Sat. March 20 - ARRIVED!!!

We arrived today without a glitch!!! All flights were on time and luggage made it!! Couldn't have asked for better luck!!! Dima picked us up at airport and we headed into Kiev. Got checked into out hotel - it's lovely and right in the heart of everything. Then we went with him to change out some money and to get a cell phone that will work here. By then it was about 3:30 so Dima said so long and Erica and I began exploring on foot. They have all these underground tunnels - so you never cross the street outside "on the street" - you cross streets underground - but it is a maze of tunnels w/ vendor everywhere down there - then there is an escalator that goes one more level down underground to a huge mall!! Imagine our surprise - we walked a lot of the stiffness and soreness out of our muscles from so much travel. Then we had an early dinner across the street from the hotel. It was a cafeteria. Bought some bottled water and diet cokes and headed back in for the night. Erica was out cold by about 6:30. We both are exhausted from all the travel, excitement and neither of us slept on the plane. But we wanted to hold out til early evening before giving in in hopes of being much better tomorrow. I'm going to be out cold too in just a few minutes!!!
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Tomorrow is a down day - we will go out and explore more. We didn't even have time today to unpack our cameras - so pictures tomorrow hopefully. I have wireless internet here in the hotel until I leave Wed. morning - but it is "sketchy" - comes and goes so I have to write fast!!

We are both very excited and amazed at all we have seen just this afternoon. The weather is nice - sunny and probably about low 40's - don't need a real heavy coat so that's good!

My appointment is Monday - will be glad to have that done. Won't see Dima again until then. He is wonderful - funny, friendly, very warm and incredibly helpful!

Hope to post tomorrow w/ pics! Forgive typos - I'm so tired my eyes can barely focus!