Kyiv is one of the largest and loveliest cities in Europe. Quiet, smooth as glass, flow of a wide Dnipro River, high hills covered with varied vegetation with fine view of the plains on the left bank, streets with their wide pavements in which it is pleasant to walk along in the shade of chestnut-trees, lindens, and maples - all that makes Kyiv a pleasant place to live at. We begin our small trip on the Kreshchatyk Street. It is the central street of the city of Kyiv. It crosses the Starokyivsky and Pechersk administrative parts of the city connecting European and Bessarab Squares.

It is a boulevard with plenty of chestnut trees which blossom in spring makes Khreshchatyk really special. The Independence Square is great with its beautiful park. Its circled part ends with five streets which are like sun lights go to the different parts off to the Upper Town.

The dominant of the Upper town is Sophiyivska Square. On this Square there is a monastery, which is an ancient residence of the Kyivan metropolites. From afar, the golden cupola of Bell Tower is seen. The Cathedral appears in the UNECKO list of protection of the most valuable monuments of architecture in the world.

In the center of the Sophiyivska square we see a monument to Bogdan Khmelnytsky. Then we can see the Mykhaylivska Square with the reconstructed Bell Tower and golden dome St. Michael's Cathedral, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the monument to Princess Olga. The Cathedral with its famous mosaics is an outstanding monument of ancient Russian culture.

We go down to Andriyivsky Uzviz that was the shortest way from the Upper city to Podil. It is called Kyiv's Monmartre. If you go there on any day of the year, regardless of weather, you will see quite a few artists showing their pictures, hung on the walls and fences, applied- and decorative-art artists displaying their wares right on the sidewalk or on little stands - rings, brooches, necklaces, embroidered shirts, earthenware of most unusual shapes and forms, curious creations made of wood and other materials, to red banners sporting various slogans, uniforms, medals, coins and other paraphernalia of the defunct regime; also the Andreevskaya church - one of the brightest constructions of the Baroque style, which spread through the native architecture and art in the end of XVII-in the middle of XVIII century; the house number 13 where Mikhail Bulgakov lived, the author of "Master and Margaret" of the world fame; Original Castle of Richard of the Lion Heart. The center of the Podil is a wide Kontraktova Square where each of building is a monument. But we mention old buildings of the Kyiv-Mohylyanska Academy founded in 1632, the center of enlightenment of the Slavonic peoples. Not far away is a monument to the Ukrainian philosopher H.S.Skovoroda. The Church of Virgin Marie Pyrogoshchi is now restored. Kontractova Square was a particular place where the All - Russian fairs held every year, for which purpose Hostynny Dvir include 50 shops. It was now been renovated according to the original project. There are many notable places in the Podil worthy of mention. Among them is St. Flor's monastery; St. Elias' Church, St. Nicolas' Church Prytysko, St. Nicolas' Naberezna Church, pre- fire built mansions that are set under the new 1811 planning of streets.

And our small trip around the centre of Kiev takes an end on the Pochtowa Square and using the cable railway back to the Mikhajlovskaya Square.