Speed is no substitute for style

Train travel in eastern Europe might not be fast, but for those who have time it remains one of the most rewarding travel experiences on the continent. Unlike train systems in western Europe which were built with efficiency and profit in mind, the whole system in the former socialist states was built with two far simpler goals: employ people…

Ukraine A-Z

A. Allo (алло). ‘ring…ring…алло! …MAma, privet!’ B. Beetroot and Borsch (Ukraine’s famous, tasty and much-loved contribution to global cuisine) C. Corruption (the thorn in Ukraine’s side) and Crimea (the diamond in Ukraine’s crown) D. Dnipro (the mighty river that brings life to Ukraine) and Devushki (the girls. There are lots of them and they are…

Mini Look Kiev

MiniLook Kiev from threeshot on Vimeo. Created by Efim Graboy & Daria Turetski Music: Adam Burns / Jez Burns – May Flowers “Because of our sentiments to the city and the incoming spring, we bring you a miniature day in a life of Kiev.” The Making: “We shot MiniLook Kiev with Canon 550D, during 5…

How to: use the metro in Kiev

Kiev’s metro (subway) system can be quite intimidating, especially if you’re new to Ukraine, don’t speak the local language and can’t read cyrillic. However, fear not because it is actually a very cheap, convenient, fast, safe and reliable way to travel around the city. First, you will need to find a station, then you will…

Follow the floor

There’s an interesting trend in Kiev of ‘floor advertising’. It is not uncommon to see yellow or white painted messages advertising business, taxis and even yoga classes! If you follow the cute little aeroplanes on Artema street, you’ll find your way to Aeropub – a charming little pub which sells good Guiness.

Moving Pictures from the USSR. Part 2

Here it is, part 2 of my brief and uneducated exploration of animation from the USSR. First up, we have Slow Bistro. The name is (I assume intentionally) ironic because the word ‘Bistro’ comes from the Russian word ‘bistra’ which means ‘quick’ …the video is amusingly abstract and it reminds me of so many Bearder…

Getting Gonta. By Alex Frishberg. Part 2

Getting Gonta is a story, written for bluetoyellow.com by Alex Frishberg. Based on a true story, Alex tells the tale of two Ukrainian friends who set off across the globe to rescue their beloved Gonta.  This is the second of part in a three part series. Read part 1 here. GETTING GONTA. PART 2 The voyage…

Picture perfect: Kyiv

Between 2003 and 2009 I went on a mission to visit every country in Europe. From Tampere in Finland to Athens in Greece, my mission took me through 49 different countries and two unrecognised territories. It was an inspirational journey through some of the best and the worst places in Europe and left me with a…

Moving Pictures of the USSR. Part 1

  I couldn’t work out the difference between a ‘cartoon’ and an ‘animation’ so I’ve settled for a literal description – moving pictures. I guess there is no difference, except the target audience, and that adults prefer to watch the formal ‘animations’ so they don’t sound childish… Anyway, I’m not going to babble on about…