Arrived in Ukraine

Well, we made it to Kiev!!!! What a journey! We flew out of Richmond on time but what a ride. It was a roller coaster getting up to altitude because of the winds and it was a rough ride all the way. Nobody got sick but we were mighty green!!.

The flight to Kiev started out promising - the departure moved from 4:20 when we arrived at JFK to 4:15 as we started to board. The plane wasn't full so Kathie commandeered another row of middle seats so we could lay out a little. Hen we got the bad news – the volcanic ash was requiring Delta to refile another fight plan south to miss the cloud – down to North Africa and then up over Spain. That took two hours – when we pushed out we were 21st in line to take off on the one runway they could use also due to high winds. So we were delayed getting off the ground for three and a half hours and then the flight time was ten and a half hours versus nine and a half cause of the detour – we got in at 1 PM instead of 9:10 AM.

All of our luggage got there with us and we breezed thru customs. Yulia met us with a nice Mercedes Van – leather seats and plenty of room for the luggage and the crew. We first went to a phone store to get a battery and some minutes but were disappointed to find out that we had no money to pay with (didn't do the exchange thing yet). So we had Yulia drop us at the apartment.

We get there and the elevator isn't working and the apartment is on the fourth floor – so we all trudge on up there to find out we are at the wrong building!!! So we trudge down again and walk another half block to the right building. The elevator works here but it won't go to the fourth floor. Nicky and I took it to the third and walked up- the smart ones went to the fifth and walked down.

It is Victory Day in Kiev and the roads are blocked off – Victory Square is a half block from the apartment so we head on down to the square to find a money exchange and a phone store. We found both and then went to Micky D's for lunch (Kathie's favorite especially on mother's day!!! - She got a Sunday cause it was!!!) It was just gorgeous outside! 75 degrees – no humidity.

We are sitting outside on the balcony watching the detoured traffic pass by – the kids have gone to find a market to buy some snacks – I had gotten water and piva (Russian for brewsky!) earlier. The balcony is about 3 feet wide with a wrought iron railing that you don't want to rely on and there is linoleum on the concrete floor. We brought the kitchen chairs out to sit on and I'm polishing off the piva. The street is narrow and the fact that a black Mercedes is not quite all the way on the sidewalk means that only one lane of traffic can get through. The cars are honking for the right of way and some are very animated. Also you can see all the other balcony's – kinda like that Jimmie Stewart move – A Room With A View.

Got the Phone all set up and found that the number was different than what was on the back of the phone. The correct number is: 80684003720.