After last nights Eurovision Semi Final 1 I was surprised they were rebroadcasting it on tv 9am. As I didnt have to rush and wanted to rest up a bit I watched till about 1030. I'd been downstairs for the buffet breakfast but didnt take my camera. 

 

First stop a few streets south was the Presidential complex and House with Chimeras. This is gated off from the public but you can see thru the railings. 

 
 





























 
I then went thru the Marinsky Park but it was cold, only 12 degrees, windy, and some hail pellets. There wasnt much to see in the park and the Palace is part of the Parliament complex so closed to the public. 

I carried on walking south to the Lavra Monastery complex. Ticket prices were confusing. I opted for the 70 UH ($3.50) without a guide entrance ticket. 

 
 

Inside there are no maps or direction signs so its hard to figure out where everything is. I know there are caves but I didnt see it on the entrance map which wasnt in English anyway. 

 
 






























 
I went into the first large building which was rather ornate, grand, and impressive in its interior artwork like being in an art gallery. 

 
 
 
 

Nearby was a more flat dome shaped building similar to a Mosque. Inside was a darkened artwork dome and mural art along the long approach. 

 
 

Now I did see signs mentioning caves leading me further deep into the complex. Eventually I found the entrance and a woman wanted to give me a candle. I thought she was selling them so I didnt take one. 

You need the candle to see as there is no lighting in the cave tunnels and the candle generates heat. I could see from all the other candles. 

 
 































 

I was expected cave art like the cave churches in Struga Macedonia. Instead the caves hold glass caskets of local saints although no photos are allowed in the caves. 

When you come out there is a long walkway leading you even deeper into the complex. This leads to a second cave network with much deeper stairs and more caskets. 

 
 

This was all getting a bit tiring so I made my way out of the complex after spending a couple of hours exploring.  

Heading to the War Memorial I stumbled onto the Folk History Museum. Entrance was 30 UH ($1.50) and she spoke good English giving me directions on how to take the bus back as I didnt want to walk. 

 
 

The museum only has four rooms but many interesting life of early folk life, and cultural practices. 

 
 
 
 

Outside was the war memorial park. This had a long serious of stone carvings of Soviet style figures of brave soldiers and resilient locals standing up to resist. 

 
 

There was a war museum and outdoor aircraft but I didnt want to pay to go in and more walking. It was still cold, windy, with rolling hail. 

 
 

Bus 24 goes back to Maidan for 3 UH (.15 cents). I needed food and found a buffet restaurant by the Eurovision village. 

 
 




























 


 
I paid 106 UH ($5.30) for my meal. The rest of the day I went to the hotel to get out of the cold and rain and rest. They had a good folk music tv show for about an hour. That evening was a good comedy movie. 

 
 


  
  



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