The Mysterious Ukraine. The House with Chimeras

The Mysterious Ukraine. The House with Chimeras

‘The house is surely somewhat strange, but trust me, there is not one person in Kiev who would not honor it with a glance,’ said the owner of the House with Chimeras. Vladislav Gorodetsky was an eccentric Kievan architect of Polish descent, and it was he, who in the early 20th century built this unusual and mysterious art nouveau house. Indeed, even to this day, every passerby invariably looks at the house with awe.

The house strikes first and foremost with its ‘two-facedness.’ Located on a hill, the cube-like house looks like a three-floor building from one side, but like a six-floor building from another! Its roof and walls are fancifully decorated with figures of mythical creatures and wild animals: nymphs and mermaids, dolphins and crocodiles, rhinoceroses and elephants, whose hanging trunks serve drains. 

The building’s interior is as extravagant as its exterior and it reflects the architect's passion for hunting. The walls are decorated with taxidermies of birds, antlers, and other trophies, as well as with images of Diana - the goddess of hunting. On the contrary, the front lobby is designed as a seabed. One of the numerous legends about the house claims that the interior’s marine themes are a result of the architect building the house to commemorate his daughter, who supposedly drowned herself in Dnieper’s rapids after having her heart broken. However, many view this legend with skepticism: Kiev’s residents all say that the architect’s daughter lived a long enough live to see her grandchildren.

Each of the house’s details was carefully thought out. A unique ice-room, used as refrigerator, wine cellars, carriage and coach garages, a laundry room, and two stables were created here. Moreover, wishing to offer his guests fresh milk every morning, Gorodetsky built a real cowshed in the yard of the building. He managed to place it in a way that the unpleasant odors would not disturb the guests. The building’s thirteen-room penthouse was intended for the architect and his family, while other rooms were rented out. It should be mentioned that Gorodetsky had no difficulties attracting clientele!

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European newspapers have summed up EURO-2012 in Ukraine.

European newspapers have summed up EURO-2012 in Ukraine.

Reviews of the Ukraine as a host-country of EURO-2012 were quite warm in European newspapers.

“The preliminary conclusion is that competition is not just better prepared and better than expected" - wrote the newspaper “Independent”. The advice from Englishmen - to continue develop image of Ukraine. The global agency Reuters wrote that Ukraine has proved unjustified accusations of Western media.

Another English edition “Daily Mail” made an ironical conclusion of Euro-2012. Every Ukrainian host city was awarded according to different titles: Lviv turned to be the best city "where you can lead a spouse". City of Kharkiv was called city-antithesis - it won the nomination "Where to leave the mother-in-law." And especially for the Ukrainian national team coach Oleg Blokhin such nomination "What kind of coach to drink" was created "It is possible that you will have to pay for everything. Maybe he does not agree with what you say. But surely you won’t be bored " - noted the publication.

A French daily newspaper “Le Figaro” began to study "movu" (language). At least its article on the completion of an international career of Ukrainian football player Andriy Shevchenko journalists titled "Do pobachennya Chevtchenko!"

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Koktebel: Sun-kissed Beach Resort on Black Sea

Koktebel: Sun-kissed Beach Resort on Black Sea

Fantasy, fairy tale, magic land. Welcome to "the Land of Blue Alps", - Koktebel translates this way from Turkish. A translation that rings like poetry for a place that is nothing less than sublime. Kocktebel Resort is considered to be the pearl of Crimea. The powerful forces of nature have over millions of years sculpted the mountain ranges, which surround the village from all sides into some truly spectacular scenery. Koktebel is worth a visit for many reasons - as a site of amazing natural splendour, for its literary connections, as the site of many of Russia's first heavier than air flying experiments, and as the location of the largest nudist beach in the whole of the former Soviet Union. The majestic massif Karadag (black mountain), raising above the sea, is a beautiful corner of Crimea with fabulous rocks, pristine nature not disturbed by civilization, with "Golden Gates", the symbol of South-Eastern Crimea and unique bays.On the other side of Kocktebel bay the Silent Bight ("Tikhaya Bukhta") and the picturesque cape Hameleon are situated. Resort infrastructure is highly developed in Kocktebel. In Koktebel you have the opportunity to take to the the sky by motorised hang-glider, delta-plane, to take a ride on water skis or, if you want a more relaxing time to cruise on a comfortable yacht at a reasonable price or to enjoy the splendor of costal flora and fauna and to dive with the help of highly qualified trainers.

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Southern Ukraine Launches Development Projects With EU

Southern Ukraine Launches Development Projects With EU

 Kyiv, May 29, 2012. EU launched two development projects for southern Ukraine. They involve facilitating FDI increase to the Black Sea port Sevastopil and tourism development in Crimea. José Manuel Pinto Teixeira, Ambassador, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, presented both projects.

One of the projects - Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Promotion in Sevastopil - will be implemented in 2012-2014. Major project objective is to establish a fully operational Investment Promotion Agency, as the project aims at institutional strengthening and capacity building of the regional tourism industry. Moreover, experts involved in the initiative will prepare detailed business plans for select FDI projects.

FDI Promotion in Sevastopil also will identify investment success stories while helping Sevastopil create an image of an attractive investment destination. The project budget is estimated at EUR 1.9 million.

Sevastopil used to be an important naval citadel. These days the city is exploring its potential in other areas, besides military. José Manuel Pinto Teixeira noted that the interests of Sevastopil were no longer defined by the military as the city started a different life.

Another project launched by Teixeira was Crimean Tourism Diversification and Support in Yalta. The EUR 5 million endeavor will help improve local government efficiency in the field of tourism. Over the three years, dedicated to the project (2012-2014), the city of Yalta is set to diversify the range of tourist oriented services, improve their quality, and maintain sustainability of the industry. A team of Dutch, Irish, and Italian companies won the tender to implement the project.

“With its natural beauty and strategic location on the shores of the Black Sea, Crimea has a very big business and tourism potential. With some support from the EU, we hope to help the citizens of Crimea use and benefit from this potential to its fullest,” said Teixeira, reports the official Web site of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine.

José Manuel Pinto Teixeira also checked upon Promotion of Social Infrastructure Development in Crimeaproject, carried out in Ukraine since 2008. Ukraine received EUR 3.1 million in grants from the German government for the project, set to be completed in 2014. The German funding was used to renovate schools, kindergartens, rural cultural centers, roads, etc. Additionally, Teixeira visited the International Bakhchysarai Tourist Center, financed by the Czech Republic.

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Chersonesus Taurica

Chersonesus Taurica

Chersonesos Taurica (Khersones) is a city founded by Greek colonists, more than two and a half thousand years ago in south-western Crimea. At the moment, its ruins are among the most outstanding sights of Sevastopol. The word "Chersonese" is usually translated from Greek as "Peninsula". The city was actually located on a small peninsula between two bays. This city-state had a long life - nearly two thousand years - and its history is connected with the history of ancient Greece, Rome and Byzantium.

 The historical and archaeological reserve Chersonesos Taurica is known not only in Ukraine, but also far beyond. In 1996 the UNESCO included the Khersones in one hundred most outstanding monuments of world culture. City Chersonese was founded in the VI BC by Greek Doric settlers from the Pontic Heraclea - state, located on the southern shore of the Black Sea in Asia Minor, on the territory of contemporary Turkey. Museum-Reserve is very popular. Each year it is visited by tens of thousands of tourists. They are attracted by the collection of epigraphic monuments (including the world-famous oath of citizens in the Chersonese III. BC.), works of art, crafts and tools, household items, which were used by residents of Chersonese. Tourists can learn the territory of the ancient city: walk along the main street, wander through the once-vibrant residential neighborhoods and areas, and explore the ruins of the ancient theater, white marble columns of Chersonese.

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Summer season in Ukraine

Summer season in Ukraine

According to the travel agencies, the most economical way for summer holiday for Ukrainians is the Sea of Azov, where the cost of week-long holiday is about 1,400 UAH for one tourist. Meanwhile, the cost of holidays in the Crimea increases every year, which is especially noticeable at the rates of sanatoria and health resorts. Tourist has to pay 3,5-4,5 000 UAH to spend a week on the southern coast of Crimea.

According to the leaders of Ukrainian travel agencies, Crimea is popular among those who like it amazing nature and can’t bear flights. More and more Ukrainians are looking for possible ways for summer holidays abroad, where for the same money you can get much better service.

Despite of high prices, Turkish resorts are still in great demand because of the system “all inclusive”. Very often Ukrainians are choosing European resorts: Spain and Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia.

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Ukrainian market of tourist service

Ukrainian market of tourist service

In recent years the rest abroad has become available for the majority of Ukrainians. Only in the Ukrainian capital there are more than 700 tourist agencies specialized in the incoming tourism. Each of them searches new approaches, works out interesting routes to attract tourists. The market of tourist service in Ukraine doesn’t stop developing and together with this the prices are reducing.

Earlier the cost of the flight was equal to the cost of the rest. But when the carriers begin reducing prices, the rest has become available for tourists. Nowadays Ukrainians can find different proposals and choose the appropriated one on both quality and price.

Among the destinations which are in demand - Turkey and Bulgaria. The second group is such exotic countries asSri Lanka, Bali, Maldives. The determinants of the choice are price and reliability of the tourist agencies. Not the least of the factors is the quality of service, hotel’s reputation and the entertainment programs.

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Best gifts and brands from Ukraine

Best gifts and brands from Ukraine

Vodka Nemiroff 

The history of every product is a part of human activity’s history and nation as well. Among a variety of products made and used by mankind, vodka takes the special place if not say more. And though being the heritage of exceptionally Slavic nation, now vodka unites people with generous nature and no matter from what country they are.

Ukraine is a "world in miniature" for contemporary and for the creators of vodka traditions - the whole eternity. And although many nations such as Arabs, Swedes, Russians and Poles claim to be the birthplace of vodka, craftsmanship of Ukrainian distillers deserves special respect. Zaporizhska Sich skillfully owned the unique recipes of Ukrainian vodka tradition as long as XV century. Cossacks were famous for producing good drink from honey of wild bees and berry juice. In any case, efforts of the Cossacks the first Ukrainian vodka recipe was created.

Traditionally, real vodka is made from fragrant as a fresh slice of bread grains, crystal as a tear water, malt and yeast. This attribute that has ancient tradition is supplemented with Ukrainian secret: vodka is enriched with honey, rye crackers, spices, drawn on birch buds and hot red pepper. Therefore, such unforgettable flavor of vodka emphasizes exquisite moments of life.

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Ukraine invests in its future, having prepared for Euro-2012 - Yanukovych

According to an UNIAN correspondent, V. Yanukovych said this during the meeting with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon in Kyiv today.

V. Yanukovych said that for the present it is too early to speak about economic benefits, which Ukraine received during carrying out of the final part of the championship.

 “For the present it is possibly to say only one thing - it is investment in future”, - underlined the President, having noted that airports, stadiums, roads ect were reconstructed and built in Ukraine during the preparation for Euro-2012.

V. Yanukovych underlined that carrying out of Euro-2012  was an honour and responsibility for Ukraine. He expressed a confidence that fans, who arrived in Ukraine from all over the world, got not only positive emotions from the championship, but also saw that Ukraine is European state and well-wishing people live in Ukraine.

“It is main conclusion”, - underlined V. Yanukovych.

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