Here we go. It's almost 6AM, so I'm pretty exhausted.
Initial border control of the zone of alienation. By this stage, you've already passed the 'egg' that the girl photographed, by about 20 mins. I quite liked it.
The normality of the place is striking. There were a bunch of friendly kitties running around. Must be paradise for the animals. Research shows the biodiversity in this place has jumped by 20%. Animals are thriving, because humans can't go there.
Statue to the firefights that died. Scores of men died from radiation poisoning as they were sent in to fight the fires without anyone understanding the scope of the situation.
Then, of course, there was the helicopter that crashed into the reactor [little known fact..]
Road bridge, leading away from the reactor (behind). Memorial zone, plus restricted buildings - very KGB do-not-ask-esque.
The reactor itself, plus another monument.
Pano, reactor.
Note- in the distance from taking the photo above, to this one (5 meters max) - radiation levels jumped 8 times.
Pripyat entrance. Most famous building, hotel building. We gave the group the slip, took a mezzanine floor and then rooftopped the building. Was quite something. Oddly peaceful.
Pripyat building.
The ever-so-famous ferris wheel.
And the dodgem cars. Trainspotters take note, this isn't me.
Building w/ a stash of soviet portraits.
From here, we dashed off again as far and fast as we could go. Ran through an abandoned supermarket (with trolleys) and ended up in this building - amazing mural tributing the CCCP Kosmos / space program
Rolling out, after a very hearty meal. They put on a great 3 course feed. yet another ukraine oddity, before the radiation check, and the 2 hour trip back to kiev.
