The Beauty is so close

by Valeriia Bobylova (Ukraine)

I didn't expect to find Ukraine

Since childhood, I have been traveling to different countries and was thinking that some breathtaking views can be just abroad. Even tourists think about Ukraine as a country with a long history and beautiful architecture in capital and bigger cities. I was wondering that my friends discover Ukraine all the time and don't travel abroad. What nice can they see? However, I decided to join them last summer and visit west Ukraine. I expected to see mountains, forests, and lakes which are just like typical pictures in souvenirs. All our trip I was so annoying that I'm tired and feel boring. If that would be me I've sent my friends home, but they were patient just tell me "Enjoy every view of what you see". I can tell, that were nice views, big lakes, green peaks, the spirit of fresh meadows. Still, there weren't the Alps. The weather was really hot, we were out of water and food any drivers wanted to pick us. My biggest dream was to find the way home. And here, hope to be saved, the car stopped to toss us to bust stop. Recently, the driver proposes us to visit some saint place, which would be breathtaking. We said yes. First what I saw were golden steppe and peach-colored sky. Keep going...keep going - they said. And here, the heaven on the ground. Really. That's not about what you see, that's how you feel. Calm, happy, tread on air. I saw the sea in front of me, but there is no sea in the west part of Ukraine. What the hell it is? I mean heaven! That wasn't a river or lake, any of typical ponds. The legend says that this is a small village that was flooded a thousand years ago. Kind of Atlantis. You can see pale blue water with golden overflows from magic sunset. The honey hills and caramel steppe. But the feeling in this place is inexpressible. The spirit of holiness and greatness. I didn't expect that I find my happy place in a small mythical town named Bakota. I didn't think beauty is so close.