Upcoming blog formats

I try desperately to avoid 40-picture, 5000-word blog entry essays on this site.  I deeply appreciate all of you who read this and give us emotional support over here and thus I try not to slam you with too much at one shot.

Still, I want to share some interesting stuff that I saw and experienced this past week of traveling so I will do so with shorter 'postlets'.  A pic or 2 and a blurb about a small bit of the trip.

What job?

This magazine has been sitting on my bed stand for months and I had never noticed this tag on the cover for an article.

Who was the cover editor on that one?  There are so many ridiculously offensive (and some humorous) ways that could be interpreted that I'm not even going to start....  ok, I changed my mind.

You know those folks who think that AIDS was invented by the white man to destroy the [fill in the ethnic group of your choice]?  Doesn't this title seem like an article in white supremacist magazine related that alleged plot?

Well, that was mine.  Not really funny, but the clip just hit me so I had to throw it on here.

Oh by the way, here's the full cover.  In context it does makes sense... but still.

The Game

The Shakhtar game was great!  We jumped and screamed (only in Russian, of course) and sang and cheered on our team.  With the exception of the disappointment with the folks behind us - who were fairly unhappy with us wanting stand the whole match - the atmosphere was just what I wanted.

We have to go to to the train for my 3rd overnight train trip in as many days so I am just going to do a basic overview of the game and I handle the city of Donetsk later once I've sorted through the pics.

This is Olympic/Locomotiv Stadium in Central Donetsk.  We went in a little early to see if the security would let us in with our travbel pack.  There was almost no one there even 20 minutes before the game.

This guy was not only there early, but he'd also clearly put in some serious time preparing his blood alcohol level before he arrived.  He was sort of a cross between our section's official chant leader and a court jester.  A lot of poeple came over just to take pictures with him - most of which I think his pickled mind will be very surprised to see today.

This is the fans and Ultras section.  At the ticket booth there was literally a sign that showed the rules for those who wanted to sit near the Ultras.  There was to be no horns, silly hats or painted faces.  This is serious event for them and they couldn't risk being distracted by mere amatures.  They also state that if you don't know/sing the songs and chants, you are no longer welcome.  We saw one of their 'business cards' on the gate outside which said, "For you it's a game, for us it's life" - and I think meant it.  Aside from the violence that comes with Ultra culture, they were fantastic.  They were formerly greated by the PA announcer and were absolutely organized and jacked all game.  You may notice that the riot cops were perpetually between the fans and the pitch.

We were rocking our particular section and Jenya was one of the instigators of a lot of our chants.

After the game we got jammed on a trolly bus to get back to the train station for our departure and the fun atmosphere continued with the fellow occupants in great spirits.  We even sang a few songs in the bus, much to the consternation of the non-game passengers.

And of course we won.  2-0 is a good score line and Aaron's point that Spurs ignored this competition doesn't take away from my enjoyment of the game.  Our boys looked pretty good considering this was their first cometitive game in almost 2 months.  I look forward to being able to follow their UEFA Cup progress and the UPL as it restarts on TV from Kerch.

Kharkov

I just re-ordered these pictures and then realized that my memory wasn't right... the events protrayed did not occur in this order.

We got to look around Kharkov today and I really enjoyed it.  I don't have a ton of time since we leave for the train station for our 10:30 PM departure, so this will be very brief.  All pics are photoshoped by Sergey.

Graffitti on some wall.  AIDS awarness art.  Jenya does lectures on AIDS in schools so we thought we needed some shots with the wall.  

We are positioned to have wings... wings that were origianlly on flying condoms.  Very weird.

This is an anti-Yushenko/anti-American rally by the communists.  I did feel a bit uncomfortable was we walked around taking pictures with Sergey and Jenya speaking to me very loudly in English.  They had a donation box to send President Yushenko to the US - and it was pretty darn full!

Beautiful orthodox monestary downtown.  We got some good shots and ate tastey treats baked by the monks.

And what tour is complete without a pic of a huge Lenin statue.  It's not actually John Lennon but Sergey liked the idea that it could be.

On my way

By the time this posts, I will just be getting on the train for Kharkov.  

Jenya and I picked out our food stash for the train (obviously we need to eat at some point over the 12 hour ride) which I get to carry in my larger pack.  It consists mostly of cholesterol and 4 liters of kvas.  

Jenya's bringing a brand new copy of Phase 10 and I'm stocking up on football podcasts for the down time.

I think I should be able to post from Sergey's place in Kharkov and Sarah my take the time to post from Kerch too.  I'll try to share as much as I can about this little excursion while there and after I return.

Peas out!