Pierre Thuilier, The Isle of Reunion , September 2009
Gratitude to the direction of the agency BA
Hello, BA manager Oksana,
I would like to thank you and your agency for the help which you brought us during our meeting, Irina and me, that it is for the accommodation and  for the organization with the assistance of Karina, our interpreter, very kind, patient and full of resources.
I would like to express my attitude to the professionalism of your agency and to the quality of services offered to make easier, to live up and to favor the holding of my visit.

  THUILIER Pierre

Arrival to Kiev. Accomodation. Ancient Kiev. You will immerse into the atmosohere of the 11^th century, the time of Yaroslav the Wise, the son of Prince Volodimir. You will see St. Sophia's Cathedral, a splendid specimen of the architecture of the 11^th century, which has survived during the tatar - mongol invasion and all following wars. Then to visit Golden Gates - the architectural monument of the 11th century mentioned in European chronicles, main gates to Kiev till the 17^th century.

Full day tour. Visit to the National Kiev - Pechersk Caves' Monastery Historical and Cultural Reserve. The Monastery was set up in the mid 11 century AD. It is one of the most ancient monasteries on the territory of Eastern Slavonic states. During the tour you will see undeground labyrinths of caves with mummies of monks, Museum of Treasure displaying the rich Scythian Gold collection and collection of the Judaic ritual silver objects 18th-19th centuries, Museum of Microminiature. The reserve is situated on the picturesque hills and from sightseeing place of Bell Tower you will have opportunity to delight the view over the Gold-Doomed monastery complex and marvelous banks of Dnipro river.
The museum of the Second World War (1973). The complex combines the Museum building and the Motherland statue ( 62 meters high ), gallery of sculpture expositions, commemorating the heroes of the battlefields and real front, the Glory Cup ( 16 m diameter), and the exhibition of the arms from the World War 2 time.

Excursion to Pirogovo, Folk Architecture and Life Museum. A national museum, which preserved the culture of Ukrainian people, is located in the suburbs of town Pirogovo. Three hundred ancient rural huts, collected from all over Ukraine can be seen in Pirogovo. The majority of them were moved to the museum and then reconstracted. Huts, wooden churches, water and wind mills, also clothes, kitchen utensils dating back to the period of 17^th beginning of the 20^th century give to every visitor a realistic impression of the travel time.
Evening in the city. Mariynskiy Palace, Pecherskiy parks, residence of the President.

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The tour starts at Mykhailivska Square. You will enjoy amazing view of two golden - domed monastery complexes. St.Michael Golden Dome Cathedral is one of the most beautiful in Ukraine with richest history and tragic pages in the biography dating back to eerie Stalin's regime... The tour continues to St.Andrew's Church, a striking pieace of baroque architecture of 18^th cent. built according to the designs of well-known architect B.Rastrelli on the top of Vladimir's Hill. Andriivskyi Uzviz (Descent) that starts from St. Andrew's Church will impress you with its unique atmosphere. It is a short street meandering down through luxuriant vegetation of Vladimir's Hill to the picturesque Podil. Numerous art galleries and shops of folk and applied art make this romantic street the cultural center of Ukraine.

Full day tour. The Uman dendrology park "Sophievka" that belongs to the National Academy of Science of Ukraine is the real masterpiece of the world landscape architecture of the end of 18^th - the beginning of 19^th century. The park occupies the territory of 154,7 hectare in the outskirts of the ancient city of Uman which is in Cherkassi Region. This is a special model of the landscape water composition, land , architecture works and sculpture. The park was founded in 1796 by a wealthy polish baron Stanislav Potozkiy to honor his beautiful Greek wife Sophia. The park was given to her for her name day in May 1802. It was Sophia's idea to build up the park in the romantic style based on the Roman and Greek mythology. This real masterpiece, that during 200 years makes the visitors admire its beauty, was created within a short period of time. Amazing landscapes, exotic plants, antique sculptures, water reservoirs, cascades, fountains, stone grotto- all of these you can admire while visiting the "Sophievka" park.

Museum tour. (optional) Chernobil Catastrophy Museum. The display of the exhibition tells about the biggest radioecological disaster - a nuclear carastrophe on Chernobyl Nuclear Plant, liquidation and consequences of the disaster, about the post-chernobyl ecological situation in Ukraine.

More than 7000 exhibits are shown in 5 big halls: removed from the secret documents, maps, photos, private things, housekeeping things of rural life from Chernobyl region, Polissya. Many exhibits are exposed for the first time and they help to realize the planetary measures of Chernobyl's disaster, which must be the last caution about the global nuclear disarmament. The exposition is equipped with all modern technical audio/visual and inquiry facilities, also documentary films are shown.

Kyiv Russian Art Museum. Originally, mansion of Fedor Tereshenko, luxurious two-storied palazzo. He gathered a rich collection of paintings and bought high-class paintings by Russian artists. An art gallery was opened in the nationalized mansion in 1922 on the bases of Tereshechenko's collection and other other private collection. The Kiev Russian Art Museum is a real treasure that represents the most valuable items of Old Russian Iconography, works of Dmitry Levitsky, Vladimir Borovikovsky, Vasiliy Vereshchagin and other famous artists.

Walking along Khreshchatik Street up to Maidan Nezalezhnosti - the main city square which architectural ensemble combines the elements of the ancient city and the vanguard solution of modern designers.
Transfer to the airport 'Borispil'. Departure.