Ukrainian tennis-players won Australian Open doubles on Friday, January 25, 2008. Alyona and Kateryna Bondarenko became the first siblings to win a Grand Slam event since Venus and Serena Williams in 2003. They defeated Azarenka, from Belarus, and Shahar Peer from Israel failing the first and leading in the other two sets: 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Ukrainian sisters' victory became a sensation in tennis world: they never ventured beyond the semifinals of any tennis event and Ukraine never won such a prestigious women's doubles championship. Alyona and Kateryna Bondarenko will share the prize of $400 thousand dollars.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Take a tram-restaurant in Vinnitsa
Tram-trolleybus department of Vinnitsa redesigned into a restaurant and brought into operation one of 14 trams which earlier were given to city for free by municipality of Zurich. The tram-restaurant is equipped with 4 tables, 25 chairs, music center and additional interior lighting.
"On the eve of new year we had an idea to redesign one of the Swiss trams into a tram-restaurant so that citizens and guests of Vinnitsa not only move around the city in a comfortable manner but also could enjoy the trip", the director of the department says.
Tram-restaurant will travel back and forth Vinnitsa only by advanced order. One hour rent costs 200 hryvnas (about $40 USD). Similar tram-restaurant runs around Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, for about a year.
"On the eve of new year we had an idea to redesign one of the Swiss trams into a tram-restaurant so that citizens and guests of Vinnitsa not only move around the city in a comfortable manner but also could enjoy the trip", the director of the department says.
Tram-restaurant will travel back and forth Vinnitsa only by advanced order. One hour rent costs 200 hryvnas (about $40 USD). Similar tram-restaurant runs around Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, for about a year.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Lard festival in Poltava
Lard festival was celebrated in Poltava on January 19, 2008. About 20 companies specialized in lard production organized tasting of best lard from smoked to steamed sorts.
In the beginning of the festival, Poltava mayor cut a roast pig and all people could taste it. The mayor said: "Poltava is not only the capital of Poltava Galushkas (dumplings), but the capital of Salo (lard) as well. First, in Poltava there is a pig-breeding research institute which is unique in Eastern Europe. Second, Poltava is the leader in producing and eating lard in Ukraine"
Scientists from Poltava pig-breeding research institute deny the dietitians' theory of lard harmfulness. They stated that lard contains arachidonic acid which belongs to unsaturated fat and is one of the indispensable acids for human organism. "Eating lard within measure is health-giving. According to folk medicine, lard cures toothache, joints pain, mastitis, eczema" –scientists said.
Together with lard selling there were a lot of contests during the festival. For example, five men should have some vodka with lard: the fastest is the winner. Also many folk groups entertained the public. The mayor promised that Lard Festival in Poltava will become traditional.
In the beginning of the festival, Poltava mayor cut a roast pig and all people could taste it. The mayor said: "Poltava is not only the capital of Poltava Galushkas (dumplings), but the capital of Salo (lard) as well. First, in Poltava there is a pig-breeding research institute which is unique in Eastern Europe. Second, Poltava is the leader in producing and eating lard in Ukraine"
Scientists from Poltava pig-breeding research institute deny the dietitians' theory of lard harmfulness. They stated that lard contains arachidonic acid which belongs to unsaturated fat and is one of the indispensable acids for human organism. "Eating lard within measure is health-giving. According to folk medicine, lard cures toothache, joints pain, mastitis, eczema" –scientists said.
Together with lard selling there were a lot of contests during the festival. For example, five men should have some vodka with lard: the fastest is the winner. Also many folk groups entertained the public. The mayor promised that Lard Festival in Poltava will become traditional.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Forest Museum in Volyn region
Museum of Forest is created in Volyn region. Tourists can see there various tools for woodworking used in the past. Some of the rarities are Austrian logging reference book issued 120 years ago in view of change to metric measure system, an old wooden sword for planting trees which was used in time when Volyn was on the territory of Poland and other interesting displays.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
One of the oldest palm in Europe began to blossom in Kiev Botanical Gardens
200-years old palm which is considered to be one of the oldest European palm broke into bloom in Kiev Botanical Gardens. The tree 27 meters high will blossom till the end of February, so all tourists have enough time to see this unique phenomenon of nature.
Ukrainian and foreign palm specialists say the palm in Kiev Botanical Gardens is really one of the oldest palms in Europe. It creates 12-16 flower-bearing stems one and a half meter long at a time. The flowers are about 3 millimeters in diameter and the quantity of flowers is about 5-7 thousands.
Ukrainian and foreign palm specialists say the palm in Kiev Botanical Gardens is really one of the oldest palms in Europe. It creates 12-16 flower-bearing stems one and a half meter long at a time. The flowers are about 3 millimeters in diameter and the quantity of flowers is about 5-7 thousands.
Monday, January 14, 2008
"Red Wine" festival in Mukachevo
Traditional wine festival was celebrated in Mukachevo within 3 days from 11th till 14th of January 2008. "Red Wine 2008" is thirteenth annual festival which is organized on the main square of Mukachevo before the old style New Year.
About 80 wine-makers from Transcarpathian region took part in the festival competition. A lot of local and foreign tourists could taste the variety of wines for free and buy bottles from 10 to 100 hrivnas (from $2 to 20 USD).
About 80 wine-makers from Transcarpathian region took part in the festival competition. A lot of local and foreign tourists could taste the variety of wines for free and buy bottles from 10 to 100 hrivnas (from $2 to 20 USD).
Friday, January 11, 2008
World famous Al Di Meola will take part in new Ukrainian festival "Our Christmas"
The first festival "Our Christmas" will take place in Kiev Sport Palace within two days (January 10-11, 2008). Many famous and unknown groups and performers from most of Ukraine regions will take part in the concert and Christmas Musical&Theatrical Show on Ice.
The highlight of the program is simultaneous performance of about 70-80 singers and musicians and participation of well-known around the world American guitarist Al Di Meola, who was charmed by Ukrainian folk musical instrument Pandora and Ukrainian Christmas songs Schedrivkas.
Festival organizer plan to turn the debut into an annual event. Next year "Our Christmas" will start with a gala-concert and continue with solo-concerts.
The highlight of the program is simultaneous performance of about 70-80 singers and musicians and participation of well-known around the world American guitarist Al Di Meola, who was charmed by Ukrainian folk musical instrument Pandora and Ukrainian Christmas songs Schedrivkas.
Festival organizer plan to turn the debut into an annual event. Next year "Our Christmas" will start with a gala-concert and continue with solo-concerts.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Speleologists started on a discovery expedition to Odessa Catacombs
Odessa speleologists will spend 5 days underground in catacombs which are considered to be the most extensive and most twisted in the world. The task of the team is to explore the labyrinths and map the dangerous zones for rescue activities and construction works. For three days speleologists explored only 20 kilometers which is the hundredth part of the underground labyrinths.
Millions years ago here was the seabed, so this limestone (shell rock) territory was mined out in XIX century to quarry stone for building the city. Almost all buildings in the central city from Deribasovskaya Street to Privoz are built from limestone quarried underground, so Odessa is called the "Inside-Out City". The problem is that limestone gets wet, it is pressed down and Odessa might go down into the Black See some day.
Millions years ago here was the seabed, so this limestone (shell rock) territory was mined out in XIX century to quarry stone for building the city. Almost all buildings in the central city from Deribasovskaya Street to Privoz are built from limestone quarried underground, so Odessa is called the "Inside-Out City". The problem is that limestone gets wet, it is pressed down and Odessa might go down into the Black See some day.
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