WEBVTT 00:00:17.200 --> 00:00:21.319 When I was a little girl, I often watched Russian children's films. 00:00:21.880 --> 00:00:24.999 The Stars in these films always seemed to go on exciting adventures 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:27.719 during their summer vacations. 00:00:28.520 --> 00:00:31.999 These memories from my youth are the reason that I feel 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:35.399 enormously attracted to countries from the former Soviet Union. 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:23.719 This summer we'll visit Ukraine 00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:26.399 a country about which we actually know very little. 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:29.479 In elementary school, I learned that Ukraine 00:01:29.720 --> 00:01:32.519 has been the breadbasket or Europe for many decades 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:36.439 Then there was the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl. 00:01:37.640 --> 00:01:40.679 The European football UEFA 2012 00:01:40.680 --> 00:01:44.239 recently attracted a lot of media attention. 00:01:44.880 --> 00:01:49.679 Journalists spoke about corruption and political abuse. 00:01:51.600 --> 00:01:53.719 We'll leave these problems to the journalists. 00:01:54.080 --> 00:01:56.159 Instead, we're going on a quest to find the beautiful sides of Ukraine. 00:01:56.600 --> 00:02:00.599 We'll go on an adventure like the stars of the children's films. 00:02:01.160 --> 00:02:04.159 For one balmy summer, we'll cycle past castles, 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:05.799 colourful little houses 00:02:06.160 --> 00:02:09.719 and yes... even a candy factory! 00:02:25.600 --> 00:02:29.079 Ukrainian cyclists help me to prepare the trip. 00:02:29.800 --> 00:02:34.638 Dasha, Igor and SIavik e-mail me great tips, 00:02:34.838 --> 00:02:37.738 not to be found in any guidebooks. 00:02:37.838 --> 00:02:40.738 We'll visit them when we're in Ukraine. 00:04:04.320 --> 00:04:05.759 Where we going? 00:04:05.760 --> 00:04:07.479 Bila Serkva. 00:05:18.279 --> 00:05:19.439 I don't speak Ukrainian 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:21.559 No Ukrainian? Are you speak English? 00:05:21.560 --> 00:05:22.919 No I don't speak Russian. 00:05:23.200 --> 00:05:25.239 The official language is Ukrainian 00:05:25.520 --> 00:05:27.639 but a lot of Ukrainian also speak Russian 00:05:27.800 --> 00:05:30.399 and some regions use it daily. 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:33.479 Other foreign languages are rarely spoken 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:36.879 Writing and reading is in the Cyrillic alphabet. 00:05:37.520 --> 00:05:41.159 Everyday things like ordering food is therefore sometimes quite complicated 00:05:41.880 --> 00:05:43.959 but food is very important for cyclists 00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:46.439 so we quickly learned the names of delicious things. 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:50.119 Besides learning a new language, we also learned many new dishes. 00:06:17.539 --> 00:06:21.639 ukr. печеня (pechenya)* rus.* жаркое (zharkoe)* surzhyk* жарке (zharke) - hotpot, roast meat 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:25.139 борщ зі сметаною borshch - red beet soup with meat and sour cream 00:06:26.939 --> 00:06:30.139 Банош Banosh - Polenta, cornmeal porridge 00:06:30.539 --> 00:06:33.439 Гречана каша Hrechana kasha - buckwheat porridge 00:06:34.539 --> 00:06:37.539 Салат Salat 00:06:37.639 --> 00:06:40.639 Вареники Varenyky - Dumpling 00:06:40.739 --> 00:06:43.639 Сало Salo - Pig fat bar food 00:06:44.739 --> 00:06:47.739 Таранка Taranka - Dried fish bar food 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:50.919 The Ukrainians rarely refuse vodka or beer. 00:06:51.720 --> 00:06:54.119 Fortunately there is also a popular soda. 00:06:56.279 --> 00:06:58.999 Kvas is a sweet-sour fermented drink 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:01.519 made from rye bread and dried fruits 00:07:01.720 --> 00:07:05.719 We simply love it - we drink at least one liter every day. 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:10.879 We also eat ice cream - every day! 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:12.799 The Ukrainians are crazy for ice cream 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:16.399 and even in the smallest villages you can find at least five types. 00:07:37.440 --> 00:07:39.599 One of the nicest things about travelling by bike 00:07:39.840 --> 00:07:41.559 is the chance to meet people along the roadside 00:07:42.120 --> 00:07:45.879 Ukrainians are very nice, if a bit reserved to begin with. 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:47.519 That changes quickly. 00:07:47.840 --> 00:07:50.479 In reality they love to chat. 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:53.039 The first question is mostly whether you are from Poland 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:57.119 It doesn't matter that we hardly speak Ukrainian or Russian, 00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:59.799 a deluge of words and stories always follows. 00:08:53.760 --> 00:08:56.279 Bakota Monastry 00:09:22.360 --> 00:09:24.919 The bicycle is an important means of transport. 00:09:25.280 --> 00:09:27.519 Despite this, we see few bike tourists. 00:09:27.920 --> 00:09:31.439 We only meet a few Polish and Ukrainian bikers in the Carpathians 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:34.079 the mountain region f Ukraine. 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:37.319 The roads are mostly quiet 00:09:37.559 --> 00:09:39.999 The quality of the road surface is often mediocre 00:09:41.160 --> 00:09:43.199 but this road beats all the others 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:45.799 through a river.... upstream! 00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:52.399 This morning we thought the road was very beautiful 00:09:56.559 --> 00:09:58.479 but not anymore; not on a bicycle. 00:09:58.760 --> 00:10:01.558 We have to carry our luggage separately, back and forth. 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:04.999 But hey, this is bike touring. Isn't it? 00:10:06.280 --> 00:10:07.919 Is this bike touring? 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:11.039 I think it's more like dragging the bike behind you, 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:45.199 If you're travelling by bike, you never know where you'll sleep at night. 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:51.919 Tonight we arrived 24:00 at Kolomya 00:10:52.400 --> 00:10:55.799 We didn't feel like searching for a hotel in the pitch dark. 00:10:55.920 --> 00:11:00.678 But luckily Ukraine has train stations with rooms. 00:11:03.720 --> 00:11:06.599 Campsites don't exist, except occasionally in the Carpathians. 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:08.919 This means that we often camp wild, 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:11.599 in the most beautiful spots. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:14.479 Fortunately even the smallest villages have shops 00:11:15.520 --> 00:11:17.599 and even plenty of water for a take-away shower. 00:11:32.960 --> 00:11:35.759 In 2007 there is a national survey 00:11:36.040 --> 00:11:38.959 to choose the Seven Wonders of Ukraine 00:11:39.160 --> 00:11:41.719 They choose places like the Sofiyivsky park in Uman 00:11:41.920 --> 00:11:44.039 the castle of Kamayanets-Podilsky 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:45.479 and the Kotyn fortress. 00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:48.279 Ukrainians love to be photographed in these spots, 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:49.879 on their wedding day, for example. 00:11:49.920 --> 00:11:52.719 These Ukrainian wonders are very nice but for us 00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:58.119 the everyday things along the road are the real highlights of Ukraine. 00:12:12.920 --> 00:12:14.639 This summer we discovered Ukraine, 00:12:14.880 --> 00:12:17.079 a country which we knew very little about. 00:12:17.559 --> 00:12:19.319 Like a child that discovers the world, 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:20.839 we are surprised about the things we discover. 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:22.159 What we discover is beautiful. 00:12:22.640 --> 00:12:25.919 Small colourful houses, naive Soviet art 00:12:26.400 --> 00:12:27.639 and ice cream - every day! 00:12:28.280 --> 00:12:30.558 Endless corn and sunflower-fields. 00:12:31.080 --> 00:12:32.039 Dense forests. 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:34.359 Nice people and good food. 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:37.279 Ukraine is a good cycling country! 00:12:44.400 --> 00:12:46.399 But didn't you also go to a candy factory? 00:12:46.520 --> 00:12:48.359 Yeah what about the candy factory? 00:12:49.080 --> 00:12:50.919 Oh yes, I nearly forgot. 00:12:52.520 --> 00:12:55.079 Vinnytsia is the town with the biggest candy factory 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:56.719 in all of the former Soviet Union. 00:12:57.679 --> 00:12:59.399 Roshen treats visitors not only to sweets 00:12:59.400 --> 00:13:02.919 but also to one of the largest water ballets In the world.