It was Sunday morning. Well, it wasn't really early by the standards of summertime, just by the standards of residents of a big city that works hard 5 or 6 days a week.
On Sunday, the big city wakes up late. The sun-drenched streets are slowly and reluctantly filled with lonely passers-by and cars, coming to life only in the afternoon.
Most small cafes will open later and stay open as long as the curfew allows.
Small motley gatherings of people can be seen only near cafes where delicious breakfasts are served. But even these gatherings are peaceful and quite silent. Pets lazily watch the street, children are calm and happy. There is not a drop of fatigue or a hint of irritation in the obligatory smile of the waiter.
Podil is an old district of Kyiv that has retained its soul and appearance despite all the efforts of modernity. It reminds me of the Trastevere in Rome. After the most powerful and catastrophic fires in the history of Kyiv in July 1811, only few buildings survived. All that you see was built after 1811.
Two or three-story buildings, arches, small courtyards.
This arch with the inscription "Adam and Eve" and statues on both sides leads to a small passage yard. Very old grapes grow in it.
This bar didn't survive the stress of recent times. Now its windows serve as a notice board.
The "Book Lion" bookstore is still closed. I love its ambiance. They serve coffee and snacks and have a nice cozy room for small artistic events.
The entrance to the "Kyiv School of Water Transport" is marked with massive anchors.
Old tram. Where are you when I need you?
Kyiv used to be a tram city. The first (in the Russian Empire) horse-drawn tram and the first electric tram appeared in Kyiv.
Kontraktova square - one of the oldest in Kyiv, since the times of Rus'. When the Mongol-Tatars destroyed the city on the hills life moved down to the Dnieper, to the Podil district. Then this square was central. The river port is very close, so fairs were regularly held here, where goods brought by the river were sold. The square was the place where large trade agreements (contracts) were concluded, therefore the origin of its name.
I noticed this gorgeous passage and couldn't miss it.
In 1892, the board of the Second Steamship Company on the Dnipro and its tributaries was located here. One of the mini-sculptures which I have not yet written about is dedicated to the owner of this building. No spoilers today.🙂
Tree De La Vida - Tree of Life. Because an Argentine restaurant is nearby.😉
This picture is taken using 10x zoom of my new smartphone. Not bad, isn't it?
This sweet cow thankfully does not advertise a steak house but farm dairy products.
Great idea with the raised hand. "Less words, more cocktails" is the name of this bar.
My walk is almost over. Yellowed leaves remind us that summer has turned toward autumn. And about the recent abnormal heat as well.
But before I go home I need to get some bits n pieces for my dinner in the Auchan supermarket.
This tower on the empty parking always reminds me of a lighthouse in the middle of the sea... I hope for a brief meeting with the sea in September. But the closer it is the more it reminds a mirage in the middle of an endless desert.
Yours,
