Memories

                                         Kiev Trivia

     We had many vodka drinks on this trip. We learned that vodka is often mixed with a fruit

liqueur. Many of them were very good.

      I happen to like borsch and I ate a lot of it on this trip, however, the very best was in a

Kiev cafeteria. It was hearty and superb. The worst was in the Moscow hotel.

Never give a Chinese a clock as it means death, Give a vase, or any other item instead.

 

      That year the Russian Orthodox Easter corresponded to May 1. Big festivities were

planned for the breaking of the fast. Walking into the restaurant on the sunny Sunday

morning we accepted a glass of wine and was greeted with Christos voskrese (Christ is

risen). We were unable to respond in Ukrainian. We were then directed to a nearby table

holding decorated hard-boiled eggs and paska. Paska is a special decorated bread which is

always torn and never cut. The breakfast buffet held special Easter fare. A local gal

translated much of the food for us. What a nice surprise!

     Later in the morning at the Lavra Monastery there were long lines of people with their

baskets of food waiting for it to be blessed by the priest.

    We learned about salo—a pig fat product that is served many ways. It is white in color

and reminded me of Crisco. Apparently it is popular in this part of the world although it did 

not  appeal to me in any form.

In Hong Kong it is good to know that taxis charge round-trip fare when using the tunnel 

under the harbor between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. They have to return to wherever 

they started and pay the tunnel toll again.


 In Russia it might be good to know that Kvass is similar to beer without the alcohol content 

and is made from fruit and berries. Mors is made from berry juice which has been diluted  

and fermented.