There is a simple reason why I publish my April update on 10 May, my laptop broke while I was in Ukraine. Which was not entirely bad, as I donated it to be used for parts. Different things from the laptop can be repurposed, like the battery can be used to make a power bank for another laptop or phones. This kind of things are very useful on the frontline.
I will move this post to 30 April in a week or so, just to have it where it was supposed to be and where I can find it easy when I will look at it again.
I made a mid-month update, so I will focus in this post on the second part of the month. What I didn’t include in that update was the visit to see the Bakhmut. Faces of Genocide 1942|2022 exhibition, see it here. I also blogged about Easter in Ukraine, which was fantastic. In that post I talk about Saturday, Sunday, and Monday celebrations. I want to spend next Easter in Ukraine and hopefully it will be possible.
The decorations in Lviv were stunning, as always.
The pianist Olena Kogut was murdered by the russians in Sumy just hours before I went to see the ballet performance Solaris in Lviv. There was a minute of silence at the Opera for the victims, alongside the singing of the national anthem, and the message about what we should do in case of an air alert.
I also went to Madama Butterfly with a friend. It was very good. So far I’ve been to 6 performances at the Opera in Lviv and it was great every time.
In April I went to the restaurant with the other volunteers quite often. I tried Georgian food for the first time and I loved it. After that first time, I’ve went again a few other times. In April I’ve eaten out many times, either with the volunteers or with friends.
A friend and I went to the Field of Mars to pay our respects. We left flowers on different graves, such as a soldier from the 3rd Assault Brigade, a soldier from Azov, a soldier from the Intelligence Services. My friend was there for the first time and it was difficult for them due to their own family history. Even so, everyone who goes to Lviv should visit the cemetery at least once.
At the train station I saw this gorgeous organ, made out of russian missiles. I love how the Ukrainians are using things sent to kill them to create art.
The month ended with me ordering macarons for my husband. I am delighted with how these turned out and the customer service was perfect.
1. Flowers for the ladies at the camo netting. 2. Volya. 3. Normal sunny day, but there are soldiers on the streets. Picture taken at the camo netting place. 4. Volunteering with children traumatised by the war. 5. Mural of Mariupol. 6. Museum visit. 7. Taking Volya at camouflage netting. 8. Snowing in Lviv. 9. On the way home after volunteering at Domivka. 10. Camouflage netting. 11. Painting with the children traumatised by the war. 12. Dog walking at Domivka. 13. Solaris. 14. I sang the Ukrainian national anthem and rolled the net with another volunteer. It is an honour every time. 15. Volunteering, followed by dinner with other volunteers. 16. Buying a new Vyshyvanka, for Easter. 17. We had a very special dinner as volunteers, about 20 of us. This is the Opera, on my way back home. 18. Volya relaxing in the park after a trip to the vet. 19. Saturday before Easter. 20. Easter, a very special one. 21. Easter Monday, a lunch for the volunteers, a thank you from Lviv Volunteer Kitchen. 22. Volunteering included going to a shop near this gorgeous palace. 23. Georgian food with the team. 24. Air alert, showing russian “peace” and American weakness. I did camo nets with Volya and saw council workers painting the benches. 26. Painting with the children. 27. Volunteering at Domivka, cats and dog walking. In the evening I went to the Opera with a friend. 28. We went to pay our respects and leave some flowers at the Field of Mars. Eternal glory to the heroes. 29. Organ made of russian shells at Lviv Train Station. 30. These amazing macarons were a special order, a surprise for my husband.
I only read 1 book in April, as my laptop broke and I don’t like reading on the phone. Luckily a volunteering friend had a paper book that I could borrow.
I’m really glad your laptop breakage has an good (and eco!) outcome to it. So sad about the pianist! I love Madame Butterfly.
I think I’m all caught up on your posts now and I enjoyed them very much!
Sorry to hear that your laptop broke but that’s good that the parts can be repurposed by others. I love how the Russian missile parts have been repurposed to make that beautiful organ. It sounds like you had a very busy month with all your volunteer work. #project365
Sorry to hear about your laptop, Anca. And thank you for sharing so much of your time in Ukraine – like you, I’m in awe of the organ made from Russian missiles. Such a stunningly beautiful piece, particularly coming from something so destructive.
It astounds me how life carries on but it doesn’t carry on, I’m glad some use was made of your broken lap top.
How annoying that your laptop broke, but at least the parts could be put to good use. Love the building covered in easter decorations – very pretty. The Field of Mars looks beautiful too
Those Easter decorations are amazing!
Sounds like there have been some very emotional moments the last month. I’d never really thought about the arts continuing while the war goes on. Hopefully you get a replacement laptop sorted.
The arts continue, it is a way to escape, but also to deal with what is happening. I just didn’t have time to visit all the museums I wanted to, because of volunteering and my cat.
It’s great that your laptop could be recycled like that, far better than it ending up in the rubbish.
How amazing that those missiles have been turned from something destructive to something so wonderful. I think that sums up the spirit and strength of the people in Ukraine.
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Turning deadly things into pieces of art is indeed the spirit of Ukrainians. I received the comment, but they are moderated and are visible on the website after I aprove them. Thank you very much for the message.
That organ is amazing – and what was the Georgian food? (More importantly, what was the book?)
I do so much wish that this (and other) war was over
That dish is aubergines in walnut paste. It’s delicious and very filling, so that dish is better shared. The book, which I didn’t realise that I didn’t mention by name, was Bill Gates’s 2021 book on climate change.
That bunny with the flowers on the building is hilarious and so cute! I think the repurposing of the missile casings for the organ pipes is brilliant. I also find the memorial area called the Field of Mars interesting. I think of the Roman Field of Mars.
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The Field of Mars is named after the Roman god. It is an incredibly sad area. There is a dedicated area for the fallen soldiers of the russian invasion since 2014 within the cemetery and by March 2022 it was not enough, so the first tomb is of a soldier who died in March 2022. It grew so much in these last 3 years. But it is a military cemetery, not only for fallen soldiers from the Lviv region.
A Ukrainian friend showed a picture from April, when there were only a few tombs there. It’s incredibly sad.
How great that your broken laptop can be so useful. It sounds like you had such a great month (apart from the broken laptop of course).
That is truly awful about the pianist and it must have been emotional visiting the Field of Mars, it looks like such a beautiful place.
That is fantastic how the Ukrainians use things that were sent to kill them to make such amazing things like the organ!
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I was very happy that parts of my laptop will be used even after it broke. It would have ended at the tip otherwise.
That is profoundly sad about the pianist being killed shortly before the ballet. Does one ever get used to the death? I think not. The images you shared and your experiences are so beautiful and meaningful, Anca. And I’m sure your husband loved the beautiful macarons!
It was very sad for us, in the audience, but for the people on the stage and for those playing in the orchestra must have been many times more difficult. I imagine that some of them would have performed with her at some point in their careers.
He did love the macarons. I also got the ones for Easter from there. That dessert place is really special.