Weekend before last we went to a fall festival at the outdoor architectural museum named Pirogova. Pirogova is a display of the peasant houses, windmills, and wooden churches that made up the Ukrainian villages from the 16th and 17th centuries. It was founded in 1976 and also has items of peasant life such as furniture, crockery, clothes, and musical instruments. We went during a special celebration day, so there were a lot of people dressed in traditional clothing and some people playing traditional musical instruments. The open air museum is divided into time periods and territory. It was difficult for us to follow because all the signs are in Russian. It would be a really good tourist move for Ukraine to publish English pamphlets and put at least some signs in English. You can see from our photos that a lot of the homes were built from mud and straw and some wood. The rooms were small, but as time went on the houses became larger and larger. Just like America! There was also a chapel adorned with the brightly colored tops as all Ukrainian churches of old and new have. On the hillsides and at the entrance to the museum are the windmills from old, all the different types. These made for some great photos. There was an art fair going on as well and we were able to look at Ukrainian arts and crafts and we purchases our first eggs (Pysansky), the beautifully decorated hollowed out eggshells.
Windmill of Pirogova
A little village entrance - the rooms were open but we were not allowed to take photos. Ken had to duck to get into the rooms. Dirt floors, wooden furniture, many religious items on the walls.
Like a harpsichord - absolutely beautiful music. He allowed some people to come up and play. Note his traditional garb.
Mud and straw construction. Note the wooden beams - like a log house.
There are sunflowers everywhere. Also note the thatch roof behind. That was the most common form of roofing. Moss is growing on this one. Also, the roofs are mostly steep to keep the snow from accumulating and crushing.
An older wagon and a trough in the background.
This was a little newer home. It is bigger and has more of a stucco covering. The thatch roofs were still used. This one has a chimney for the oven and fireplace inside.
Entrance to the church
Note the ornate wood work around the door. Ukrainian architecture is often very simple with a touch of ornate. Inside the church the glass and art work was exceptionally elaborate, colorful, and covering every inch of space. No photos allowed.
The church from a distance.
Window design of the "newer" homes.
Thatch for roof making.
I just kept thinking of the time it took to construct this fence.
A mixture of new and old. I love how the windmills are elevated off the ground - like they are about to starting marching forth.
Traditional Ukrainian singers. Black, red, and white are traditional Ukrainian colors.
After the hustle and bustle of our week, it was really nice to spend a beautiful day relaxing. The flowers are still in bloom here, although we can feel the change in the air as fall is approaching. Cooler nights and brisk mornings. We are having to wear light jackets on our way to work. We have been so blessed with the weather since we have been here - enjoying even the two days of blustery wet weather we've had.
We'll be in touch again soon. Next I think I'll share about some of the food.
All our love,
Kim, Ken, and Angela
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