Planes trains and Automobiles

We made it to Kyiv! We're all in one piece! Okay, we're all in four pieces plus eight pieces of luggage, but who's counting. Our journey from our house to our two bedroom apartment just off Independence Square in downtown Kyiv took several modes of transportation. I think we hit every major mode but bike and boat. We rented a car to drive from VA to New York City. That involved mostly highway with a tunnel and a few bridges. I had completely forgotten that this weekend was the New York Marathon. Fortunately it didn't slow us down much. We got to the Verazanno Bridge about an hour after it reopened and the wait to cross was minimal. From the rental return to Airport required a train and moving walkways. Then, of course there's the plane. I highly reccomend Aerosvit Airlines to whomever has the opportunity. They took very good care of us. Then we took a van, more like a shuttle bus from the Borispol airport to the city. The most striking thing to me about Ukraine and Kyiv is how familiar everything seems to be. The people here are no different than any other person I might meet in any other city. Granted, I don't understand what they are saying, but they say it with friendly eyes and smiling faces. The landscape from the airport to the city looked very similar to parts of North Carolina, New Jersey,New York and Michigan. Don't get me wrong, the place is amazing. The St. Michael and St Sophia's Cathedrals are breathtaking. Independence Square gives of this amazing sense of history. And I was awestruck by the statue that greets visitors to the city. And I really didn't expect people with three eyes or tails. But i also didn't expect to feel so at home here. Kostya met us at the airport. He too is already like an old friend. Kyiv got it's first dusting of snow before we arrived. I think we may skip the soccer game tonight, just because it's a bit cold to be sitting in the stands for two hours. Our appointment is at two pm tomorrow, (Tuesday.) So by the time y'all are done with breakfast, we should have some news.