Beauty and the Beast

Well, Wednesday was Independence Day in Ukraine.  Twenty years since they broke away from the USSR.  So, yeah, it was a big day.  And, it wasn't.  While it wasn't the greatest weather Wednesday, it wasn't bad either.  Yet the crowds at events in Kiev, at least those events that have made TV so far, were small and subdued.

But you can't always believe what you see on TV.  So I guess it was time to hit the streets.  See it with my own eyes.  Hit the main street of Kiev and Ukraine, Khreshatyk.

In the past, Independence Day would often start with a parade of military hardware.  But why celebrate your independence with a military parade reminiscent of the country you gained your independence from?  They skipped that this year.  Good Move!  Instead it was an all day long street festival.  Much better.