More on Kosice, More on Ukraine

I had no idea I’d be based in such a lovely city. First, the restaurants in Kosice are many and very good. Slavia (also Slavia Hotel) is a terrific upscale restaurant with a lovely bar, and Bistro Blanc is a casual restaurant that serves a changing menu each day. Kavy Sveta is one of countless coffee houses and one of the oldest. (Photos below.) One night I stopped at the oldest brewery in town, Golem Pub, and the story of the Golem in Jewish folklore is fascinating, esp. in the Czech and Slovak Republics.

https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/11/world/europe/11golem.html

BTW, I post restaurant and hotel reviews on Trip Advisor under the name 1926yanks. I have now posted 272 reviews over the last few years.

I returned to the DSA Academy in the town of Trebisov and met the director, who doesn’t speak English, but likes baseball. (See photo.) He’s a fan of sports history and has made some US trips. We talked about the uncertainty of the war, and the school will continue to provide that vital housing as needed. I delivered some big boxes of Legos for the refugee kids the school is housing. Also funding for the therapy of a refugee youngster dealing with MS. During her almost 3 weeks in an underground bunker, she obviously did not get any treatment, which she can now resume. I’ve made another Metro Run to the Food Bank with Ali. When we arrived as the “store” was opening, the line was long and and am distributing the money that I’ve gathered to the local Rotary, while some of you have donated directly to Arnie Weiss’s GoFundMe site. Details are on the previous blog below.

I am excited that Ali and Arnie have connected, and the refugees will now have a medical care center they can turn to.

Jill Biden will be coming to Kosice this weekend, and Arnie is trying to get her to the Food Bank for publicity about the refugees (and a good Photo Opp for her). . . . An interior shot of the majestic cathedral, which towers over the center of the city. . . . An exterior shot of one of the many sidewalk cafes under the shadow of the Cathedral. . . . My college roommate from Jerusalem from many years ago is organizing “We Stand in Silence” protests in front of the Russian Embassies one hour a week and is trying to generate a groundswell at these embassies everywhere.

I want to give a Shout Out to a wonderful company here in Slovakia, whose Kosice team is providing vital support to the refugee children, so many of whom have experienced real trauma. Usmev ako Dar (which means “A Smile as a Gift”) is a company dedicated to psychological support for children. I sat down with one of the psychologists one morning to find out more about this respected and effective company that has been helping children for more than 30 years.

https://www.usmev.sk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/About_Smile_as_a_Gift.pdf

The most moving reminder of the horrors of war and the power of love is this little video of a Ukraine nurse who lost her legs to a leg mine and dances in the hospital with her husband after their wedding ceremony.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2FdDAoTCpY

Finally, a popular Ukrainian song of hope and love, “Obyjmy” (“Hug Me”), “Hug Me and War Will Be Over . . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hm0V49nsjw