To more snow!!!!  Okay- the first three inches were fine- but now we are pushing a foot and its not cute anymore.  Although Paul has seen some beautiful shots with his ‘photographic’ eye- churches covered in snow…buildings covered in snow…monuments covered in snow (are we sensing a theme here?)- so we ventured out to get the ‘priceless’ photo- and maybe some fuses for our adapters…which both blew on the first day.  We traveled down to Independence Square where we saw several weddings, numerous people dressed as rabbits (I didn’t want to know and didn’t ask!), the Kiev Christmas Tree and one of the famous traffic corners in Kiev- 12 total lanes, 3 in each direction- with no traffic light or stop sign. (Yes- we had the video rolling) We have realized why there are police standing at every major intersection…they are waiting for the accident so they can direct traffic around it!  The law seems to be simple – “Ye with the loudest horn and most guts goes first”- Of course we had to dive for cover when one of the drivers was forced up and across the sidewalk where we were standing!?!?!

We ventured into the “underground mall”- literally- one built beneath the city streets filled with high street shops- bought a map, Michael’s spoon, David’s shot glass and some Gelati.  Off the sides of the mall are corridors filled with 6x6 glass booths with a 1ft hole in the center.  You knock on the hole, point to what you want, a calculator with the price appears thru the hole, you stick your money in the hole and what you bought comes out.  I’m sure there is a very small person behind the hole- but you never see them?!?!  We managed to buy some batteries and an extension cord this way.  When we got home the extension cord didn’t work… I’m not sure the hole will take returns!

Did I mention real milk in cartons last time???  Well- I think we will go back to the bags- because the milk in cartons pours with a ‘plop’.  It was as thick as pudding and smelled like buttermilk. Ewwwwww!  I think it’s back to the market tomorrow.

I think our greatest observation yesterday was on fashion…or lack there of.  There appears to be some basic rules of dress that everyone follows.  1- Women must wear a coat with fur on it- at minimum, around the hood, preferably all over.  Color is irrelevant (and I really want to know where one lady found a lime green sable!).  2- Women must wear heeled boots- heel height is based on age.  Under 20- 5+ inches.  20-30- 4+ inches.  30-40- 3+ inches.  40-50- 2+ inches.  50+ -1 inch wedges.  3- Wear as much fashion as possible, even if it doesn’t match.  One young lady had cherry red 5in stiletto boots, grey skorts, cherry red belt, grey jacket, red beret, all under a pink fur coat….  Paul’s favorite was a young lady in black stiletto boots, black leather shorts, a puffy black sweater and a full length black fur coat. 4- Make-up- either you must have SO much on- that you look like a Drag Queen or you paint your face pasty white.  With these basic rules- it is easy to spot the foreigners!