For those following the SPOT you will have seen us arrive at the Russian Border then turn back. Our Russian Visas start on the 15th June but we tried to get in early and hoped they would not notice the digit before the five. However, the Ukrainian border police spotted it and we got the big knock back! We decided then to go to the seaside on the Black Sea coast.
Our arrival at Kharkov was marked by being pulled over by the police. There was a car and 2 motorcycles. They approached us and shook our hands. It was a welcoming from our IPA colleagues and our excellent host Igor and his family. We were escorted by 2 police bikes and a police car to the police hotel. (Photos). Igor then took us to the IPA Office where we had some lovely local food and toasted away a full bottle of vodka…hic! We then had a tour of the city which boasts the biggest town square in Europe. In the square there are sculptures made of salt and the inevitable statue of Lenin. There are numerous churches and statues but the one which impressed was the 2nd World war memorial. This is a very tall figure with the eternal flame burning at its base. A very impressive and poignant memorial.
In the morning we were taken by blue light escort to the Russian Border. A very big thanks to the Police officers of Kharkov and especially to Igor, Tanya and Christina which made this a very memorable visit. Another big thanks to our good friend Valentyna who set up the meeting and who has been our Guardian Angel on our Ukrainian Tour.
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