Since the monasteries in Kiev are real (place of worship), I couldn't take any photos there, plus I think it would be very difficult to capture them with stills. (At least I would need my "real" camera - wide angle plus good low light ability).
It took me a long time to actually find the caves... there are many museums in that area and as I have noted before, almost no one speaks English. So when I did finally stumble upon the caves, I only found an exit... and being tired, I went against my conscious and entered. I quickly found out that they have remained as they were when they were constructed: half a kilometer of underground passage-ways with no lights. (you are supposed to buy candles at the entrance and use them to see your way around). Luckily, I was prepared with my tiny $1 flashlight I bought in some flea market in Russia. So wondering around, the caves are filled with tombs, and other Russian orthodox "things"... and somewhere in the "center" of the caves was a "large" room in which an actual service was taking place. A couple of dozen people where praying, and everything was being illuminated by the candles they were holding... quite a sight. Finding my way out was a whole other challenge... with claustrophobia setting in at points... but alas... sunlight was finally found.
The other sight I found really interesting in Kiev was the "House with Chimeras".
It was designed by the architect Gorodetskiy in 1902 and is one of the most interesting "artistic" buildings I have ever seen. There are so many details to it... click on the photo and then on "All Sizes" above the photo to see more resolution, (click on "Original" to see even more) or view my other photos of the building with different angles and closer details. Elephants, frogs, snakes, goats... this building has everything! For more info about the house visit Kiev's tourist info site
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