A love letter to Ukraine

My heart belongs to Ukraine. I love traveling and discovering new places, but I'm always happy to return home. I'm originally from Odesa, an elegant city with a historical center inspired by European architecture, including the splendid Opera theater built by Viennese architects. I also love Primorsky boulevard with its monument of Duke de Richelieu, a Frenchman who became the city's first mayor.

I love Odesa for its open-mindedness, proximity to the sea, positive atmosphere and abundance of sunshine. Before the war, I used to enjoy walking to the seaside to meet friends for a picnic or to watch the sunrise, which is truly magical! In Odesa, we say the sea can soothe any sadness, relieve pain and brighten your mood. And in my experience this is true!

My tourism degree, combined with my love of architecture and history, turned into a profession in 2016 when I began to work as a guide, giving tours of Odesa and the region. It was great to meet people from different countries, enjoy cultural exchanges and show Ukraine to foreign travelers. I'm still in touch with many of them, and they've been sending me messages of support since the war began.

If anyone asks me what I love most of all, my reply would be exploring and photographing Ukrainian architecture. I love historic buildings, old wooden doors and marble stairs. In Odesa, I created a special walking tour dedicated to courtyards. Odesa courtyards are like a little world all of their own and have special atmosphere — and many cats!

After Odesa, my second favorite city in Ukraine is Lviv. It is a cultural capital, since before the war, Lviv was known for its many cozy cafes, festivals, the largest book fair in Eastern Europe and amazing buildings. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features Renaissance, Baroque, Classicist and Art Nouveau architecture. A real gem!

My Lviv friend Iryna and I often organized architectural walks around the city, exploring old courtyards and buildings, searching for hidden beauty. Very often we were lucky to find some unique paintings on a ceiling or ornate mosaic floors. Lviv was my last trip before the war began, and I keep the memories of it warm and close to my heart.

Ukraine is lucky to have both the sea and picturesque mountains. The Carpathians are beautiful any time of the year! Travelers used to come here often to mountaineer, hike, enjoy ecotourism, taste unique cuisine and learn about the local culture and traditions. Once, I celebrated my birthday in the village Pylypets, and took my first cable car ride here — some of my favorite memories!

When I worked as a tour guide, I used to take groups from Odesa on weekend tours of Chernihiv. It's a quiet old city with nice architecture and numerous old churches, some of which date back to the 13th century. The city has been badly damaged, and many lives have been lost. I lack words to express my sorrow.

These are some of the places I love so you may see how beautiful Ukraine is. Every area has its own sights and natural beauty. From the Kherson region with the Askania Nova biosphere reserve, to the monumental architecture of Kharkiv and more. Hopefully, after the war, everything that has been damaged will be restored to its former glory.