One of the things on my agenda during the visit to Ukraine was to go to Dubno, the place where I was born. It is a two hour drive by car, but growing up we frequently took a train or a very slow train (called Elektrichka). I would have preferred to take a train this time as well, but there was nothing convenient enough for a daytrip, so I decided to rent a car.
I was very nervous about driving in Ukraine, even after almost twenty years of driving in other countries. So I found a place that rented cars AND brought the rental car right up to our house and then picked it up after we were done. That way I didn’t have to drive through the central parts of the city to the airport and pick up the car there. So, on Thursday morning, we got the car and left around 8:30. Here is my car.
The drive was pretty uneventful besides some honking at me right as we were leaving Lviv--and it wasn’t even anything I did wrong:). I wasn’t quite sure what the speed limit was on the highway as it wasn’t really posted anywhere! I guess I was supposed to know it before driving;). I had to go really slow through all the villages because that’s where the cops were and people actually crossed streets.
After about 2 hours, we finally saw the monument of the plane--a sure sign that Dubno is right there.
And then the sign that says “Dubno”.
As soon as we entered Dubno, we stopped at the place where my grandpa used to work as the principal. It is a arts and culture college nowadays and actually was a very decent place to study even thirty-forty years ago.
Wow, look what I found! A picture of my mom from 1986 or so in approximately the same spot:)
We had to use the restroom but the lady at the front was at first very hesitant to let us in until my mom mentioned that Vasyl Hornostai was her dad and my grandpa. The lady softened right away and let us through.
On the way to the restroom, I noticed a lot of new and old posters and pictures. Like this one, their historic record of the college that lists my grandpa, his accomplishments for the college and his story.
And here, on the top, sort of right, where the three imposing men are pictured, you can recognize my grandpa too. A very Soviet looking picture, but still history.
The thing is that when we actually got to the bathroom, I chose not to go:) It was a bit disgusting and smelly. At least they had doors though;).
We drove closer to the center of Dubno shortly after.
My mom and I picked out some flowers to take to the cemetery as we were visiting my dad’s, my grandma’s and my grandpa’s graves. I am sure we made this lady very happy.
This is the very center of Dubno with a monument to Taras Bulba, a famous kozak and a character in Gogol’s novel “Taras Bulba”. I remember when they had no monument and the building on the far right was called the Palace of the Pioneers (Palatz Pioneriv, the Soviet youth). Things were very different back then.
And this is the music school where babushka Maya worked when they lived in Dubno. We spent countless hours in that building as well while waiting for her to be done with her students, practicing our musical instruments, or just hanging out and playing games.
And this is the place where my mom and my dad registered their marriage.
Afterwards, we drove to the cemetery by Dubno bus station (Avtovokzal). We had a little trouble finding it as we didn’t really have the address, just my mom’s memory:) We had to stop and ask someone to figure out how to enter the cemetery by car.
I still think this picture on my dad’s tombstone doesn't look like him. Even as I am writing this, my eyes get teary as I just have this big sadness in my heart about all the things that he is missing out on...
Shortly, after we also visited my grandparents’ graves nearby, we drove to Sadova Street where my dad’s cousin, Natasha lives. She lives on her own, takes care of her nice little house and a beautiful vegetable garden. I have always held a special place in her heart as she doesn’t have kids of her own:) And I remember her always being so kind to me, loving when I would come to visit.
I remember some really fun and crazy memories from when my cousins and I would just take the bus from our babushka Maya’s house to Sadova str and then run (you had to walk for probably half a mile) to aunt Natasha’s house. One day it started simply pouring when we got off the bus and we were absolutely soaked when we ran into her house. There was always something yummy for us to eat there:) And another thing I remember is the apricot tree that she had next to her house, so we would collect buckets of apricots and then eat some and make jam with the rest. Heaven!
After a nice meal with a lot of yummy Ukrainian food we took Natasha and my uncle Sasha (Alexander) and my cousin Danil to the neighborhood where babushka Maya lived. The crazy thing is that BOTH of my grandmas lived just a playground away from each other (they both lived in apartment buildings) so I could run from one babushka to another.
Not much has changed:) People still dry their laundry outside, kids still bike and play cards right there while others play football (being careful with the clean laundry).
And somewhere around here is where my mom and my dad met when they were both sixteen years old. Of course, the benches are not the same old benches, but the location is quite certain.
I have pictures in this same place from my 2011 visit. This is the entrance to babushka Maya’s apartment building. Lots of memories right here:)
And here is the side where babushka maya’s windows were--third floor, the balcony, the window to the left and one on this wall were ours. This doesn’t look like it did before at all (especially with this addition on the first floor and the satellites).
And this is the entrance to my Sadochok (daycare), our dreaded place-hahaha- and the place where we spent so many days at:) I still have glimpses from my time there although I know I must have been really little then--three, four and five.
And of course, here are the people I came to visit! Natalia (my aunt), Natasha (my dad’s cousin), Sasha (my dad’s brother), then I and Misha (my cousin), Yana (his wife) and their two little girls.
We had a great visit!
Here is a picture next to babushka Valia’s (my dad’s mom) apartment building. We have lots of pictures here too:)
Look at that!
Same spot:) This must be 1985-86?
And here are the men on my dad’s side of the family:) Misha, my cousin, reminds me a lot of Alex:)
Well, I am so happy I went to Dubno even for such a short day. I was very relieved when we finally arrived at my mom’s place in Lviv in one piece:) I am very proud of myself for being brave and safe to drive to Dubno, and I might do it again someday.
I had to get some sleep now as my following day was going to be a very looong fun day.
Lyana.
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