Prypiat (Припять) (3)
This place (assignment) for me was photograph-heaven. Urban decay is my thing. I agree that my 'heaven' coincides with the residents' hell. Yes, I am embarrassed about that. I didn't feel like a voyeur. But I was. People had lived and worked here. And had a life and then they had to leave, quickly. These pictures are cliched.
It was also wonderful to be so free somewhere that was potentially so dangerous (at the time this _was_ something to celebrate). So far away from the politically-correct molly-coddling bullshit that we are forced to endure in the UK. In England you can't even get to be next to the stones at Stonehenge.
It appeared that the town was designed without cars in mind. I imagine that in Soviet-era 1980s that people in this town were unlikely to be able to afford cars, and would also potentially not need them. This was a self-contained town for which all employment was at the nuclear plant 3km down the road. I imagine the town was designed around an integrated public transport system. This isn't nostalgia for Soviet-era Ukraine, it is pragmatism. Sort of. Maybe a little misplaced, but I hope that you know what I mean.
Being able to roam free here reminded me of doing the same at Chichen Itza in Mexico. Free. There, one of the pyramids was forbidden to climb, so in front of the steps was a simple barrier made of sticks that was respected. No need for anything else.
We did see a wild looking Alsatian-style dog. We all stayed well clear of it. Pretty much the only warnings we'd had were: stay away from animals, and stay on the paths.
Lunch, as you will see in the pictures, was included in the tour and was a wonderful Ukrainian three-course affair served in the "State Enterprise Agency of Information, International Co-operation and Development. Chernobyl Interinform Agency". This was a sort of admin building in which there was a restaurant with waitress service. The table / started was all laid out when we arrived. It was a lovely meal and very well organized.
It was a wonderful end to an incredible day.
The entrance hall of the sports centre.
It was also wonderful to be so free somewhere that was potentially so dangerous (at the time this _was_ something to celebrate). So far away from the politically-correct molly-coddling bullshit that we are forced to endure in the UK. In England you can't even get to be next to the stones at Stonehenge.
It appeared that the town was designed without cars in mind. I imagine that in Soviet-era 1980s that people in this town were unlikely to be able to afford cars, and would also potentially not need them. This was a self-contained town for which all employment was at the nuclear plant 3km down the road. I imagine the town was designed around an integrated public transport system. This isn't nostalgia for Soviet-era Ukraine, it is pragmatism. Sort of. Maybe a little misplaced, but I hope that you know what I mean.
Being able to roam free here reminded me of doing the same at Chichen Itza in Mexico. Free. There, one of the pyramids was forbidden to climb, so in front of the steps was a simple barrier made of sticks that was respected. No need for anything else.
We did see a wild looking Alsatian-style dog. We all stayed well clear of it. Pretty much the only warnings we'd had were: stay away from animals, and stay on the paths.
Lunch, as you will see in the pictures, was included in the tour and was a wonderful Ukrainian three-course affair served in the "State Enterprise Agency of Information, International Co-operation and Development. Chernobyl Interinform Agency". This was a sort of admin building in which there was a restaurant with waitress service. The table / started was all laid out when we arrived. It was a lovely meal and very well organized.
It was a wonderful end to an incredible day.
The entrance hall of the sports centre.Lecture theatre in the sports centre.
Athlete pictures in the sports hall.
The reading on the grass verge in the 'amusement park' is 10x the value in the air at the reactor site.
Transliterate and you get 'Restoran' = restaurant.
Swimming pool. Note the wave representation on the roof, and the beautiful window on the left.
The meal afterwards all laid out ready.
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