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Full Photo Album: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAV3yj
It was time for me to tag along on Hymie and Mark’s next mission, to Kharkiv, which Mark had insisted I visit. This time, we had the pleasure of having Anastasia join our team. Her camera skills and fluency in Ukrainian were invaluable assets. I hoped she would also be able to reunite with her father who was serving near the front. This brave soldier had been fighting in Bakhmut for the last few months, where his platoon suffered heavy casualties.
Our rendezvous point was the Wog Dog in Kyiv, where Hymie and Mark awaited us in Hymie’s trusty crowdfunded van turned humanitarian aid vehicle. Their faces betrayed excitement at the prospect of having Anastasia accompany us on this adventure. Everyone loves Anastasia, and if you ever met her, I bet you would, too.
One thing that struck me about Ukraine was the courtesy of its drivers. From stopping for pedestrians in bustling Kyiv to the considerate truck drivers on the highways, it starkly contrasted the often chaotic roads and streets back home in the US and New York City. The well-maintained route from Kyiv to Kharkiv made the journey even more pleasant.
Poltava was the only major stop on our way. It is about 4 hours from Kyiv and 2 hours from Kharkiv, making it a convenient midpoint stop.
Mark and Hymie had completed several missions already by the time I joined them and had spent a few weeks together without a break. I could sense a hint of weariness in their interactions. I could empathize, having been on many film trips where annoyance with your travel and workmates can set in after just a few days.
However, their unwavering dedication to making things work and their ability to complement each other despite their personality differences was genuinely admirable. The abiding friendship between a British art expert from London and a U.S. Marine from Arizona epitomizes the unique bonds that volunteers can forge in a place like Ukraine during wartime.
As we reached Poltava, it was clear that Hymie wasn’t feeling her best. Yet, in true British fashion, she soldiered on, leading us to the Belaya Besedka (Belaya Al’tanka) monument, which offered a breathtaking view of the Levada neighborhood.
While Hymie and Mark had been here before, Anastasia and I were newcomers to Poltava, and we sensed the potential for some excellent filming opportunities. The town was tourist-friendly and relatively unscathed by the ongoing fighting just a couple hours west, allowing us to film in a more typical travel show style.
Poltava- with over 1,100 years of history and a population of just under 300,000- could be an ideal place for leisurely exploration under different circumstances. We kicked off our visit by running through the fine water misters set up around town to combat the scorching heat. Then, we indulged in a round of Kvass, a kind of malt drink.
The Poltava Dumpling or Halushka monument, a city symbol, made an excellent backdrop for our filming. The panoramic views from the lookout point were nothing short of spectacular.
Poltava boasts a rich heritage, with the famous poet Nikolai Gogol hailing from this town. It’s rumored to be the original home of the Cossacks, with Battle of Poltava (1709) hero Ivan Mazepa honored with an imposing statue. The Russian Orthodox Church excommunicated Mazepa’s name in 1708 and still refuses to revoke it, making him even more of a hero today.
Poltava’s 1,100-year-old history tells a tale of resilience through times of war and peace and is well worth the four-hour drive (or train ride) from Kyiv.
Our time in Poltava was only an hour or so, as Mark had arranged a dinner meeting in Kharkiv with a group he was helping. After all, our primary mission is to assist those in need, not simply sightsee. So, we regrettably bid Poltava farewell and continued our journey to Kharkiv. I hope Poltava continues to stay relatively safe from Russian aggression. I look forward to the day when I can return to Poltava and all of Ukraine during a time of peace for a more traditional travel experience.
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