How it was last year

During last 3 years we practice to dedicate trip to certain topic. There were Super Stars Trip, X-files Trip. And the last one was Mysterious Ukraine. It’s not a secret that Ukrainian culture is rich in superstitions, believes, legends… In different corners of country there are secrets hidden in castles… From long time ago Ukrainians use talismans, different symbols. Mysterious personages are present
in celebrations, folklore, songs. That’s why Rotaractors had quite hard task from one side, but very interesting from the other one: in every city to connect the programme with mysterious aspects: to show castles, tell abound traditions and legends.

We hosted representatives of Mexico, Canada, Denmark, Poland, Russia, Armenia, Slovenia, Italy, Australia and Egypt. Thanks to Ukrainian Rotaractors they could discover real Ukraine with its high mountains and wide steppes, delicious varenyky and borsch, euphonious language and melodious poetry and song. And all this was provided by Rotaract clubs Kyiv-Centre, Kyiv, Kyiv-City, Cherkasy-Smile, Poltava, Kharkiv, Uzhgorod, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhya, Rivne, Simferopol and Sevastopol.

According to the tradition there were formed 2 groups (with 5 participants in both), every of which had their own rout. One of groups was welcomed in Kyiv, Cherkasy, Uzhgorod, Lviv, Rivne; and another one in Kyiv, Poltava, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhya, Simferopol and Sevastopol.

So, officially trip started in Kyiv with a home party, where every participant presented theirselves, their country and Rotaract club and regaled everybody with their traditional sweets. In response to this Kyivan Rotaractors cooked borsch, Kyiv chicken, nalysnyky (thin pancakes), uzvar (drink with dried fruits). And next morning everyone was ready to get new impressions in new cities.

RAC Poltava prepared for their guests trial that hardened them till the end of trip – zorbing. RAC Kharkiv created atmosphere of real detective story by organizing Mafia game. In addition participants came down on a ropeway, visited botanical gardens, dolphinarium. In Dnipropetrovsk our friends had an opportunity to check their endurance during cycling excursion around the city. In glorious Zaporizhya participants felt themselves as DJs. They had professional training from experienced DJ Oleksiy Miheev. In Simferopol they visited museums from times of Ottoman Empire, cave-city “Chufut-Cale”. And Sevastopol presented everyone sun, sea and beach, and of course unforgettable landscape of Balaklava.

Meantime the team of Western rout had absolutely another adventures. The first city for “Western United Alcoholic Awkward International Transcarpathian Ukrainian Mafia” (that’s how they called themselves) was Cherkasy with a atmosphere of cossacks epoch: Chygyryn, Subotiv… During excursions guests also got known about one of the brightest episodes of liberation war with soviet red army near Kholodny Yar. RAC Lviv shown all the beauty of their city, including underground part of it. In addition they were welcomed in Truskavets by local RC. In Uzhgorod Transcarpathian Mafia experienced excursion around the most interesting narrow streets of the city centre, degustation of Transcarpathian coffee and cake of famous confectioner who had studied in France and became the winner of plenty of competitions, mysterious legends of castle in Uzhgorod and swimming in vats with mineral water in Lumshory village. For the dinner – real bograch and rokot-krumpli. Moreover, this team used to be real TV-show stars. And finally – RAC Rivne who shown the castle in Lutsk and organized unforgettable parties.

And after all these routes all gathered in Kyiv again to exchange impressions, share emotions. However it was sad to realize that it was the last destination of this trip in spite of the fact that very interesting excursion with really mysterious and full of secrets stories about Kyiv were waiting. And just in Kyiv there was an opportunity to gather all together will other Rotaractors from Ukraine for the final party which was dedicated to Ivana Kupala fest. Because just this holiday saved traditions of Ukrainian pagans who hundreds of years ago celebrated Midsummer in the end of June. This celebration was followed with rituals connected with w

ater, fire, herbs and believes that all this would bring extra forces and energy. So our Rotaractors not just listened to all these traditions but took part in ceremonies as well: they twined flower tiaras, let them swim in the Dnipro river, jumped over the fire. We sang Ukrainian songs and danced Ukrainian dances (there was even training how to dance Ukrainian traditional dances).

But unfortunately, everything has its end. So our trip also had to be over. But we are sure that everyone will saved the brightest memories, the warmest feelings connected with Ukrainian Trip.
And we all will be looking forward to meet new friends and share our love to Ukraine with you! Maybe just YOU will be the participant of this year trip? ;)

But of course we can't describe all feelings and impressions from the trip. If you think Ukraine is just a country where the geographical centre of Europe is, the country with delicious cuisine, unique architecture, melodic songs, amazing nature, and hospitable people, it means that you know too little about Ukraine. And the only way to get to know it better is to try yourself in the Ukrainian Trip 2012!

If you would like to see some photos of Ukrainian Trip 2012 "Mysterious Ukraine", 2010 “The-X-files” and 2009 "SUPER STARS", please visit our Facebook group at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=54488398019&v=photos