the plot of this cartoon. Also, we recommend reading “Obsessive”, “Cassandra”, “Stone master” and “Blue Rose”. And traditionally her face adorns a 200-hryvnia banknote. Have you ever read a book by these writers?  Please share with us in comments. Discover Ukraine Culture & History Read the full article

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Flights to Ukraine

Flights to Ukraine: advice, airports and helpful information. Ukraine is situated in the East of Europe. If you decide to visit us you can come to any city. Almost all of them have airports. But the biggest are located in Kyiv, Lviv, and Odessa. Here are some recommendations. Take tickets before 50-60 days to the planned trip. In this period price is much cheaper. Also, you should remember that taxi in an airport cost expensive. So better to use some taxi organizations and order a car from a city or, if you come to Kyiv Boryspil National Airport, it’s very comfortable to go to the city with a shuttle bus (departs every 20 min).

Flights to Ukraine -  Kyiv

You can come to Kyiv (Kiev) into one of 2 international airports: “Boryspil” and “Zhuliany”. Boryspil is located outside the city, so you will need to go to the center more or less 50-60 min. Zhuliany is located in 10 minutes from Central Railway Station (almost city center). There are companies which make flights to Kyiv: UIA, Ryanair, Pegasus, Wizzair, Utair, Cimber Air, EL AL, Finnair, British Airlines, Alitalia, Air France, Air Baltic, Air Malta, Air Arabia, Iberia Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, SCAT, TAP Portugal, Nordica and few another European companies.

Flights to Ukraine -  Lviv

The airport is located in 6 km from the center of Lviv. From there you can go to Italy, Turkey, Germany, Poland, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Belorussia and Greece with the direct flight. By the way, in the spring and summer, you can visit more countries with charter flights. But this information you should check in the official site of the airport. There are companies which make flights to Lviv: Ellinair, LOT Polish, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, UIA, Wizzair, Ryanair, Ernest Airlines, Belavia and Pegasus Airlines.

Flights to Ukraine - Odessa

The airport in Odessa is the biggest in all Southern part of Ukraine. From this city, you can go to few western European countries, Turkey, Georgia, Egypt and other countries. Every touristic season you can find more charter flights. But regular flights from Odessa make these companies: LOT, Air Baltic, Turkish Airlines, Bravo, Yanair, UIA, FlyDubai, Ellinair, Onur Air, EL AL, Pegasus Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Czech Airlines and Bulgaria Air. Did you visit before any Ukrainian cities? Please, share your experience in comments. Discover Ukraine Travel & Cuisine Read the full article

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Top 3 The Most Beautiful Cities in Ukraine

Top 3 the most beautiful cities in Ukraine. Tourism in Ukraine started to be especially popular in last 5 years. But the most foreign tourists don’t know where is better to go, how to find a good place and where is the most interesting historical or architectural monuments. So we want to propose top 3 the most beautiful cities in Ukraine. It’s doesn’t mean that another cities have nothing interesting. But we recommend these 3 places because more people speak English there, airports are nearby, and there is the biggest concentration of restaurants, hotels and different places of interest. So firstly we advise you to go in the capital of our country.

Top 3 the most beautiful cities in Ukraine - Kyiv

Kyiv is situated in the north part of Ukraine on the bigger river Dnipro and it was based in 854. Foreign tourists can book a hotel, stay in hostel or rent an apartment. Also there are a lot of museums, historical and architecture monuments. But Kyiv is not only famous with its history, it’s also a modern city, where you can see lots of interesting things and places. We recommend visiting the central street – Hryshchatik, the monument of the Kyiv Rus time - Golden Gate, an old orthodox monastery – Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and historical museum. By the way, you can see the most beautiful landscapes from the right coast of Dnipro. In the same part, you can go to see the highest monument in the Europe – memorial complex “Motherland”. Kyiv has a lot of secrets and it’s the city which can surprise you every day.

Top 3 the most beautiful cities in Ukraine - Lviv

This is the biggest and beautiful city in the western part of Ukraine. Lviv was based in 1272. By the way, long time this city was part of Poland. So architecture in Lviv is very European and very authentically. People speak Ukrainian, but almost all understand and speak the Polish language too. There a lot of cafés, restaurants, and hotels. But we recommend going to the Market Place (Ploshcha Rinok), architectural complex “High Castle”, Armenian Cathedral and Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption. But the most interesting for foreign tourists will be restaurants. In Lviv, you can enjoy the Ukrainian, Polish, Turkish and Jewish cuisine. Also, we recommend to visit café with BDSM style “Masoch”, beer theater “True”, confectionery “Lviv Chocolate factory” and restaurant-museum “Gas Lamp”. Also, there is one bar called “Kriyivka” with very interesting and original conception you can see only in Ukraine, only in Lviv.

Top 3 the most beautiful cities in Ukraine - Odessa

That’s the most beautiful city in the south part of our country. Odessa was based 1794 year on the coast of the Black Sea. There are a lot of interesting architectural complexes, museums, and art galleries. Most people go there in summer, but in this period usually, prices for hotels are higher. Anyway in winter, autumn and spring you can visit a lot of interesting places too. For example, Odessa Regional Philharmonic Society, Odessa Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theater, Duca de Richelieu Square, Deribasivska Street, The Potemkin Stairs and, of course, Primorsky Boulevard. By the way, there are a lot of Moldavian, Jewish and Turkish people live there. But usually, people speak Russian. Also, architectural monuments of Greece colony period still saved near Odessa. But it’s better to go there in a warm period of the year. To be honest, it’s impossible to tell about all beautiful places of these 3 cities. So we advise to visit sites:   https://kyivcity.travel http://www.inlviv.info http://www.odessatourism.org/en/ Have you visited these cities before? Yes? Tell us about it). Discover Ukraine Travel & Cuisine Read the full article