Our last day in Kiev was a very good day. Very cultural from beginning to end. The day started out as a lazy morning packing up our room at hotel Oselya. This hotel is one of the best little family run establishments in Kiev, if not anywhere. The lazy morning was good because the jet lag seemed to catch up to Nate and he felt sick all morning. We thing it was dehydration. 
Once we checked out, we were able to leave our bags there for the rest of the day and went to the friendliest metro stop/bus stop in Kiev, Druzhbi Narodiv, to meet an old friend from Nate's mission, Natasha Luchina. Or just Luchina if you ask Nate. More on that later. Once Luchina and her friend Natasha showed up we were off to see the National Ukrainian Cultural Museum and Historic Village.
On the way out to the village, we had some time to catch up and get to know each other. Luchina is still a strong member of the church and is very excited about the new temple. Only two more months! Natalie found out that Luchina's first name is really Natasha, but that her friends started calling her by her last name because half of the girls are named Natasha. And that Italy has some strong ideas about immigration as the other Natasha, who just got off her mission in Kiev and is originally from Kharkov, is not allowed to return home to her family in Italy.
After we spent a lovely afternoon at the historic festival learning more about Ukraine, eating ice cream, trying bliney, drinking carbonated water and observing lots of interesting people - Luchina invited us back to her apartment for some homemade pizza. It was delicious! Lives in a typical high rise apartment building in a very small (by our standards) 3 room apartment that she shares with her 5 year old son and a roommate. Her son is spending two months with his grandparents during his school break. She said it is good for him to get a break from the big city. We had good conversation and good food. We also had a traditional Ukranian dessert served with sour cream and sugar on top!
We were sad to leave, but we needed to go get our bags and head to the train station. We said our goodbyes and Nate vowed to visit in another 15 years!
We made our way around via city bus all day and finally arrived at the train station to wait for our overnight train to Kharkiv. We watched a drunk guy fall asleep all over two people who were sitting next to him and finally a cop came and asked him for his ticket and then asked him to leave when he couldn't find one! Apparently drunk guys sleeping in the train station is frowned upon. Who knew?
Now we are sitting in our own private sleeper compartment. We paid the extra money for first class and it is definitely worth it! Our little room is nice and they even gave us cookies. We have had trouble going to sleep the last couple nights, but I think we will sleep well tonight as the motion of the train lulls us to sleep.
Tomorrow morning we meet some more friends who will take us to church with them in the branch in Kharkiv and then back to dinner at their house. People are very generous and friendly here once you get to know them.
Overall, we had a wonderful time in Kiev. The highlights were our awesome hotel and the time spent with Luchina and Natasha. Oh, and the Coca Cola Light! The lowlights were the humidity and dealing with fierce jet lag/exhaustion.
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Location:On a train between Kiev and Kharkov
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