It is Hot!!

Awake by 6 AM, up by 6:30, not much to do so I sorted through the digital photo album, renaming the multitude of foldrs so they will be sorted and stored chronologically. I also found photos to put in small photo albums for Nick’s and Dennis’ primary caretakers. We still hope to have Sasha find out some information for us – their daily schedules, usual and favorite foods, favorite caretakers (or those that favor them). We think we have identified one for Dennis: Katya. One woman seems to always be watching out for Nick, but we haven’t asked her name yet. No rush on the information, after all we don’t even go to court until Tuesday.

We definitely took it easy this morning and didn’t leave the apartment until noon. We walked over to the “University” Metro stop (I call it the Lenin stop, since his statue so prominently overshadows the large square nearby). We stopped at one of the tiny enclosed shops underground and shared a cherry-filled pastry. We took the Metro to the “Historical Museum” stop near Alec and Nadya’s church. We went first to the Kodak shop to have the digital photos I had chosen printed. Our clerk needed slight help from another to understand that we wanted two copies of each picture; otherwise she was very efficient, enhancing the photos and ordering them with lightening speed. We received a slip that said they would be ready at 13:45 (one hour), and paid the 68 grevna.

We walked around the nearby blocks and found an indoor market with multiple open shops side-by-side going up three stories. They had clothing for men, for women, for children – casual and nicer. We also wandered past/through shops with business supplies, shoes (of course), jewelry, a music store, a needlework shop, Ukrainian “artifacts” – just about everyting. We came out with only one additional lightweight shirt for each boy (made in Ukraine) and two more bottles of bubbles. As the heat wears on the clothes we already have seem heavier and heavier. Have you heard we are breaking 70-year-old records for heat? And it was hotter here than in Jakarta this week! We also each had an ice cream cone – a single dip of chocolate for me, double for John – and less expensive than McD’s. :)

Next we headed for the market Alec and Nadya had taken us to on Sunday. The Metro stop is at the top of the hill. You simply go down the hill and just past the Billa grocery store (yes, a chain) the market begins on the right. I think we walked nearly all of it this time. You can buy just about everything here – from food in bulk, to seeds and plants, adult and children’s clothing and shoes, all the baby supplies, cosmetics, the kitchen sink and toilet seats. Here we bought a plastic train for the boys (hoping to explain that we will ride on a train, and then on a plane), and a very light-weight polo for John (only $2). Did I mention it has been very hot? Bill and Susan heard it is supposed to continue through June 1st. We had no luck finding suitable dress shorts for John: nothing in dark blue. It’s hot!

That about finished us. We bought cold Cokes at the Billa, climbed the hill, picked up the photos at the Kodak shop, a small photo album at an underground shop (I already had one from home) and took the Metro back. We agreed weren’t all that hungry but as we came up to ground level we smelled hamburgers and suddenly the appetite awakened. The fast food stand also sold hot dogs, pizzas and something many people ordered but we didn’t recognize – something deep-fried. The burgers were tasty and hot. Then we walked home, changed into our coolest clothing, and although it was only 3:30 felt done in for the day.

We let the washing machine do a couple of loads for us. We weren’t inclined much of anything.

By 6:30 John was hungry, so we went to the Mandarin (the Ukrainian cafeteria by our nearest Metro stop). By then they had only enough kroshki for one, but I really wasn’t very hungry.

As far as the house in Iowa goes, only slight temporary steps have been made. When Becky talked to the foreman this week, the carpenter had already left for the Indianapolis 500 and wouldn’t be back until Tuesday.

We did act the tourists and take a couple of photos, and saved a couple of the boys for the weekend, too. Tomorrow is Sunday – hope to see Alec, Nadya and young Katya who speaks English so well. Worshiping with our Christian brothers and sisters will be the highlight of the weekend.