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Pursuing Lovely Travels

Travelling to underrated places are some of my favourite. While I have a deep love for popular places like Paris and Dublin, I find Eastern European countries are waiting for travellers to discover their hidden beauties. The Ukraine is no exception.


How did we end up going to Ukraine? Quite simple, compromise. Part of being a travelling couple is that we try to plan trips that make both of us happy. When my husband expressed a desire to see the Ukraine as part of our 2 week Spring break, I thought "sure! If we can also go to Turkey!". I had actually been to the Ukraine before. My mother grew up there, and when I was 11 we travelled from Canada to Kharkov so I could meet her side of the family for the first time.


BEST TIME TO GO TO UKRAINE


We live in Egypt. It's already getting relatively hot, so we thought Spring break in Eastern Europe would be refreshing. Turns out it is very much like a Winnipeg spring. Very chilly wind, sometimes rainy, and then suddenly spikes to a very warm heat so you sweat under your 3 layers of clothes.

Other than the varying weather that has you taking off and putting on your jacket over and over again, the only other main downside to coming in the spring is construction and renovations.

Now, maybe it just happens to be a year when the Ukraine planned to renovate many of it's popular attractions, but double check online if anything you wish to see during your visit might be closed due to renovations! We unfortunately met up with 3 during our trip.

Summertime, (late April-Mid September) is a great time to come because that's when so many places are available to see and enjoy. The Love Tunnel, the Black Sea beaches, and the Carpathian mountains are all best enjoyed in the summer. If you love winter, are dressed appropriately, then it's not a bad choice to come here for Christmas time either! Ukrainians have such a rich culture, it would be quite the treat to see how they celebrate Christmas!

WHERE WE WENT IN UKRAINE


We decided to only spend 10 days in Ukraine, and decided to split the time evenly between Kiev and Odessa. In hindsight, we would have done things differently, such as added Lviv or simply cut it a few days shorter (this is mostly due to the weather and construction!)

KIEV



The vibrant capital city! The historic center! I would recommend a good 3 days in the capital as there are endless museums, cathedrals, historical buildings, restaurants and events to choose from! While there is a metro system, the monuments and attractions are relatively spread across and the metro stops are not as frequent

as in some cities. Also, you can add an extra day if you want to do a day trip to either Chernobyl, or maybe to see the Love Tunnel.

My top suggestions:

  • Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti)

  • St. Michael's Golden Dome Monastery

  • St Andrew's Basilica and surrounding area - bit of a hike! But super gorgeous church!

  • Walking down Khreschatyk Street - numerous shops, great for people-watching, pedestrian friendly on weekends.

  • Mariyinsky Palace and surrounding garden

Read more for 39 other things to see and do in Kiev!

ODESSA



The mini Paris of Ukraine! We definitely spent one too many days in this gorgeous city. If it was summer time, then 4 days is perfect. Most of the attractions are in the center of town and towards the port. It is a very walk-able part of town, which is good since there is no metro, only buses and trams. But not only was it still a cool spring, one of the main attractions was under renovation, once again! We did not have the best of luck, as you can see.

My top suggestions:

  • Odessa Opera House - a real beauty and cheap, cheap tickets for STUNNING shows! We saw Swan Lake and it was absolutely breathtaking!

  • Cathedral Square - Ukraine is not short on Orthodox churches!

  • Derybasivska Street - there are plenty of shops and restaurants, and it will lead you to the city garden which is very quaint.

  • Potemkin Stairs - perfect photo op and view of the sea!

  • Open Air Markets - Odessa is known to have quite a few, if you want to catch a bus, you can go the largest one in Eastern Europe!


WHAT TO EAT IN UKRAINE




Believe me when I say that we had some amazing Ukrainian food! And that's coming from someone blessed with a Ukrainian babushka! If you are unfamiliar with the comforting wonders of Ukrainian food, allow me to enlighten you to a very popular cuisine.

Vareniki - In Canada, for some reason, we call these 'perogies', but don't go around asking for perogies. Or you will get something breaded with meat or mashed potatoes. What makes vareniki so popular is their dumpling-like shell that compliments both savoury and sweet filling options. The most popular are cabbage,mashed potato and meat.

Pelmeni - my absolute childhood (and adulthood) favourite! This is similar to vareniki, but inside is a meatball with specific spices that gives it a very specific flavor. Slop on some creamy sour cream and a bit of butter and, mmmmm, you have heaven in the form of a dumpling.

Sirniki- cottage cheese-filled pancakes. These are simply to die for! I have a deep love for cottage cheese, and these babies are amazing with some strawberry jam and sour cream! Man, I'm hungry...

Pashtet- liver pate. If you like liver, you will like this pate. It is usually mixed with hard-boiled eggs that are finely chopped up, so the liver taste is softer. Very filling on a nice piece of toast!

Holopsi- Cabbage rolls! Yum, yum! A very common dish that is full of flavour, but surprisingly not very heavy on the stomach.



DRINKS

----

Compote - You cannot go to Ukraine and not have compote. What is this? Fruit that has been sitting in hot water, then cooled. Kind of like cucumber water. There is a huge variety of compotes! We had strawberry with apple, and red berries. My babushka makes these too, and they're perfect as a refreshing drink on a warm day!

Ukrainian Beer - Not only did we find that Ukrainian beer is quite good and with a large variety of blond, dark and unfiltered, it was also ridiculously cheap! Having a couple of beers with your meal won't hurt your pocket when you dine in Ukraine!

OUR EXPERIENCE - Things the Surprised Us


# 1 - The People:


One of the first things I worried about was the people. We had visited Russia the year before and found the people distant and hesitant or unwilling to help. That was not the case in Ukraine. Both in Kiev and Odessa, I'm proud to say that basically all of our interactions with people was kind and pleasant.

Maybe it's because I can speak the language (basic, not fluent), but I was actually more worried about how Ukrainians would react to someone speaking in Russian. Turns out they all speak Russian too! And as far as I could tell, no one seemed offended or upset. Most people were patient with us and did their best to communicate and help us. Sometimes you have to have faith in people!

#2 - The Obvious Economic Struggle


With all the beauty Ukraine has, you can see that there is a struggle to get back to glory days. Many buildings are in disarray and unkempt. For some buildings, it adds an old charm, but for many the deterioration is a bit heart-breaking. But Ukrainians are a proud people, and especially in a large city like Kiev, we saw countless people who maintained the pristine look of their street, park or shop.

Don't let their lack of prosperity deter you from visiting, though! Like I said before, they are doing a lot of renovations to major attractions, so you will see an even more beautiful Ukraine than we did!

#3 - The Colourful Beauties


I never imagined a northern European country to be almost more colourful than a hot country like Sprain or Portugal! I was blown away by the colour pallet of both Kiev and Odessa. If you were following along on Instagram, you have seen the lovely bright coloured buildings that grace the streets of Kiev. Soft pinks, bright mints and turquoise, periwinkle blue, and sky-blue are the most popular.



Overall, we had a lovely time in Ukraine! There was no shortage of beautiful sights, quaint streets, unique restaurants and good food and drink! So, not only is there so much culture and fun experiences to be had, Ukraine is also ridiculously budget-friendly when it comes to accommodation and food!

Have you had a chance to visit the Ukraine? What is your favourite Ukrainian dish? Do you plan to visit in the future? Let me know in the comments below!
10:47 1 comments
Since travel is a great passion for many people (myself included), I thought it would be neat to share some travel related names for all you travel-loving folks! Maybe this list will help you out if you're still searching for that perfect name.

Meaning behind the name is very important to me, and if it is for you too, I explain the meaning and origin of the name! They are separated into two categories for a total of 40 names. Each list comes with it's own Pin image so you can pin for later reference!


25 Names Inspired by Places (Cities, Countries, State, etc)


Alaska - from the Aleut language, this female name means "that which breaks against the shore" or "great land", take your pick! Made popular by John Green's book "Looking for Alaska". It just sounds like a cool nature girl with beautiful, natural flowing hair.

London - this can go for either boy or girl, and you can even alter the spelling: Londyn. I find the name both elegant and serious, but is fun to say outloud! Named, of course, after England's historic capital that is almost synonymous with William Shakespeare, tea with scones, and Big Ben.

India - want an exotic-sounding name for your baby girl? Why not go with the name of a very well-known exotic country! India has been associated with this romantic ideal of the beautiful and foreign.

Odessa - while this beautiful name means "wrathful", it is known as the artistic center of the Ukraine. A mini Paris in it's own rights, this city also has a history of being strong against historic upturns. Just like the Black Sea waves that crash upon its shores....

Paris - Though originally a greek name, Paris is known world-wide as the shining city of lights in France. As one of my most favourite cities, and it's tie to the handsome prince in mythology, you can't go wrong with this classical name.

Arizona - where the name comes from is debatable. Some say it comes from the Spanish, others claim it is native-american. Either way, it's a very cool and beautiful name for a girl.

Austin - believe it or not, this name originally comes from the name Augustine.

Boston - another popular American city, this name originally comes from an English Saint, though the Old English spelling and pronunciation is not very similar.

Bristol - another Old English derived name, where the original name is spelled entirely different. This pretty female name mean "place at a bridge". Maybe she will have very good connections.

Carson - honestly, I think of Downton Abbey before I think of Carson city, and who could oppose to naming their child after one of the most beloved characters of the series? Carson's meaning depends on the language root you look at. It can mean "marsh", "fort" or "rock.

Kent - Another name with a very old root, in this case Welsh. It basically means edge or border. Short but strong, could be a classier replacement for Kyle.

Dakota - This name is no stranger, but it's hugely popular. This beautiful name means "friend" in the Dakota language, which can complement either boy or girl.



Santiago - I bet you never knew this name is from the Anglicized "James". Neither did I! If you like a bit of an exotic flare, this could be a perfect name for a dark-haired boy!

Verona - Speaking of exotic and warm names, this is a beautiful girl name. Shakespeare chose this particular Italian city as the backdrop to possibly his most famous play "Romeo and Juliet". Romance and beauty abound!

Rio - This latin name is short, sweet and simple. It means "river", which is quite refreshing and pleasant!

Indiana - hopefully the famous Jones doesn't put you off from choosing this name. After all, it does sounds adventurous!

Tara - This short Irish name has a pretty neat meaning, which is "where the kings met". You can still visit the Hill of Tara to this day!

France - Probably my favourite country in the world, France is famous for so much! Incredible food, amazing art, and revolutions! You may, however, prefer the more subtle name Francis.

China - While the Great Wall might be one of the first things to come to mind, it is also synonymous with beautiful artisan china that is known for its delicate beauty.

Israel - Talk about an old name with a lot of history! Anyone who is fond of Jewish history and Hebrew roots might name their son after this strong cultural name.

Brooklyn - Well-known neighborhood of New York, this lovely girl's name is a compound English name that simply refers to "one who lives near a brook.

Sydney - Everyone knows the Sydney Opera House from it's stunning silhouette. This name comes from Normandy that means "wide island" or from the French name "Saint Denis".

Diego -  This cool-sounding name is yet another Spanish name that is from the anglicized "James", which means supplanter.

Athens - Famous since ancient times. While Athens can be used as a boy name, this Greek capital was named after the goddess Athena after she won the vote of the people. Athena means "sharp" and "praise".

Memphis - Ending off on an even more ancient city, going back to Ancient Egypt. This boy name was originally in Egyptian, meaning "enduring and beautiful" before the Greeks changed the spelling and pronunciation.

15 Baby Names Inspired by Natural Places



  1. Carolina - after the hills of the Carolinas, of course! Beautiful name for a beautiful place.

  2. Ocean - don't most people love the ocean? It's so powerful, yet soft and calm. Then again, it can be frightfully strong and powerful. It cannot be tamed.

  3. Aria - This name is a breath of fresh air! Literally, it is the Italian word for 'air', and also the same word for a beautiful soloist song.

  4. Terra - a lovely name that simply means "earth". The place we live, but also the substance in which all livings things come from!

  5. Coral - Anyone who has snorkeled or scuba-dived has ogled at beautiful coral reefs that we are so fascinated by!

  6. Sky - this is such a lovely name! It is so inspirational, afterall, don't we say "the sky's the limit"? Who knows where your little one will go in life!

  7. Beaumont - this fancy French name is after a mountain in (you guessed it) France! You literally have a beautiful and strong name, since it translates to "beautiful/handsome mountain".

  8. Brier - this always reminds me of Sleeping Beauty! 'Brier Rose' does have a nice ring to it.

  9. Glenn - 'shady glenn', a quick line from the melodious song "Loch Lomond", it's definitely a retro name these days.

  10. Montana - a popular name, having both a state and a faux pop singer with the same name, this is a classic for those who love open fields, riding on horse-back, fishing, and rodeos!

  11. West - As long as your last name isn't Jet, this is a really neat name that will automatically make your boy sound like the cool kid. 

  12. Dale - synonymous with valley. If you have ever walked along the bottom of a valley, you know how neat and beautiful it is, usually with a stream running along with low trees perching over and large rocks that lead up to the mountains.

  13. Sierra - named after the lovely Sierra range, what is there not to love? This name is both feminine and solid.

  14. Hudson - Canadians know the huge role the Hudson Bay played in our history. It sounds like a sporty guy who loves hunting.

  15. Logan - no, we're not talking about the Wolverine (although he's pretty cool too), but about Mt. Logan. Canada's tallest mountain! Logan sounds like someone you can depend on to get the job done. Also sounds like he owns a truck.



I hope you enjoyed this collection of travel inspired baby names! Are there any that really appeal to you? Have you used one of these names for your kid? Do you have other travel-related baby names that were not on this post? Share them below in the comments!
12:42 10 comments
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