Circus!

Yesterday evening we took Gio to the circus, which is a big tradition in Kiev.  There is actually a building right in the center of town that holds one-ring circuses all year long.  The show last night was from Moscow.  From the moment we entered the building Gio was entranced.  We bought him the requisite cheap toy on the way in, two boxes of popcorn from a babushka near our seats and sat down for 3 hours of  fun.

Before the show started and at intermission the horses took willing children around the ring.  Gio preferred to watch...

...and eat popcorn.

It would not be Ukraine without some scantily-clad dancers.  The singing and dancing throughout the show was my least favorite part (think tacky American pop songs made even worse by singers who do not understand the words they are singing), but Gio was completely mesmerized.  Perhaps something to worry about?

These three men were the first of many acrobatic acts.  

Two clowns who performed throughout the show.  The man in the hat doubled also as the leopard tamer.  And the crazy-haired fellow will appear shortly in a ballet with a kangaroo.

A monkey act.  I know that animal acts in circuses are frowned upon these days in the US, but here in Eastern Europe the tradition is going strong.  

This was Paolo's favorite act of the night.  The man on top built an enormous tour of chairs and wine bottles in order to get high enough to change the light bulb in the chandelier.  

My photos do not capture how amazing this feat truly was!

A dog act.  These dogs were mostly obeying this woman but I secretly liked it when they were a bit naughty and ignored her commands.  The black dog just stood there and smelled the floor the entire time.  Even Enzo could have pulled that off!

This was incredible.  The young boy (maybe about 8 years old) was tossed up in the air from his father's feet where he did flips and spins.  He was flawless.  Loved also the Harley theme.

At intermission they set up a huge net around the sing for the leopard act.  

And here is the promised kangaroo ballet.  I could not help laughing at the antics though I felt sorry for the poor thing. 

Overall the circus was a big hit.  We will definitely go again when the next circus comes to town.