Weekend in Ukraine

We hopped the border last Thursday night and spent the weekend in Kiev, Ukraine. It was a brisk 14 hour train ride overnight from Moscow to Kiev.

Here's the train station in Moscow.
And here are our cozy little cubbies that we slept in. We actually didn't sleep too bad minus the two wake up calls at 4 and 6 AM when we crossed the border and had to do a passport check. They flash the lights to wake everyone up as 2 or 3 KGB's start prowling up and down the aisles asking for passports.

Each of those little cubbies is a bed. The train was packed so we ended up sleeping in very close quarters with random Russians and Ukrainians. The guy below us had a sweet 'stache and matching body odor, and would randomly pop up and ask us what we knew about the Civil War. He was appropriately nicknamed 'General Lee.'

Here's a view of the Lavra from the train.

Just a friendly reminder to refrain from urinating on the bus.

Two words. Cree. Pa.
Some beautiful churches in Kiev.

We got to go inside this church and it was very interesting. The churches are incredible inside-- huge frescoes, murals, and ornate decorations everywhere. But they're very dark and somber with very morbid depictions of the Savior on the cross. There's a very eerie spirit inside these churches. It was very refreshing going from these to the temple on Saturday. It made us really appreciate the Spirit of our churches and especially the temple.

I love the babushka in the background.

Souvenir street.

Sorry the video is sideways.

Well there ya go!