Anyone been to Kiev?

I guess they don't grow fish in the polluted areas :confused:
Fish probably comes from more distant locations, somewhere from Russia, the Black Sea, etc.
 
Not really many food dishes on the menus in Kiev restaurants.

However, we visited a Babushka who has lived in the zone since the accident and she fed us a selection of food. One dish was actually fish. I didn't see how many eyes it had.

Borscht and dumplings - Katysha
37592843421_4f20c80894_k.jpg


Chernobyl canteen - tastier than it looks
37626674312_d31b4345c2_k.jpg
 
Going for 3rd time at new year's and my third Chernobyl trip :). Some tips..

- Spotykach is a really nice little restaurant
- Elephant spa near the square is a good cheap massage place, nothing dodgy!
- You can do not exactly legal tours of the underground bunkers in Kiev as well as the redirected river systems
- If you can afford it 2 days in Chernobyl is way better than one

But yeah let me know if you need any tips, the company I work for arranges tours in Chernobyl, we put together the Top Gear episode too.
 
- You can do not exactly legal tours of the underground bunkers in Kiev as well as the redirected river systems

I'm not massively interested in Chernobyl, it would be curious to see perhaps but I'm currently on immune system suppressants which I know mean I'm at much higher risk of skin cancer through sun exposure and I'd assume might mean that radiation exposure would pose a bigger risk to me than the average person while I take them.... however what you've posted there sounds interesting, do you have any links/further details? I'm not planning an imminent trip but it is a place I'd like to go to within the next year and something like that would be pretty cool to see :)
 
I'm not massively interested in Chernobyl, it would be curious to see perhaps but I'm currently on immune system suppressants which I know mean I'm at much higher risk of skin cancer through sun exposure and I'd assume might mean that radiation exposure would pose a bigger risk to me than the average person while I take them.... however what you've posted there sounds interesting, do you have any links/further details? I'm not planning an imminent trip but it is a place I'd like to go to within the next year and something like that would be pretty cool to see :)

It's not something we really advertise in public but if you email my work address I can give some info :) [email protected]
 
Just back from 3 days in Kiev and 4 days in The Zone. Was my 4th visit and probably my favourite so far. Missing it already and likely to be back next October. Group I go with visit March and October every year.

Radiation levels are mostly safe. There are areas that are higher than normal but nothing that is likely to hurt you long term. There are certain things (the claw, fireman clothing) that is still hot and shouldn't really be touched.

Kiev is a great place. Lots to do and see. Subway is an experience being the deepest in the world - the escalators are beasts!

Everything is dirt cheap, people are generally quite friendly if a little abrupt but that is their way and not meant to be taken personally. Ukraine society might not be the same as western europe but is not quite the oppressed hell hole our governments would have you believe. They are actually quite a civilised bunch of people who have unfortunately been shafted by whichever country as occupied them over the years.

Regarding the Zone visit, we had 3 long days - taking the 7.40am train with the work force from Slavutych to the reactors and then taking a bus to visit certain areas, eating in the canteen and then back home on the 8.40pm train. The last day we finish early as we have traditional Ukrainian meal in the evening. This tour was easily the most intense as visited many places - Duga, Reactor 5, Jupiter Factory, Summer Camp, Yannov Station. Plus hours and hours in and around Pripyat. Got the fly the Mavic pretty much where I wanted except Reactor 5 as it's actually privately owned. Flew through the spindles on the ferris wheel which was an achievement unlocked moment. Lots of footage to get through Climbed nearly to the top of Duga - didn't like the last ladder so chickened out.

It's a fantastic experience and would recommend it to anyone.

Duga
37609821756_93c90ed9d3_h.jpg


Swimming pool selfie :)
23806386548_17abbce848_k.jpg
Well done on flying the Mavic there. I was in the Zone end of September and was told they were revoking all Drone permission for a couple of months. I didn't have the balls to fly through the spokes of the Ferris Wheel, but I did some nifty flying around School 2.
 
Well done on flying the Mavic there. I was in the Zone end of September and was told they were revoking all Drone permission for a couple of months. I didn't have the balls to fly through the spokes of the Ferris Wheel, but I did some nifty flying around School 2.

There were 3 Mavic owners on this trip. Only place we absolutely couldn't fly around was Reactor 5. I snuck off on my tod for a quick blast round School No1 and the collapsed sections. Turned round and theres like 20 people from a different group watching and taking photos - no pressure :)

I didn't get a fly past of the square which was a shame - wanted to fly round Energetic and up to the hotel but weather was pants and had drunk a little too much Chocolate and Cherry Brandy ;)
 
There were 3 Mavic owners on this trip. Only place we absolutely couldn't fly around was Reactor 5. I snuck off on my tod for a quick blast round School No1 and the collapsed sections. Turned round and theres like 20 people from a different group watching and taking photos - no pressure :)

I didn't get a fly past of the square which was a shame - wanted to fly round Energetic and up to the hotel but weather was pants and had drunk a little too much Chocolate and Cherry Brandy ;)

Any reason they didn't let you fly around reactor 5? I've always found the guards there the most corrupt haha! I managed to get up on the roof of it during one visit, way to sketchy though.
 
Any reason they didn't let you fly around reactor 5? I've always found the guards there the most corrupt haha! I managed to get up on the roof of it during one visit, way to sketchy though.


It's privately owned so not really supposed to be there. Flew around the towers but was told to stay on the other side to the reactor. We went onto the roof but not up the outside ladder. Just were you can see Duga in the distance.
 
It's privately owned so not really supposed to be there. Flew around the towers but was told to stay on the other side to the reactor. We went onto the roof but not up the outside ladder. Just were you can see Duga in the distance.

Do you mean up by the crane? That's only as far as I got.
 
Do you mean up by the crane? That's only as far as I got.

Yes, think so. Where the concrete stanchions are exposed. There are ladders and probably some way to get into the core room properly but wasn't keen as I know it's a bit dicey up there. Good views though. R5 is stressful enough. It's a bit of a death trap imo.
 
Yeah it qs
Yes, think so. Where the concrete stanchions are exposed. There are ladders and probably some way to get into the core room properly but wasn't keen as I know it's a bit dicey up there. Good views though. R5 is stressful enough. It's a bit of a death trap imo.

Yeah it was probably the most dangerous spot I've been to in the exclusion zone, stupid in hindsight. I got into where the core would've been, but not the control room or anything like that.
 
Back
Top Bottom