Sophia Park and Outdoor Museum of Pyrohovo

Arrival at Sophia Park in Uman, Ukraine

Fountain of Inspiration

Sister Vasil'eva and Marcia washing their faces in the water so they will be beautiful.

This is called the Mirror of Diana.  Behind the gate is a huge natural spring.

Marcia standing by Eros (cupid).  The whole park is based on Greek Mythology.  It was built by a rich Polishman for his beautiful wife, Sophia.

A lot of beautiful plants, trees and Greek statues.

View overlooking the small lake.  The number 216 in the grass indicates how old the park is.

Another area of the waterfall.

A terraced area with benches.  We ate our lunch here.

Another beautiful area of the park.

In the background is part of a home at one time and now it is a horticultural university.

A view of the upper lake.

Jay standing in front of a tree hit by lightening and burned inside.

Marcia in front of the same tree.

One of the thatched-roof houses at the outdoor museum of Ukranian life in the open.  Notice the thickness of the roof.

Inside one of the houses.  Can't be too tall to go through this door.

Woven, willow-branch fences.

Marcia in front of another little cottage.

A group of Kyiv school children on a field trip.  They are on the front porch of the school.  Right inside the door is a pot holding willow limbs for spanking.

Some of the many wooden windmills found throughout the village.

Jay in front of another house.  He was interested in the wagon at the left.

We're not sure what these straw figures are, but we think they were for playing some type of a game.

Close up of one of the windmills.  They reminded us of Holland

View from the windmills.

Marcia liked this house with the cute folk art above the windows.

It was a picturesque village.

Another cute house with a church in the background.

Interesting architecture.

Side view of the church above.  There was a group of English speaking people on a tour and we heard one of the ladies describe the color of the roof as "barf green".

Sightseeing April 30 and May 7, 2012

Marcia, Sister Vasil'ev, Sister Ball, Sister Galbraith as we leave to go sightseeing in the city on April 30, 2012.

Jay and Brother Callister anxious to get going.

As we were going down to the metro, Jay discovers his wallet has been stolen.  We headed home to get our bank cards cancelled.

Marcia seems happy, even though it had been a bad day.

We had a nice dinner at a nice hotel near the Temple the evening of April 30, 2012.  The Kyiv Mission President hosted it for the Senior Couple Missionaries in Kyiv and the Temple Missionaries.

After dinner we walked home and the Temple looked so beautiful with the trees in bloom.

We headed out again on May 7, 2012 to visit the botanical gardens.  Here you see Marcia with her cousin, Karlene Dance.

The lilacs were in bloom and it smelled wonderful.  Left to right:  Sister Hancock, Brother Hancock, Sister Callister, Marcia, Karlene, Sister Vasil'ev, Sister Ball and her two granddaughters, Natasha and Nicole.

There were a lot of people enjoying the beautiful lilacs.

Marcia found the best-looking guy there!

Karlene and Marcia

Jay and Marcia sitting on a branch of an old Sycamore tree.  This tree reminded them of Brigham City, Utah.

Beautiful lilacs and tree peonies.

Jay amid lilacs and a Cathedral in the background

Marcia and Jay enjoying a beautiful day.

Marcia standing under a beautiful, large horse chestnut tree.

Jay really liked this big, old tree.

Karlene, Brother Callister, Brother and Sister Vasil'ev, and Marcia.

A bell tower in the gardens.

Karlene and Marcia, again.

Three tired guys!!!!

Hungry and tired, we ended our day at a Russian Restaurant.  We were all happy to sit down and eat!