Day 5: Another beautiful day weather-wise, and a busy one for us. Oleg was our guide again today and we first went to the Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site with churches, bell towers and caves dating back to 1051. This is easily the most popular tourist attraction in Kiev, and it was very crowded on this sunny Sunday. We strolled through the beautiful grounds and gardens, and donned head scarves to go into the somewhat claustrophobic caves...burial sites for ancient monks. In a park on the banks of the Dnipro River, we next visited the Monument to the Founders of Kiev, a massive bronze sculpture of a boat bearing the three brothers who were the legendary founders of the city. Next was the Motherland Statue and the Great Patriotic War Memorial. The Motherland Statue is a massive stainless steel monument, at 335 feet it is taller than the Statue of Liberty and can be seen from great distances. The Patriotic War Memorial (and Museum) commemorate World War II, and there are beautiful bas-relief sculptures of war victims, soldiers and resistance members in the breezeway that leads to the foot of the statue. Finally, Oleg brought us to the outdoor Museum of Folk Architecture and Lifestyle, which again was swamped with visitors on this unusually warm fall day. More than 300 original buildings, some from as early as the 16th Century, have been transported here to represent country life in all the regions of Ukraine. Singers and entertainers in traditional costume are here, as well as craft and souvenir shops, and lots of ethnic food booths. It is a very interesting and photogenic place.
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