Once part of the Soviet Union, the Ukraine now leans toward the European Union. There is a deep divide between the pro-European Western side and the pro-Russian Eastern side. It boasts a rich but very often tragic history.
The capital city of Kyiv sits astride the Dnipro River and contains a couple of almost millennium-old religious landmarks while managing a cosmopolitan feel. These landmarks include the golden onion domed St. Sophia Cathedral, which is noted for its impressive interior. The ancient still-functioning Kyiv-Pechery Monastery is located on the hills lining the Dnipro River and contains many churches and ancient crypts. There are also several excellent treasure and art museums located on the monastery grounds.
Once the site of a history-changing conference and the resort for Russia’s elite, Yalta is now a popular destination for the masses. Throngs of holiday travelers flock to the beaches and visit the majestic Vorontsov Palace. Nearby in the Crimea is Sevastopol, home to the Black Sea Fleet and the Greek Ruins at Chersonesus.
Odessa is a popular seaside beach resort and major seaport that was once known as “Little Paris”. See the beautiful Odessa Opera Theatre and the immortalized Potemkin Stairs. Not as beautiful, but fascinating are the massive catacombs (2500 km of passages) underneath Odessa. Near the Polish border is Lviv with its many church and charming old town. Have coffee and dessert at one of the cafes in town.
Chernobyl was the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident - to date - in 1986. A zone around the city was evacuated. In addition to visiting the Chernobyl Museum in Kyiv, you can take a tour of the ghost town. The area around Chernobyl has turned wild. “A Garden of Eden,” that provides a further contrast to the eerie city that ended suddenly over 20 years ago
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