Tuesday/Wednesday Zaporozhya

After all the running around we had to pay a fee at a bank and although it was open and there was one person there, they were not doing business – so it was time to call it a day at about 6:30. We went to eat at a restaurant that we all ate at in the park when we were in Zaporozha the last time when we were getting the separation agreement approved. We were all frazelled from the heat, the lack of food and the running around. Oles deserves an atta-boy for almost getting us on our way in one day!!!!

Oles made a call and we had an apartment for the night. It is about three blocks from the hotel we stayed at while waiting for the separation hearing. I was watching where the nearest Coffee Life was and come to find out there is a small one one block up the street from our apartment.

The apartment is on the second floor and has two bedrooms, air conditioning, and a great bathroom with a shower that has a kazillion nozzles in it – spent 20 minutes figuring out how that works!!! Unfortunately, they don't have enough water pressure to make it work right – but in Ukraine it's the thought that counts!!!

I showered and got all cleaned up and then headed for Coffee Life to communicate with the outside world. Cody was watching World Cup soccer on TV. I blogged and chatted with a few folks and headed back to the apartment. I had to do a load of laundry as Cody has nothing clean to wear. I picked up a piva at the corner kiosk and watched soccer with Cody. Brazil was playing Korea got to see Brazil make a goal from the right side – great play!!

Got up at about 7:30 and packed and walked to Coffee Life to blog. Sat out front reading E-Mail till they opened at 8. Had a fruit tart with ice cream (gonna miss this when I leave) and skyped with Tobi, Tommy, and Diane.

Today we had to find a Notary that would process a petition for Cody to get his passport and then to pick up the passport. Finding a Notary that would do it without an existing passport was challenging. We found one about 2:30 PM and we were able to pick up the passport around 4 PM. Unfortunately his name is now Codi instead of Cody because we could wait another two days for the correction. As we learned with Elliott – you pretty much live with whatever ends up on the passport.

We got tickets for the train (a compartment to ourselves) ate supper and boarded the train. Fortunately it is air conditioned (in the Ukrainian way – that means you get a hind of coolness coming from some place). I am waiting on my cold Piva to arrive. We should wake up refreshed in Kyiv at about 6 AM.

Here we are in Kyiv – arrived right on time at 6 AM. Nicoli picked us up and carried our bags to the car where Yulia was waiting. She says that we may be able to fly Saturday – depending on the Embassy and the Visa.

They took us to a beautiful apartment – very close to the one we had when we first got here. It is right across the street from the McDonalds on Independence Square. We are on the 7^th floor and there is an elevator (2 regular folks and maybe 3 thin folks can fit in it). The apartment is small but is very nice. Great bathroom!!