The lost post from Thursday

Karen Spring from CBN told us that there was a great restaurant not too far from our room. So we showered and all of us except Elliott headed out. Elliott was with his friend (Maxim) from the orphanage that is going to college in Kyiv now. We walked to where we thought the restaurant was and Kath changed from her sneakers into dress shoes. We walked up to the door and realized it was an Irish place not the Italian one we were looking for. So we headed up the street and called Karen and realized we were about 3 blocks from it so we headed in that direction. The name of the place is Olivia's and it is in a green building on the main drag.

We still couldn't find it!! and now it started to rain a little. We wanted Nick to ask where it was but he would have nothing to do with it (embarrassed that he might not remember his Russian). So Kathie askee – just went up and asked – the lady understood a little english but could speak any so she responded in Russian and Nick listened but didn't speak (wish he did that more!!!) We took off and headed in that direction – still raining. After four more blocks it quit raining but we still hadn't found Olivia's.

We called Karen again and discovered we were a block away – headed a little further and there it was. We walked in and there was no room – It would be about 20 minutes. We walked to a coffe shop about a half block down and dried out.

After 20 minutes we headed to the restaurant and they had our table ready – we ordered and Karen arrived. The food was excellent and we had a great time with Karen. After dinner we went across the street to a desert shop and further stuffed ourselves with cheesecake and eclairs. We finally decided it was time to head back and Kath changed into her sneakers – I knew I was in for a foot rub when we got to the room.

On Thursday, we woke up and got the kids up at 8 to go to the embassy to fill out the paperwork needed for Kathie to sign so she can leave after court. We headed on the Metro, the Blue Line, to the intersection with the Green Line. We got off and headed three stops up the green line. Miraculously, we got off at the right place and walked about ¾ mile and there it was. We were in and out in 30 minutes! We headed back to the Metro and headed back to the Blue line intersection. The idea was to head 3 stops further south to CBN. Wellllll, guess what? We were back at the room!!! So Elliott and Nick decided to take a cab and Kathie and I decided to stay and eat with Oles who arrived while we were gone.

Oles was our Facilitator when we got Elliott and Nicky and we wanted him again this time. So we ate and talked while we were waiting to go to the SDA and get our referral at 4 PM. I took Ty to lunch about 2 PM and then we took a cab to the SDA. Traffic was heavy and we were late!! No problem – they we backed up so we waited outside for about 30 minutes.

We met Lynn Locher who just adopted two adorable girls. David and Amanda, the couple from Texas that we me yesterday was also there. We enjoyed talking to them all! Then we were wisked in and given our papers. Lynn and the girls were going to go with us to supper.

So we started walking thinking Oles was gonna get us a cab – after a mile I figured Oles gave up and we walked to three or four miles to the room – Kath had her dressy shoes on and I knew I would be rubbing those feet again real soon!! We went to the UNO Pizza place again and ate and called two cabs to get us to the train. Oles also got word that we had an appointment with the Inspector (social worker) to go to the orphanage tomorrow morning!!!

We got to the train and we were able to get one compartmenonly one nightt and two additional tickets but were sharing that compartment with other folks – Oles and Elliott offered to take those seats as they speak the language. The train is old – It is air conditioned and the piva is warm – but it is only one night.

Well, it was kinda air conditioned. The halls had ventilation – the compartments didn't and they got stuffy. We played cards and read and then it was lights out. I woke up at 4 to use the john and it was locked – I assumed someone was in there. After about 45 minutes I went to the next car. I found out later that they lock the johns at night – evidently Ukrainians don't have a tiny bladder like me!!!!

A lady in Elliott's compartment snored all night and he came in our compartment at 5. I switched with him so he could sleep – I was reading. We pulled into Zaporizhzha at 6:30 and caught a cab van to take us to Berdyansk