|
|
||
|
|
||
|
Travel in Ukraine - Dnipropetrovsk
DNIPROPETROVSK click
here for pictures
Population: 1.2 Million
Formerly a closed city because of its strategic arms production, Dnipropetrovsk flourishes today as Ukraine's financal capital boasting more bankomats (ATMs) per square meter than anywhere else in the country. DP, as it is known by it's expat community, is one of the most important industrial centers of Ukraine. Aside from the heavy pollution common to most industrial cities of Ukraine, DP can be a very beautiful place to visit especially in late spring when the chestnut trees lining it's main street are in bloom.
History
The city was founded by Prince Hrygory Potyomkin in 1787 and was named
Yekaterinoslav in honour of Empress Catherine the Second. The foreign
architect Claude Yuerois and Russian architects Starov and Kozakov took
part in designing the city. In 1926 the city was renamed Dnipropetrovsk.
The city opened to foreigners in 1991.
Orientation
The itself city is split in half by Ukraine's main waterway, the Dniepr
River, with most of the action lying on the right bank of the river. Karl
Marx Ave. is the main street running north-south through the city's center.
Most everything you see or do will be located on this street or just a
short walk away. The center and busiest part of the city is Lenin square.
The main railway station and bus station are located at the northernmost
end of the street. The main post, telephone and telegraph offices are
on the right hand side of Karl Marx avenue, 3 blocks from Lenin Square
if you are walking towards the main train station. Telephones and exhange
booths are in abundance. You can purchase a phone card at the post office
to use on any public phone. These cards also work in other cities of Ukraine.
Places to See
Schevchnko park is the towns largest park, named in honor of Ukraine's most popular poet. The oldest building in Dnipropetrovsk, Potemkinsky Palace, can be found near the entrance. Although built as a residence for Prince Potemkin, the prince refused visited it. The Palace fell into despair after the death of Catherine II. The park also offers many entertainment activites including tennis courts, a go-cart track and several discos. Get there by taking the number 1 tram from the center up the hill and get off on the first stop after it has turned left onto .....
The Transfiguration Cathedral, near the tram stop for Shevckenko park, was founded in May, 1787 in a ceremony held by Catherine II during her journey to the south of Russia. Catherine II placed the first stone in the constuction of the cathedral. It is currently undergoing reconstruction.
A short walk through the park from the Transfiguartion Cathedral towards Karl Marx Ave. will take you to the Diorama. Inside is a 60 by 14 meter canvas that stretches 230 degrees and depicts the "Battle for the Dniper" - liberation of the city from the nazis. A foreground plan decorated with trenches and military warfare gives the exhibit a more realistic feel. Several examples of WWII militray aircraft and ground vehicles surround the exterior of the "Diorama."
Near the Diorama at 18 Karl Marx Ave., is the Dmitry Yavornytsky Historical Museum. The collection contains about 220,000 items, incl. archaeological finds, relics of the Zaporizhia Cossacks, old prints of the 16th-17th centuries, numismatic, heraldic, ethnographic items etc.
Komosomolky ostrov, an island connected by bridge to shevckenko park, is a popular place to visit esp in the summer months. There is a small amusement park, however outdated, for children including a ferris wheel and bumper cars. The many beaches that line the island are crowded in the summer by sunbathers and beach volleyball enthusiasts. Near the entrance to the island, across from the monument to Taras Shevchenko is a recently built church in honor of . . .
Monument to Y. L. Petrovsky stands in front of the Train Station at the end of Karl Marx and honors a factory worker and namesake of the city. The name of the city consists of two parts: 1) Dnipro - from the river Dnieper; and 2) Petrovsk - from the surname of this person.
Entertainment
The Circus holds regular performances mostly by traveling groups who stop by the city for weeks at a time. Entrance is 5 -15 UAH depending on the seat and its proxitimy to the center ring. The circus is located in the center of town near the main bridge.
Theaters
Dnipopetrovsk has several theaters that are worth visiting including the
Opera and Ballet (... Karl Marx Ave.) and theater Gorkovo just down and
across the street from the Opera as you travel towards the train station.
The theater of one actor, named "Krik", is a must see.
It is located a block off Karl Marx Ave. on Artyom St. Check in front
of the building for performance dates and times.
Discoteques are a popular form of entertainment for the cities youth and range from the average to upscale. Entrance fees in the cheaper venues will run about 5 - 7 UAH, while the nicer discos charge 30 UAH. Pilot an outdoor disco, located on Naberzhnaya in the Pobyeda 2 district, claims to be the largest in Ukraine with a capacity of 3000 people. Entrance fees here vary based on the performance, but average about 20 UAH. Shevchenko park boasts several outdoor discos that open in april and have modest 5 UAH entrance fees.
DP's brand new bowling alley boasts 12 lanes of cosmic fun. Get there on a weekday when rates are 3 times less than what they are on the weekend and lanes are more available. Here you pay by the hour, so bring your friends and split the bill. Because this is a "club," you'll have to pay an entrance fee of $1-2 dollars depending on the time of day. The bowling alley is located on Karl Marx Ave. across from park "Globy", next to the theater "Rodina."
A great way to meet other english speakers in the city is to visit the English movie club held every sunday at "dom uchyonik" on .... st. just off Karl Marx Ave. Visit their website for times and coming features.
Places to Eat/Drink Higher-End price per
meal - $15 (includes appetizer, main course, and beverage)
Melrose Place - If you miss home their menu promises to provide
what you've been craving. Complete with "crazy" waiters and
bar tenders that do magic tricks, this restaurant is a refreshing break
from the "traditional" service found in most other Ukrainian
eateries. Located on the corner of Karl Marx Ave. and Gagarina St.
Hutir - Traditional Ukrainian food in a traditional Ukrainian and unique setting. You can choose to have your meal in one of the mini houses on the property of the restaurant. Many are equipped with their own fireplace for use in the winter months. You'll definitely leave here with a good impression as the service and atmosphere is impeccable.
Kozatskaya - Also offers a wide selection of Ukrainian dishes among other nationalities. The borsht here is a must have served in a large bread bowl with "pampushkas" (garlic bread rolls) on the side. Because the borsht is a whopping 500 grams (1 lb) you might hold off on ordering anything else.
Places to Eat/Drink Low-End - $2-3
There are too many small cafes to list that dot the center of town, but they all carry primarily the same items on their menu. Most of these are by no means what one would consider a "family restaurant." In the evenings these cafes have a smoky atmosphere, loud music and cater to the drinking crowd. Apart from these, two unique places of interest include:
Vegetarian cafe - This cafe is run by a local group of Hary Krishnas,
and is situtated on their compond. Food here is inexpensive and excellent
tasting, a good escape from the traditional meat and potatoes fare.
McDonalds - There are five in town. McDonalds at "Ostrovskaya Ploshad," a short walk from the train station and a block away from Karl Marx Ave. is the closest to the center. Beware: Standing in line can be difficult and very frustrating at times.
Places to Stay
The hotel Zhovtnevy is located near Park Shevchenko on ......st.
Rates are reasonable and rooms are average.
Hotel Dnipropetrovsk on the right bank of the Dniper river behind
the circus offers better than average rooms which have undergone some
repair in the recent years. Rates here are about $15 a night.
Grand Hotel Ukraine - Built in classic Ukrainian style, this hotel is now DP's most luxurious and expensive place to spend a night. Located on the corner of Karl Marx Ave. and Karalenka St., across from the main department store in the center of town. Rates range from $150 for a single to $750 for the presidential suite.
Other Places of Interest
"Ocatvio", is an internet cafe at the corner of Gagarina
and Chekalova that offers 24hr internet access for a little less than
$1/hr. Usually from 11pm till morning the place is rented out by local
teenagers for playing games. Get there on tram "1" or any marshrootka
labeled "Gagarina" and get off on Chekalova st.
Evromarket is DP's best import grocery store where you can find a wide variety of western goods. The store has a regular supply of tabasco, worcestershire sauce, celery, iceberg lettuce, peanut butter, tortilla chips, and other products. To get there, travel south (uphill) towards the top of Karl Marx avenue until you reach Gagarina street. Most marshroutkas traveling along Karl Marx Ave. that say "Gagarina" will pass in front of the store.
DP has an English speaking club that meets once a week on wednsdays at 6:15 in room 58 on the second floor of the Gornaya Academia on the corner of Karl Marx and Gagarina streets. They often retreat to a local pub for a more informal setting after the club.
Getting around
The city center is accessible on foot. To get from one end of Karl Marx
avenue to the other, you may take either tram "1" or trolley-bus
"B"- about $0.07 a ride. An extensive network of marshrootkas(mini-van)
also traverse the city - about $0.18 a ride.
Getting There and Away
Train
DP has two railway stations. The main station is located at the northern
end of Karl Marx Ave. and is reachable by tramvay #1 or any marshroutka
labeled "vokzal." To reach the southern station, it is best
just to take a taxi and ask the driver for "yuzhny vokzal."
Trains leave the main station to practically any destination within Ukraine
in addition to Moscow and Minsk. Very few trains leave from the "yuzhny
vokzal" (southern station). You may also purchast tickets at the
main station for connecting trains to other regional destinations like
budapest, berlin, bratislava, etc. For quicker service use the service
center located inside the main building.
Bus
The main bus terminal is located a short walk from the main train station
on ... st. Walking away from the train station, turn down the street to
your right. You can find taxis and marshrootkas here that will take you
to nearby cities.
Air
DP has a small international terminal located on the outskirts of
town. Airlines that offer services to and from DP include Austrian Air
(all flights route through vienna), Aeroflot and Dniepr Avia. Ticket prices
for some popular destinations: Moscow $180 round-trip, Istanbul $182 (Dniepr
Avia). (Prices as of Dec. 2000)
Boat
The River port, built to look like a boat vessel is located at ....
Naberezhnaya St. During the summer boats depart from here for small cities
near Dnipropetrovsk that lie along the Dniepr River. Cruise ships traveling
the Dniepr also make stops here along their route.
Petrykivka
About 25 km outside the city of Dnipropetrovsk lies the small village
of Petrykivka. This village has a very rich history and is well known
for its artisans who make unique paintings on paper, wood and metal. In
addition to visiting the museum where samples of the artwork are exhibited,
visitors can observe the very delicate process of making these fine works
of art. There are several souvenir shops where visitors can purchase artwork
to take home with them.