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Driving toward the scenic Ivano-Frankivsk region, we notice that the baby storks are large enough to stand up in their nests. In this region we'll spend the remainder of our trip.
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The most striking sight in Kolomyya is the Pysanky Museum. Unfortunately photos are not allowed inside to protect the delicate old eggs on display. Next we go to the regional museum where we do take photos of the Hutsul area crafts on display.
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In Ivano-Frankivsk, we spend several days at the Auscoprut Hotel. This is an attractive bustling city with a rich culture and lots of shopping and restaurants. It's hard to tell which are more numerous -- newly built churches or banks.
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Extensive pedestrian malls and a series of central squares make for wonderful people watching.
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Note the young lady anxiously waiting for a date, who arrives late with flowers bought from the corner flower ladies. I missed the next photo op -- she kissed him on the cheek.
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Seen from a museum window, girls walk to their high school graduation ceremony. The museum of sacred art is in an old church. A short walk from there, modern artist Orest Kostiv has a show. He says he'd like to exhibit in America.
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The Church of the Holy Resurrection is undergoing renovation. One modern touch is the neon sign over the icon stand.
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Ivano-Frankivsk's open market is one of the best we've seen in Ukraine. When it comes to fresh-baked bread, it'll be difficult to find a Ukrainian city with a greater amount of bread for sale per capita. Browsing makes us hungry, so we stop at a very good restaurant, Shanson, and I have my favorite Ukrainian dessert.
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Our last stop is a visit with my cousin and family in Kalush, a small city that shows much economic growth and beautification since our last visit three years ago. The new central square, a new home going up, a pop concert for young people in the park.
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Outside of town, in the village Novitsya, is a new museum built in honor of local son, Stepan Bandera.
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Cousin Stepan's home, the family rooster (which wasn't killed by his curiosity), and daughter Olya with a young turkey.
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The very large outdoor market in Kalush is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. It's very well organized, making it easy to find anything you want or need.
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We're at the market for a special reason. Olya needs new dress shoes for her high school graduation. Her mother helps her choose. Next, she has her waist-long hair cut by Ihor, "the best hairdresser in town." The hair will be curled by another hairdresser shortly before the ceremony.
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The family is going to the graduation festivities which -- counting the dinner afterwards -- lasts a lasts at least 16 hours. The school director, teachers, and students march to the graduation assembly.
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Olha enters the hall leading boys who seem to be wearing new suits which they hope to grow into. Students pose for photos after the ceremony.
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Our trip is coming to a close, but won't be complete until we make a trip to the village to visit Aunt Stefka and other relatives. The drive on unpaved roads is scenic and fun; note the hand-stacked haystacks.
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We're going to miss everything. We'll miss the warm hospitality and delicious home cooking, and we'll miss the restaurants too.
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On our way to the airport in Lviv, we pass a field of commercially grown poppies. Air traffic is still very slow here, and the airport building hasn't changed since our last visit; however, there appears to be a new building going up next door.
Photos by Laurent and Linda Hodges, Monty Freeman, and Roger Nowadzky.