Afternoon in Kyiv, Ukraine – Babi Yar

Menora Babi Yar

 Menorah in honor of Jews executed at Babi Yar 

Walking on the cobblestone, brick and, sometimes dirt and gravel, paths of this huge sprawling park located adjacent to Dorohozhychi metro stop, you would never guess that you are walking through a memorial to some of the worst atrocities of World War II.

Babi Yar, located in Kiev, Ukraine, was the site of a series of massacres by German forces in their war against the Soviet Union. In total it is estimated that between 100,00 and 150,000 people, of all ethnic groups were murdered here.  The most famous (or infamous) of these purges occured on Sept 29-30, 1941 when 33,771 Jews were executed in the ravine and buried in a mass grave.

Wooden Cross Babi Yar

The Syret’s concentration camp was also located here. The inmates at Syret’s were typically Soviet prisoners of war, Ukrainian nationalist and, of course, Jews.  These prisoners were forced to build funeral pyres to cremate the bodies of those executed at Babi Yar to cover-up what had happened.

Menorah Flowers

 Menorah Flowers

Entrance to Babi Yar

Monument to the Murdered Ones –  Babi Yar

 

DSC_9057

Monument to Romanian Victims at Babi Yar

DSC_9059

Babi Yar National Monument

DSC_9069

Cross to honor Ukrainian Poet : Olena Teliha and 620 Ukrainian                                               Nationalist killed at Babi Yar

DSC_9071

621 Ukrainian Nationalists were murdered at Babi Yar,                This cross was erected in their memory

DSC_9060 DSC_9075_panorama Wooden Cross Babi Yar 2

Jewish Memorial Plaque - Babi Yar

Jewish Memorial Plaque – Babi Yar

 

For Travel Tips, Links to help you plan  and more photos   click here :Travel with Steve
 To Schedule Portraits, Walking Camera Tours or Contact click here: Photography as Art  To see my portfolio of Fine Art Prints for Sale                      click here: Fine Art Prints

HAPPY TRAVELS!

Shot of the Day – Bald Mountain (Kiev, Ukraine)

Bald Mountain

                                                Bald Mountain Meadow

Lysa Hora (Ukrainian: Лиса Гора; Russian: Лысая гора ), commonly called Bald Mountain is a wild forest area located in the southeast corner of Kyiv, Ukraine..

In early mythology, like so many other “Bald Mountains”, it was a gathering place of witches..

In the late 1800’s the Russian army built a small fortress here, that would,later, be used for executions of convicted political prisoners. Other than several culverts, cut through the earthen walls, and underground water tanks, nothing remains. It is now part of a nature reserve and part of the Kiev Fortress museum.

Sunset on Bald Mountain

                                             Sunset on Bald Mountain

It is a wonderfully quiet and pretty place to escape the noise of the city.. easily reached by marshutka or metro and is just a short walk from Vasylkivska station.

Kyiv From Bald Mountain

                                    Kyiv Skyline from Bald Mountain

 Travel with Steve                    Photography as Art                         Fine Art Prints

HAPPY TRAVELS!

Shot of the Day – Metro Station Tetralna (Kyiv)

Early Morning Tetralna

 

Kyiv, Ukraine has 3 metro lines that cover most of the city.. At 2 UAH per ticket it is a very economical way to get around..and definitely the quickest. Of course, they are also very crowded, unless you want to brave the early morning hours.. This is the Tetralna station at 5:50 in the morning, completely devoid of people. That’s unusual because the metro systems averages 1.5 million people a day.

The Kreshatic stop and the Maidan stop are the only two I have actually been told by police that I couldn’t take pictures.

You can find a metro map here … Arsenalna station is one of the deepest in the world at almost 350 feet (105 meters).

Travel with Steve                       Photography as Art                     Fine Art Prints

HAPPY TRAVELS!

 

Shot of the Day – Buda Castle (Budapest)

Buda Castle Courtyard

Buda Castle sits at the southern tip of Castle Hill and begins what is commonly called the Castle District.. It looks down on the Chain Bridge and some of the best views of Budapest are from the paths that surround it.  It can be reached by walking one of the beautiful paths up the hill.. or the Castle Hill Funicular.. Either way, it is well worth the time to explore..

  Travel with Steve                   Photography as Art                 Prints for Sale

HAPPY TRAVELS!!

Shot of the Day – Ferry to Asia (Istanbul)

Ferry

The Asia Side of Istanbul is a thriving business district reached most easily by ferry. There is a metro line, as well, that can be faster but the ferry is more enjoyable, less crowded and the skyline views as you cross the Bosporus can be amazing…

The Asian side is mostly a commercial district, but the Bosporus coast does have mansions, a large open air market and a historical district. It’s well worth a look ..

 Travel with Steve              Photography as Art               Fine Art Prints

Happy Travels!

Shot of the Day – Krakow, Poland

 

Main  Square

                                     Town Hall Tower – Main Square, Krakow

Standing 70 meters tall, the stone and brick Town Hall Tower stands guard over the Cloth Hall in Krakow’s Main Market Square.  The tower is all that remains of Krakow’s Town Hall, which was demolished in 1820 to “open up” the square.  The observation deck at the top is open to visitors. I was told it offers awesome views of the city..Unfortunately, it was closed while I was there..

Travel with Steve                Photography as Art           My Prints for Sale

 

Shot of the Day – Kyiv, Ukraine

Old Stone BW

There are all kinds of things to shoot in the world.. Landmarks, landscapes, people, events.. But what makes me happiest, is just walking around looking for the extraordinary in the ordinary..

This building is in Kyiv, Ukraine.. not far from the Dnipro River.. Just an old brick building.. But just looking at it made me wonder. What went on behind those walls? What could this building tell us? How much of history has passed by these windows? And I am still curious …

By the way, as a bit of self promotion, which I don’t do very often, this print is available at Fine Art America , as are others.. Have a look around.. Prints make wonderful gifts!  Have to pay the bills somehow lol

Happy Travels!

Travel with Steve               Photography as Art               Fine Art America

Shot of the Day – House with Chimeras (Kyiv, Ukraine)

House of Chimera

Situated on Bankova Street, directly across from the Presidential Administration Building, is one of the most recognizable of Kyiv’s landmark buildings..The House with Chimeras.  It was designed and built in 1901-1902 by the architect Vladislav Gorodetsky.

He orginally intended to use the building as “upscale” apartments but financial problems caused him to lose the property as collateral on a defaulted loan.

Today, it is used as an official government building for meeting with official state visitors.

   Travel with Steve                                         Photography as Art

Happy Travels!

 

Shot of the Day – Reflections in a Dark Pool

Reflections of a Dark Pool

It is amazing some of the things you can find to shoot.. surreal and beautiful at night. This was a little park, I don’t know the name, in Barcelona. I was actually lost (or temporarily misplaced) and trying to get back to the hotel around midnight..Path looked familiar so I followed it to this scene.. and I am glad I did; Proof that there is a lot more to find than just landmarks and icons. Everywhere you may go, there are little gems hidden waiting to be discovered..  Search them out.. just happen upon them … get lost like I did.. and be ready.. You never know what is around the next corner

      Travel with Steve                           Photography as Art

Happy Travels !

 

Hotels – Best Price Guarantee?

Best Price Guarantee?  Really?

Almost all websites claim to have the best price.. How is that possible?  Is the best price on Booking.com necessarily better than the best price on Agoda? Or Expedia? Or Hotels.com?

There is really no way to compare. This is due to a couple of factors.  First, to compare the rate, your stay  would have to be on the exact same dates, in the exact same room, with the exact same amenities. You would have to book the room at the exact same time on the exact same date.  Cancellation policies, arrival and check-in times all have to be taken into account..  and still, the prices will be different.

Why?

It’s simple..websites get different rates depending on how many visitors they drive and how many bookings get made.

Still, there are ways to get good pricing on hotel stays.. My preferred website is Booking.com.. I always start there and check my prices.  Then off to Hotels.com and Agoda.. Next, I will check Expedia, Kayak, and Orbitz.

​I use those sites to pick 3 possibilities…and finally, I will go to the hotel’s website and check again.Sometimes, you will find that a hotel will offer a special deal not found on one of the travel sites..

A little patience and a little research will go a long way to helping you find the best price for your stay..

​I have added a few links to get you started…If you need help planning or want me to do a little research for you.. send me a message..  I will be happy to help

Now ..get out and explore!

Happy Travels!

  Travel with Steve                                           Photography as Art

 

WawelMaidan Overlookcropped-vatican-from-river.jpg