Soccer players, walruses, and amateur ornithologists busy themselves in Kyiv’s Hydro Park
In late January the editors told us to find out what Kyivans busy themselves with on weekends, Kyiv’s Hydro Park resort, the site of our field trip. We were in no mood for the outing, picturing ourselves, armed with a tape recorder and camera, wandering aimlessly among the homeless and stalls closed for the winter. Imagine our surprise when we saw a young couple of skiers heading in the same direction. On the island we joined a procession of people heading for the bridge.
Our first stop was a weightlifting ground. In the summertime, one has to wait in line to get a workout. It turned out that winter is no obstacle for the real bodybuilders. All you need to do to pump your biceps or triceps is wipe the snow off the weightlifting equipment and spread a cloth to lie on. In the makeshift canopied locker room half of all the lockers were occupied. People of all ages work out in the open-air gym. Oleksandr, 65, is an engineer at the Geophysics Institute and every weekend comes to the Hydro Park for two hours of active recreation. “I come here with a friend. He plays soccer, while I jog, then skate, and in the end I go to pump my muscles,” said the cheerful youngish man, and we just could not bring ourselves to call him a grandpa. He says the weightlifting ground stirs to life at eight in the morning and empties somewhere at nine in the evening. It is well lit in the evening and people come here in all kinds of weather.
Close by a youngster sporting a camouflage jacket was swinging, and his young father was walking a dog of a rare breed. Formerly Oleh would work out here, but this Sunday he came here just to get a breath of fresh air. Little Mykyta eagerly posed for a photo while his father was proudly telling us about how unique his dog is — a blue-eyed Siberian Husky named Athabaska. It is a very rare breed in Ukraine and even has had a monument built to it in New York. She has been brought to Kyiv from Moscow. The funny pup will soon grow to become the most enduring dog of the north and will defend its name at the spring dog show.
Soccer is played on a number of pitches simultaneously. One group kindly granted our newspaper the exclusive rights to take photos of the match. All matches are strictly timed. Digging deep into the snow with their soccer boots, the players sent quite accurate passes and scored goals worthy of a Reuters photo. It is worthwhile just to come and watch them play or join the game as part of your own team.
Sitting proudly on the ice- covered the river were traditional ice anglers. Those fishing for the big fish, roaches, usually gather in the middle of the river. Those fishing for smaller ruff jig their lures closer to the riverbank. They are usually accompanied by the so-called begging cats. We were introduced to a red Botsman [boatswain] the tomcat, who overweight from too many handouts, was idly waiting for the fish to bite. As soon as a fish showed from the hole, he started begging for it. Only the greediest fishermen can resist a cat begging on his hind paws. That is why Boatswain is always well fed and satisfied.
Having familiarized ourselves with the types of recreation in the part of the Hydro Park commonly referred to as “behind the bridge,” we headed to its other part, where one sees mostly retirees and skaters. The former sit on benches not far from the metro and chat. The latter head for the lakes deep into the island. This is where whole families come with little kids, toboggans, and the obligatory thermos bottles containing hot tea. On the way you can feed chickadees, for which purpose there are feeding racks along the way. A surprise awaits the most patient, since local chickadees eat from the hand, which pleases the little ones immensely. On the lake parents remember their childhood and help their children make a snowman. Their creations come in the most unexpected shapes.
Altruists, or rather the most zealous skating devotees, come to the lake before anyone else and clear the snow from the big circular lakes. Later in the day children, much like their mothers, learn to make their first steps on ice. Skating rinks of greater diameter are for the more experienced skaters. By the afternoon the lake is packed with skaters.
On our way back to the metro, we were overtaken by a group of runners sporting swimming trunks only. With a shudder we hurried along. Those were the so- called walruses from the Neptune Health Club. After jogging they gathered around an ice-hole. This was not a sight for the fainthearted, as people of all ages dived into the ice-cold Dnipro in search of good health. Nearby a group of nonmembers undressed and followed suit. Word has it that each year this type of physical conditioning is becoming more and more popular. Whole families come to the snow-covered beaches. Should you dare to do something as brave, the so-called veterans’ beach near the bridge is at your disposal.
After dinnertime the air smells of smoke and shish-kebab, which lures sportsmen and other locals. The short winter day draws to a close and the Hydro Park turns into a favorite haunt for those who prefer stronger drinks than lemon tea. Unless you want to see the nightlife of the island, which is always the same, time of year notwithstanding, it is time to return home.
SEVERAL USEFUL TIPS
If you have decided on an outing to the Hydro Park, remember to wear something warmer. Grab a thermos with hot tea. Do not be afraid to talk to people — you might learn many interesting things. For some reason winter makes people more genial and sociable. Try to go to the island in the first half of the day. After dinnertime your mood can be spoiled by the homeless, drunks, and beggars. And most importantly, forget about that televised concert in the afternoon. Enjoy nature and the weather, and a good mood for the next week at work is guaranteed.
