Sunday, May 11, 2014

May flowers


I'm at a loss for words regarding what's happened in Ukraine the last 10 days. What is usually a time of vacations and celebrations has turned into mourning.


This week I've spotted several elderly men with timeworn ribbons and medals pinned to their tweed jackets, as old men usually do around the holiday. What do they think about all this? Are they shocked? Resigned? Unfazed?

Kharkiv's Freedom Square on May 8th, 11 AM. A ring of cops around the statue.

It's been quiet here. Most friends headed to the countryside on May 9th. We stayed in, heeding the universal admonition to avoid large gatherings, only going out to take the photos of plants and trees in this post and take care of a neighbor's cat. That night we caught the reflection of the city's firework show in the windows of a nearby building.


The lilac trees are in full bloom now. Women carry fragrant bundles of the lavender blossoms. The chestnut trees are also blooming en masse, making it seem like they'll topple over at any moment from the weight of the flowers.


This afternoon (May 10th) there was a sudden massive thunderstorm. The blue sky was replaced with a black curtain and fragments of lightning. Rain came down in buckets. The puddles were so big afterwards that several cars stalled while driving through them.

Lots and lots of photos but this was the only one that captured any lightning

On the metro this week I saw an ad for an airline in which the words "Barcelona is waiting for us" had been altered with a black pen to read "Barcelona is NOT waiting for us". I've been thinking a lot about this. Maybe someone did it just to be a smartass. Or maybe someone did it because they've given up on certain dreams. What do you think?



So as to end this on an upbeat note, look for a cool post coming (hopefully) later this week featuring several e-books about Ukraine. It's been a lot of fun to write : )

14 comments:

  1. Thank you for the beautiful and thoughtful post. I loved the pictures! August 2013 was my first visit visit to Ukraine and Kharkov. It was love at first sight.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comment! Glad you enjoyed your trip last year- August is a great month... a bit hot, but great : )

      Delete
  2. Thank you again for another insight into your slice of life. As I understand it, you have a package coming, but no telling how long it will take to get to you. Some of what's inside came from me, a part of "the D stuff." Take care and be careful, hold on to each other always.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooooh, we're so excited for that package, Joyce! You guys are awesome!!

      Happy Mother's Day, by the way. You've raised a beautiful daughter and it's an honor to call her my best friend. Thank you for that.

      Delete
  3. Re-posted: http://rupertbuukraine.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/8-months-in-ukraine-may-flowers.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As always, спасибо за репост!
      (I might have just made that word up :p )

      Delete
  4. What a lovely post. I think a lot of Ukrainians and Russians are now worried that Barcelona/Europe isn't waiting for them anymore and it's such a pity.

    Looking forward to your next post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Polly!

      I was just getting ready to do some armchair traveling to Central America... saw you posted some new Granada photos
      : )

      Delete
  5. I'm not sure how many Ukrainians reading your blog but let me tell you, Canada worries and cares about Ukraine, always! On my personal note, Ukraine should have more hope for better life and final freedom than Russia so many people are ready to toss in the towel on Russia and it's so sad since Putin is not Russia and Russia is not Putin.

    Lovely spring photos by the way, I love the smell of chestnut tree blossoms!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Olya! It's good to see your comments on here again.

      Yes, the air smells so good now from all the blossoms. By the way, have you seen these photos of the lilacs in the capital? http://www.manycoloured-days.com/2014/05/the-lilacs-of-may-narnia-of-kyiv.html

      Delete
    2. And just discovered these photos as well-
      http://zeblogofzegegeandzebrian.blogspot.com/2014/05/kazachya-zastava.html
      Doesn't that place look cool?

      Delete
  6. wow.. you live in a wonderful place...

    ReplyDelete