Hello, dear readers!
It looks like new mini sculptures appear in Kyiv faster than my little helper Sonia and I find them. We had a blessed sunny day recently, a nice chance to walk around downtown and search for the next mini-sculpture.
Kyiv Puzzle
I passed by this building a bunch of times. But the thing is that mini sculpture is so small that you can notice it only if you search for it. It could be right before my eyes many times but you know it, you walk, look around, talk on the phone, or look at your phone - and your mind is always busy. Meanwhile, one of the preconditions of our development and growth is ... when you're bored. 😉
It's been almost a year since "Kyiv Puzzle" mini-sculpture was introduced. This is the fortieth anniversary mini-sculpture of the "Shukai!" ("Search!") Project.Sonia spotted the puzzle on the wall and got curious.
Why puzzle?
What is it dedicated to?
Were puzzles invented in Kyiv?
Slow down a bit, my dear one, and let's start with the last question. Puzzles were invented by Londoner John Spilsbury, who was engaged in the production of geographical maps. He made a wooden map of the world for his students and sawed it into many irregularly shaped pieces. In geography lessons, students had to make a whole map from these pieces. It was around 1760.
But this particular puzzle is an allegory for all residents of Kyiv.
We were and are very different. But when the war started, we forgot about our differences. We all united and stood together.
According to the author of the project, Kyiv Puzzle is dedicated to all Kyivans and is a gift to all of them:
"Kyivans who relocated here from another city.
Kyivans who have lived here for generations.
Kyivans who used to live here.
Kyivans who have temporarily left the city.
Kyivans who will definitely return.
Kyivans who are about to be born.
Kyivans who defend the city, and to the Kyivans who died for it.
We remember, give our thanks, and bow."
The Help and Volunteering
Recently, I came agross the post published by @cardboard a couple of months ago. He is a creator of the well-known @tipu curation project and also the @reward.app. He generously announced that he is removing the 1% fee on this service to help Ukrainians withdraw funds from Hive.
This gave me the idea to create a post all payout from which will go to help our brave defenders. I withdrew regularly when the big war just started. In a few months, Ukrainian legislation has undergone changes to prevent the flow of money to Russia, the financing of terrorism etc. For a while, it was impossible to withdraw the crypt at all, and then various "methods" appeared, which required much more time, and the commission has significantly increased. So for me, it was easier to merely use the money I got paid as an employee.
Now this is a great idea to get some more funds, as requests always prevail over the available funds of mine.
BTW, do you know that it was an international Volunteer Recognition Day?🙏 I received a thankful message from a woman who got funds for repairing her house in Zaporizhzhia (damaged by russian bomb) in the fall of 2023. It became possible thanks to your donations to #NFTForPeace Project. It was so heardwarming that she remembered 💙💛
So what did volunteer on the Volunteer's Day? I spent the whole day assisting the combat unit with "logistics" and also helping to find some ammo for a friend and former colleague from Odesa who would go to a combat position after training very soon. It was my day off and I could donate some of my funds and free time, but cannot share more details, you know why.
In the third year of the war, the volunteers also make a puzzle. A huge helping network.
Nordic Therapy Gardens for Ukraine
There is so much to do! I would like to tell a few words about this other piece of puzzle. Mikael Colville-Andersen is a Danish urban planner and designer. He created the initiative to turn an abandoned plot of a "wild park" near the hospital for mental issues into a therapeutic garden for veterans.
They started with the cleaning days, and you know what - I was ghere among those 5 hundred Kyivans who joined! My skills in cleaning my mother's garden have become useful, LOL. We collected garbage, tree branches, sorted and sawed wood. It was an awesome, inspiring experience with a sublime atmosphere. No photos of mine, unfortunately, but here is the video from
I also found an extensive Mikael's interview to our "The Village" magazine where he says how is it living in Kyiv for last 6 months and explains the goals of his initiative.
You can help him to help us on the website: Nordic Therapy Gardens for Ukraine.
What to see nearby
As always, I want to give you more context about the location. I said we walked in downtown but these are Kyiv heals actually.
From the point where we are, there are many interesting tourist routes - for lovers of architecture, monuments, parks, bridges, theaters, and delicious food and drinks. This is a perfect location.
Pronya Prokopivna and Svyrid Holokhwastov.
Fifty meters from where we were is the most famous sculpture dedicated to the most famous Kyiv characters. The play and the film are named "Chasing Two Hares". A handsome bankrupt barber woos two girls at once - one is rich and unattractive one and the other is beautiful but poor. The final score, as you understand, 0:2 is not in favor of our playboy.
A stag beetle is sitting on the back of the Holokhwastov. There seems to be some spell about him, which is why he is so shiny.😇😁
St Andrew's Church from the other side of a hill. It is a favorite for many guests of the city.
And breathtaking views will follow you wherever you go...
