Then we thought we would go to the National Botantical Garden as a special treat for Pippa’s parents. This would be their last day in Ukraine; they fly back to Florida on Saturday.
When Vasily and Yelana arrived however, we changed our plan. Vasilly suggested that it might be a good idea to first check out the State Hospital to see about getting Maria’s teeth fixed there. It’s where he goes for dental work and he gave it a good recommendation. He assured us it was “near by” and so we drove for a long, long time to an old soviet-looking apartment complex on the edge of Kiev on the other side of town from our apartment. As are all the soviet-era structures this one was very shoddy from the outside.
number of “horoshos” at the end and we were on our way apparently with something worked out for 2:00 Monday afternoon.
We had not traveled far before the kids spotted an amusement park. We agreed to check it out. At the entrance however, we came onto a bowling alley, Olya’s favorite thing to do in this world. The whole herd of us snail-walked inside and everybody put on bowling shoes expect me. The flat screen TVs all over the place were showing the USA playing Argentina in Copa America. (Argentina spanked the USA very badly). Pippa even convinced Yelana to bowl. Her first time. Pippa as usual whipped everyone else with Olya the easy second placer. This was also Andry’s first bowling experience.
The bowling alley had a Wild West theme and was very elegant, complete with all the automation of Lucky Strike Lanes in South Beach. A very expensive restaurant as part of the place, video game arcade, a kiddy room and toilets of polished marble and the latest tricks in flushing, hand washing and drying.
After a very long game (six people playing) Vasilly wanted to take us “a little out of town” for lunch. Twenty minutes later we were in the country. After a while we began passing these very large compounds, each with a different theme. We passed the Wild West, Bali, another with a giant jug outside, and stopped at one with a Three Musketeers theme. It’s hard to describe. There were several acres of small elegant-rustic cottages with white tablecloth covered tables, alI in a park-like setting. Paths between large trees and flower areas; duck ponds, play areas with a very large inflatable jumping castle and outside eating areas with wicker chairs. A few medieval style red banners kept the musketeers theme alive.
We ate in the large lodge although for a 100 grivnas ($20) we could have rented one of the cottages. Excellent food, a really good Georgian cabernet, special pancakes with bananas and chocolate for dessert and attentive service. We all agreed Vasilly had made a good suggestion.
Leaving this place, we decided to check out another one down the road. Yelana explained that these places were for well-to-do people from Kiev who came to escape the bustle of the city for a few days. The owners of each complex tried to outdo the other. There’s a lot of money floating around in Kiev these days.
We stopped at a military-themed complex. I suspect it was another example of the nostalgic return of the glory of the Soviet era. The posters and accoutrements all suggested this. The staff wore Soviet army and navy uniforms. At the gate we were greeted with a brandy shot and a small toast topped with a dollop of garlic infused lard that had some sort of berry balanced on top. We thanked them and pretended to eat and drink. A pretty naval officer showed us the rooms in the lodge: each room different from the other, all large plasma TVs, extremely elegant bathrooms and while military-like, all the furniture and furnishings looked like a million dollars had been spent on them.
But Olya and Andry flipped out over the two-story cottage the pretty naval officer showed us. A wonderful Finnish sauna and a bathroom fit for Bill Gates if he was on a weekend hideaway with Paris Hilton.
The cottage overlooked a lake where many people were fishing from their outside dining room tables. We saw someone catch a five-inch fish, the pretty naval officer assured us we could catch a two foot long monster if we had patience. They will supply the pole.
Olya was jumping in the air by this point begging for us to come to this place. Translating for Andry she said he felt exactly the same way. And actually, I thought it would be a good thing to do when we are between legal procedures with an empty day on our hands. So we promised and headed back to the apartment; it was 6:45 pm by this time.
Pippa however convinced me to “stop by” the botanical garden since it was on the way home. I agreed to a ride-by that turned into a walk-around. (Pippa interjecting here.) Ron snuck back to the car with the kids racing each other to catch up with him. When my parents and I got back to the car the-impatient-ones asked, “Where have you been?” We explained that we stopped at the fountain at the entrance of the garden, and like people do at the Fountain of Trivi in Italy, turned our backs, made a wish, and each threw in a Ukrainian coin. The “making a wish” part got Olya and she begged me to tell my wish. Eveyone knows it’s bad luck to tell wishes so I told her I wouldn’t tell but she could probably guess my wish. I asked her, “What’s the most important thing in the world to me right now?” Her eyes flew open as she realized what my wish had been. Then she asked my parents to tell their wishes. They just smiled at her and she realized the three of us had all wished for the same thing. (okay, back to Ron.)
A vareneky supper and a last card game of Crazy Eight between Jim, Andry and Olya, a routine they all look forward to. (Back to Pippa. Ron forgot a cute part.) When Olya had to draw cards, because she didn’t have the correct one, my dad in a funny high voice would tell her, “draw again little girl.” When my father had to draw, both children in even higher and funnier little voices would tell him, “draw again little grandfather, draw again.”
Very early in the morning my parents leave Ukraine for Florida. At bedtime they said their last goodbyes to the children. As my father tucked in Andry and explained he was saying goodbye because he was leaving early in the morning. Andry smiled and told him “no.” It really seems like Andry is enjoying his new, extended family. Hopefully, in a few weeks, he will officially be our son.
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