Hi again from Gary;
After writing my last post about teaching your Russian wife to drive, I remembered something interesting about the drivers in Ukraine, specifically about drivers in Kiev, the capital city.
Kiev, while being one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe, has all the”trappings” of a modern metropolis including too many cars. So where do all of those cars drive and park? Well you’ve heard the story about where in the woods a bear does it’s business. And that’s where the cars in Kiev drive and park - - wherever they want to.
As you can see in this photo, drivers in Kiev are not about to waste a 25 foot wide sidewalk. And guess what that little blue and red circular sign is. “Yup”, a no parking sign. But hey, it’s a street sign, not a sidewalk sign.
The sidewalk is not a pedestrian’s “safe haven”. And neither is an intersection at signal change time. The watchword in this city is “pedestrian beware - - those bigger than you have the right of way”.
O,K., having said that, don’t get me wrong. Kiev is an amazing and beautiful city. It’s a vibrant city full of history, energy, and enough variety to satisfy anyone’s thirst for the unique and different. Go there. You’ll love it.
May you travel safely and happily,
Gary.
