This morning I walked to find the Golden Gate, one of Kiev’s historic treasures. While it is gigantic, and by all means a very large structure, I did not find it to be nearly as interesting as the city’s other icons. It is big. Its a big gate. Do not be decieved, this is a big gate. But, on a scale of one to ten, I would say “skip it.”
Later in the day I sat for awhile in Mariinsky Park and wondered at why I am here in Ukraine, and what purpose I am serving by all of the travels I hope to complete in the coming weeks. I returned to my hostel the way I had come, passing the House With the Chimeras as I did. Just beyond the House I saw a group of people climbing the stairs which led from another public space. The indigenous people always know where to find food and so I decided to see where they were coming from. At the bottom of the stairs was an exhibit of Pysanka. Festivals bless an entire space.
Easter eggs are more important to the Easter tradition here in Ukraine than they are in the States. I can remember dying eggs with my sister, my mother and my grandmother as a child, and it seemed to me like quite a process at the time. It may have taken the better part of an afternoon to produce a dozen to 24 fragile beauties; some two toned, some even three. If you dip an egg two-thirds of the way in red and then two thirds the other way in blue, the middle third will be a runny, sticky mess.
In the park called Ivana Franka Square there were children playing and adults taking photographs among thousands of eggs; hung with ribbon, hung with string, strung together, clustered by color or individually. Each egg was the result of anywhere from one to ten hours of diligent design and vigilant, focused care. I do not know why, but each egg had a person’s name and telephone number attached to it. Perhaps the eggs are for sale or too precious to be donated to an exhibit like this one. When brought together and displayed in the summer sun, these eggs were a treat for the soul.
It was the kind of thing that only a human would enjoy. People who take great care in small things, take care in large things also. The Ukrainians are some of the most disciplined and careful people I have visited. It is a privilege to be here.
albaniacalling 