Sorry fellas, this is a quick, no-pics update on my weekend (so far).

This last week was the week after final adult tests, so not a lot of work to be done, just finishing off the course with some fun and games, food and drink... I had my first taste of the (in)famous Ukrainian delicacy, salo, on Thursday, coupled with some khrin (like mustard, very hot), and it was really much better than its reputation suggests. Foreigners think it's just pure fat, but it's got quite a taste to it. Not amazing, hence the khrin, but nice nonetheless.

Friday found me off with an Upper-Intermediate group (not mine) in Baraban (The Drum, little pub, very popular with foreigners and locals, but without the horrible ex-pats - does a great English breakfast, best and cheapest I've found here yet). Baraban's a very small place but is open late, especially as we know the owner (our director was in a band with him, if you can believe that), and like I said, does good food in addition to good beer.

As the night wore on to around 2am, we headed off to Shato (wondering if it should be 'chateau', as in the French for 'castle'), a much bigger place on Khreschatyk, a short walk from Baraban. Although it's free entry and 24 hours (nice), the beer is a little steep: everyday Slavutych is semi-reasonable but their own special brew (in Silver, Gold and Platinum flavours) is 25 UAH for half a litre (nul pyat for short, meaning 'zero five'). Don't fancy downing too many of those ones. I might return there in future, though.

On Saturday I got up understandably late and skipped breakfast to go to a fascinating Caucasian restaurant on Khreschatik, based around a famous movie. My Ukrainian friend in our group knew it, of course, but I didn't. I really need to watch more Soviet films. So anyway, after looking at the funky decor (sorry, no pics) we had some excellent Caucasian cuisine (Caucasian being Georgian and Armenian, mainly). I had a kind of chicken kebab-like thing with onions which was awfully good, and although I wasn't going to go for a dessert (it's very expensive for Kyiv) I changed my mind when my good friend recommended pakhlava to me, and I just had to try it. It was awesome, a bit like an apple turnover or something, but cold and with something other than apples (Wikipedia says 'baklava' has nuts and honey, so that'll be it). Very nice indeed.

In the evening I attended the leaving party for an employee of one of our sister institutions. It was bowling at a place near the Vokzal called Ultramarine. It's similar to Bilshevyk as an all-in-one entertainment complex, though the bowling seemed a little bit steep to me, not to mention the drinks. After the previous night's exploits I wasn't really in the mood for a big night out, though, so I headed back early.

And that takes me to today. Derby v Man Utd is on later, and I'm not going to miss that: beer, crisps and the match at a friend's house (with a Man Utd fan for added spice). What will the next week bring? Who knows! Well, probably not much.