St. Sophia.

This week was hard. And people I mean HARD.

Our head teacher didn't plan anything for us to do today/this weekend because she just wanted us to relax. I don't know about the other girls, but I needed sooooomething to occupy me. So me + a few of the girls decided to get out and do stuff anyways. Afton told us her host mom was taking her to some cathedrals and we could join. Hail yeah.

The architecture here is so freaking amazing. All the buildings are my favorite color.

Statue of St. Michael (I think). He's a protector.

St. Sophia's cathedral. The number 1 attraction in Kiev. This is the only cathedral that was left standing during WWII.

Gorgeous. We went inside but we weren't allowed to take pictures. Take my word for it, it was incredible. They kept a ton of original stuff.

We were allowed to take pictures of this though....it's made of eggs.

Close up

Here's a window on the second floor of the cathedral. That's Queen Olga's cathedral out there

The Bell Tower. I love this thing. We climbed it.

So many flippin stairs. My thighs are TONED

And the view

Top of the Cathedral

Then Kylie really had to pee, so the two of us walk in and see this and bust up laughing. I wish I could say she was desperate enough to attempt it, but no, it was not so.

Then we got ice cream in the city square.  

It was a perfect day. 

Sometimes it's hard to remember where I am and what I'm doing when stuff is going crazy at home and I miss the crud out of people some days, but seriously. I just really love Ukraine. Even just riding the metro all the way into town by myself today was an adventure and getting to finally wear a wooly scarf + jacket today because of the divine fall weather here made me smile. I'm so grateful to be here.

So friends, I hope you all have a wonderful week. Each and every one of you. And remember this

And this

And this.

XOXOXO