At our motel with no name, the gentlemen who manage the establishment are always present in the lobby area outside our room door. They lock and unlock the street gate for us after our daily comings and goings. The maid accepts 5 grivnah to clean our room (about 1 dollar) and though we have tried to give her more, she will not accept a tip. The rooms are swept out, as there does not appear to be a vacuum on the premises. Our 2-room suite is very comfortable and quite reasonable at $36 per night, with a small fridge, 2 TVs, a sofa that pulls out to accomodate the 3 girls, and a sitting area in the bedroom. Tomorrow we will attempt a BBQ on the back patio. The motel is one lot back from the water’s edge. We walk beside the sea wall during our daily excursions into town, and often get a drenching of sea spray. There is a medium-sized food store nearby that supplies our daily breakfast and snack foods. We eat a late lunch out, usually at the Hotel Berdyansk, which appears to be the only non-smoking restaurant in town with an English menu. Dinnertime finds us either munching left-overs or at one of the restaurants close to the motel. The people who run these establishments have come to know us and welcome us with a smile, and a babbling stream of Russian words…we say “Spi-cee-ba” (thank you) and sit down.
We have really enjoyed sampling the numerous simple salads on every menu…fresh veggies and chunks of chicken, meat or fruit and nuts, usually mixed with herbs and mayo. Jim has gone running a few times, and the daily long walks are helping to keep us from adding the pounds (maybe). (Sorry Heather…our exercise plan is under-utilized!) We have fallen prey to the daily habit of eating some nice torte with our afternoon tea, and the desserts abound. Ukraine offers some terrific candies and delicious sweets, and we willing to try all of them.
Our routine remains pretty constant. School in the morning, Kate & Taylor at the hotel and Elizabeth at the orphanage. Once we pick up Elizabeth, we have a late lunch, followed by some activity, a walk back to the hotel (usually stopping at a small outdoor arcade for a game) and then a snack and movie before turning in. Here are a couple of photos Elizabeth took at the zoo. She appears to have Jean's prowess with a camera!!
4 comments:
Nice pictures & appreciate the description of life there by the sea. We continue to pray for you-all.
Tim & Char
It seems like a quaint little seaside town. Sounds like the kind of place books are written about. "The Henry family in Czar Berdyansk's Court by the Sea" Ha Ha
Laura and Rob
Congratulations on going to court! We are thrilled for all of you. You seems at peace in your wait and your description of Berdyansk brings back fond memories...especially the desserts! We anxiously await your arrival home!
Blessings, blessings & more blessings!
The Schweickert's
Ahhh, reminds us of our time there. Such a different place.
We pray this waiting period goes by quickly.
Love,
Gary & Bev
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