Heading to the West Coast and Italy!

This marks the last weekend in Kiev for us until January 8th.  I am off to visit Molly and Andrew on the West Coast late tomorrow night.  I am dreading the 11 hour flight in a middle seat in the back of the plane from Frankfurt to SFO, but I cannot wait to have some time with the twins and to celebrate their upcoming BIG birthday!  Meanwhile, Paolo will be flying with Gio to Italy where they will spend Christmas.  I will join them there on Dec 30th.  So, here are some shots of our weekend in Kiev.  The blog will be taking a brief vacation now but look for it again after the New Year.  Happy Holidays to all!  Clara

I love this cat sculpture. It seems to be a symbol of luck to rub its tail.

My favorite site in Kiev- the "Golden Triangle"

Another weekend afternoon spent at Wolonsky's Cafe.  Can you find Gio?

The city of Kiev takes snow clearing very seriously.  Masses of men and women have been out all weekend clearing every street and sidewalk.  DC could learn a thing or two here.

And no snowplows here!  Gio's favorite trucks are put into action to haul it all away.  We watched this operation for a long time today. Gio loved the "dirty snow dumping."

Kiev loves to display giant fake Christmas trees.  This one was put up by Milka chocolate.  Yum.

Every Sunday the main street of town is closed to traffic.  It seems that the entire city then turns out to stroll, window shop and cheer on the many street performers.

Here in the main square of town there were dozens and dozens of Santas today.  Gio was quite confused.

After witnessing how horrible the traffic is here during the week, it was quite a thrill to be able to stroll right down the middle of the street.  Not s speck of snow in sight.  Thanks, dump trucks!

No More Complaints about DC Traffic, Please.

Today it struck me just how horrible the traffic is here in Kiev.  I had thought coming here that the weather and the language barrier would be my biggest challenges.  After the chaos of the Delhi (think no rule-following, crazed motorcycles, rickshaws, beggars and cows all together on sub-par roads), I thought nothing could phase me.  However, these last few days have made me think again.  The roads here are nearly in constant gridlock. We are lucky to live right in the center of town, so I can really walk many places, including the grocery store and to at least 5 bakeries.  What else do I need?  Also, we are within minutes of a great playground and a metro stop.  However, when I have had to take a taxi this week, the ride has been endless and spent mostly in stopped traffic.  Two nights ago we took Gio to a Christmas party at Paolo's office.  While we spent over an hour at the party, I spent two hours in taxis traveling back and forth.  And a simple trip to the pediatrician today involved 2.5 hours in a taxi.  I must master the metro and rethink my choices of doctors, etc.  First priority will be location from now on!  How I miss our driver Johnson in Delhi- he thought nothing of driving the wrong way on roads just to get me somewhere quickly.  Not sure I have the backbone for such daring maneuvers, even with diplomatic plates!
Here are a few shots of the last few days, along with an all-access pass to our palatial bathroom in the final video clip....
Hope all of you in DC are enjoying your snow day.  Not to one-up-you, but it has been snowing heavily here since lunchtime. 

Children's Christmas Party at Paolo's office- Gio was frightened of the clown and stayed on the sidelines for quite a while...

Once the clown changed into Santa, Gio got braver.... 

And once Santa brought out a bag of presents, Gio was first in line!

Here he is carefully making his selections.

Every time we return to our apartment building, Gio insists on opening everyone's mailbox.  Since mail never seems to be delivered here, I do not see it as too much of a crime.

What to do when a taxi cab ride back from the doctor takes over 90 minutes?

The giant soccer stadium being built right in the middle of the city.  Imagine the traffic once it is finished?  The street scene in the foreground is gridlock...at 3pm.

A terrific toy store just 3 blocks from our house.  So tempting.... Paolo wishes I would be banned from the place.

The most dangerous job in Kiev.  This man is trying to direct traffic and is completely ignored by all.

And the promised video of our bathroom....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOUDSvbSE3k

Megamarket!

This afternoon we headed out to Megamarket, the giant grocery store a few blocks down the road.  First, though, we got distracted by this dump truck right outside of our front door!

Terrible picture (time to clean the lense, I think!) but shows the age of most of the trucks around here.  Just wish this was our moving truck instead....

Here we are at Megamarket.  There is a giant play area where parents can leave their children with babysitters while they shop.  I stayed with Gio this time because (1) it was his first time, and (2) I was feeling too lazy to lug groceries and a stroller back up the hill.

A giant bouncing area. Gio spent a solid hour here! See video link below of his antics with two "big boyzzz!"

Here is the giant structure in the play area.  It goes up three stories- I wanted to go in myself! 

Here is Gio doing some bouncy and attempting to make new friends.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgmL24iF3WA

Gio Meets his Match

This weekend we spent a lot of time at our playground (the sun was actually out!) and at our favorite cafe.  Gio even took a swim lesson at a beautiful hotel pool 5 minutes from our house.  Saturday night we went to a Christmas party hosted by a couple who have a 2 year old girl.  This girl took one look at Gio when we arrived and decided that he needed some of her tough love.  For the rest of the evening I had to intervene as Gio was punched, shoved, tackled and force fed by this adorable little girl.  At the end of the evening she planted a huge kiss on his lips.  Poor Gio was completely overwhelmed.  I afraid he may never want to go to a "paw-tee" again!
On a whining, grumpy note, we were eagerly awaiting our shipment that was due to arrive today.  However, we were told on Friday that ooops!  the shipping company made an error and actually the boat has not even landed in Odessa.  Now we are not expecting to get any of our things until mid-January.  I am still growling a bit about this...okay, a LOT.

Imagines from our weekend:

Off for a swim lesson....

...followed by a pony ride.

Gio has been admiring this "boo-wack" one for some time.

And then, for event #3 of the Kiev toddler triathalon....

....Sand pile excavation.

They went a bit overboard on filling the sandbox, no?

Here begins a typical face-off over a sand toy.  Guess who won this one?

At a Christmas party this weekend.  This little girl went after Gio with all her heart- punches, smacks, shoves, big kisses...

......true love.

Tight Man!

Today I joined a book group that is part of the International Women's Club here. Even though I had not read the book I still enjoyed the entire morning.  The choice this month was "Third Culture Kids" which was about expat children and how their nomadic lives can have a positive and negative effect.  Of course, this was interesting to all of us in the group as we are all mothers, though I am the only one with a toddler who is not yet grappling with school and social issues (well, except for trying to learn how to share!).  The women in the group were terrific: three Americans, four Swedes, a Russian, a Lithuanian and a Dutch woman.  One of my favorite parts of the morning was that I was greeted, with great enthusiasm, at the door by a boisterous Black Lab. Zeus is 8 years old and has so far lived in Ghana, Germany, Ukraine and is about to move to Moscow. A true "third culture" dog. 

Not much else to report today- a dank, rainy day.  Since we have no rainboots, umbrellas or raincoats yet we were stuck inside.  Gio spent a lot of time filling his dump truck with "rocks" (beans).  Paolo returns late tonight, and we are still very hopeful that our truck will arrive on Sunday.  We need toys!  Here are a few shots of Gio's new attire.  The cloud pants are his favorite.  I am not sure his body type is best displayed in this ensemble, but he certainly does not seem to care! Ah, the carefree days of youth.

Not sure what to say about this shot.

This pair has firetrucks and dump trucks all over.  So masculine, no?

A yogurt catastrophe at breakfast called for a change of outfit.  Here he is in his cloud tights, complete with helicopters.  He loves these!

Not sure "diaper butt" is such an attractive look, but it does provide good padding on these slippery floors.

Strolling in the 'hood

Paolo has been away for a few days again- back in Maldova.  Gio and I have been busy with trucks, bouncing, music class and toddler playgroups.  It has been almost balmy here the last few days so early evening outings with Gio have been bearable.  Yesterday we headed to our favorite cafe (the one with the children's play area, delicious smoothies, pastries and free wireless).  Today we walked to a huge department store in the center of the city to buy tights for Gio.  Yes, I said tights.  Most Ukrainian toddlers and young boys are dressed in these all winter.  They roam around inside only in these very thick tights and a top.  I now get the logic.  They are very easy to pull on and off and it makes it much easier to throw on snowpants (required for going out from November until April!).  I promise to post a picture of Gio modeling his new attire in the next few days.  I wonder if he will ever forgive me when he is older?  We did get a lot of laughs on the walk there and back as Gio insisted on bringing along one of his larger digger trucks.  That and the "shark" hat he was wearing seemed to make quite a few people smile.  I was happy to see these reactions as in general I find people to be quite sour looking on the sidewalks.  Perhaps it is the weather?  Or the dank, gray daylight?  I have found everyone to be very friendly once I interact with them  (with hand signals!), but most appear slightly unfriendly at first glance.

I pass this billboard on every trip home from the grocery store.  It strikes me as quite out of place.

These pedestrian street crossing countdown clocks are very important to obey.  Drivers are ruthless!

This is the park that divides our street.  I find it charming and will be great to have when we get a new dog this spring.  Many of our neighbors are out here with their dogs (off leash).  It seems a very friendly place.

There is a class of very wealthy Ukrainians here in Kiev.  Black Land Rovers are as common here as minivans in the US.  Here is a typical scene at the swanky salon across the street from our apartment- these two men are drivers/bodyguards.  I am still searching for a Supercuts, myself.

I think I just figured out that our mid-street park was an old trolley line- see the overhead cables?  These trees will be beautiful in the spring...if it ever comes.

Another shop across the street from us. Super expensive lingerie.  Another one to cross off my list.

The entrance to our alley. I should not have let Gio come out here with his crayons.

Somehow next week our giant shipping container will have to fit through that narrow archway, and then some poor moving men will have to carry everything up 4 flights of narrow stairs.  It will not be pretty.

The entrance to our apartment building.  Our Volvo will be parked in the space on the right...if it has survived the journey.

Gio and I headed out tonight for the tight-shopping expedition.  Whenever we need to cross a street in the center of town we have to go under. 

And under every intersection is an entire world of shops and masses of people.  Gio loves it.  The verdict is still out for me. One plus- it is warm down here!

Here's the little guy post tight-shopping.  The truck + shark hat earned us quite a few giggles.

Gio's TWO!

Dear Gio: We made it to your 2nd birthday! In some ways these last two years have gone by remarkably fast, in others (like your fussy first few months of life)  a bit less quickly.  In every way you have changed our lives for the better.  We love you so much, little fellow. Momma & Papa

Today we really did not celebrate Gio's birthday in full force as all of his gifts are still making there way here on our shipping container.  Also, he does not yet have any friends here so we really could not throw a party.  That is honestly quite a relief to me.  I think I will wait to throw him a birthday party until he actually asks for one and helps me plan it! Ha ha.  So you may see another post of a delayed celebration (any excuse to have another cake!) with some present opening.  A train set may be on its way!

Gio loves his bouncy castle.  Most of his toys tend to migrate in there during the day.

Today was extra fun as I blew up some balloons for him.

And a tooooo long video of his antics inside his bouncy castle today.  If you play it, be sure to have something else to do as I did not bother to edit.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMF52WFl0Nk

The cake- a gloppy mess of cream, raspberries and macaroon.  Apparently a simple sheet cake does not exist in Kiev. 

Gio was disappointed it was not chocolate....so was I.

But we ate it anyway!

The cake ceremony:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TcsGHut2NI