Without any plans, we decided to sleep in Sunday.  We got up in time to head out for lunch. (No Nanny, you did not wake us up!!)  In an attempt to be adventurous, we decided NOT to go to one of our standard haunts and headed to a new restaurant.  The waiter greeted us in Ukrainian- and when we asked for English service, he shook his head “No” and pointed to a table.  The menus were entirely in Ukrainian…with no pictures. Hmmmm…  Pam pulled out her shiny new translator and began laboriously hunting and pecking for the Cyrillic keys.  10 minutes later she had ID’d the Main Course and Dessert sections (just nothing in them).  The waiter came to the table, and we asked again if he could find someone who spoke English- he just smiled and answered in perfect English “Why? When I speak English?”  I guess he had decided to let us suffer for a few minutes…  He recommended the Borsch, Beef Stew and a Chicken dish.  None of us were up for Borsch yet, so we ordered the other dishes.  The chicken was amazing!!  We topped the meals off with ice cream that made Haggen Daas look like a cheap generic!

We decided to take the “Funicular”- or cable car, down to the lower city.  Excited, we pushed our way to the front car to get the best view.  What we got was 90 seconds of hills on both sides of us… not very thrilling.  Jake’s comment- “that’s it?”  We went strolling to the river and played in the snow.  All the paths were frozen solid, so it was like a mile long ice rink (not so fun going down the steps- where Pam almost wiped Paul out trying to stay upright!!)  Even in snow boots- Jake was able to get a running start and slide hip and knee down for a good 100 yards…squealing all the way!  Of course, when he couldn’t stop and landed face first into a snow drift, he was laughing even harder.  We walked to the WWII memorial and the Soviet Friendship Arch.  On our way back, we found a HUGE (in Ukrainian standards) grocery store where we picked up some more BAGGED milk, bread and cheese- to make some grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner.  But they had meat and fruit and lots of things we were looking for previously- so we know where to come once Monday brings a decision…  We rode the Funicular back to St Michaels- and took some beautiful photos of the snow covered, sunset behind the cathedral.  Unfortunately sun up to sun down is only about 8 hours- so it is dark by 4pm…Then went home to grilled cheese sandwiches and Uno…  we’ll see what tomorrow brings?!?!