Arriving in Ukraine.

If you've browsed around travel websites like Travelocity or Expedia for flights to Kiev, you've probably been asked the question that puzzles all first time travelers here. Which airport in Kiev would you like to arrive at? The only answer, really, is Borispol. (KBP). Under the Soviet regime, Borispol was the airport for flights originating outside the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact nations, and this protocol remains largely in place today. In the past, Borispol was the lesser utilized of the two. Now, it's the main Kiev arrival destination, although Borispol still retains many aspects of the sleepy outpost it once was. But it's changing, quickly. Population wise, Kiev sits somewhere between Chicago and Rome. But Austin, Texas and Colorado Springs likely see more air arrivals than little visited Kiev. But that's changing quickly.

If you're flying into Ukraine, you most likely will stop at Borispol, even if Kiev is not your final destination. And if you're flying in from the states, you'll likely have to stop somewhere else in Europe before arrival at Kiev Borispol. Thankfully, Borispol is changing too. Depending on arrival time, customs and immigration is speedier and less intrusive, though it can still be confusing as hell. The baggage carousels are easy to find, since there's only three, and the wait once clearing immigration is reasonable. But there's not a lot of English in the place, whether you're looking for someone who speaks it or even signs for directions on where to go next. When in doubt, just do what the person in line ahead of you did. But once you clear all the bureaucratic hurdles, things go remarkable well. It's ten minutes from terminal to parking to off the airport grounds, assuming you're not waiting for transportation. If someone has come to pick you up, there's no long walk from the terminal to parking, since people park just about anywhere there's some spare room, whether it's legal or not.

Welcome. Your Kiev adventure has begun.