I went to Ukraine in 2019 and, coincidentally, ended up going at the same time as one of my friends/coworkers. As soon as we found out we would be there together we started to plan out some of the trip. We decided we HAD TO see Chernobyl so we searched for some tours.
We found VIATOR. At the time it was $120 for a full day tour including transportation, tour guide, and lunch. We met at Independent Square in Kiev and a minivan picked us up with about 8 other people. On the 2 hour ride to the site, we watched some informational videos about Chernobyl, and we loved it! Our tour guide was a student and answered all of our questions that were about the site and about the situation in Ukraine in general at that time. They were very proud to be independent from Russia and all the mistakes the USSR had made during the tragedy of Chernobyl.
The first stop was the village houses right outside of Pripyat. There were overgrown cottages in nature and an empty dancehall in this area. It was wild to see all of the houses just left as they were with everyone’s personal effects still inside. We couldn’t enter any of the homes because everything was covered in foliage, radioactive dust, and the buildings were unstable. However, I DID do a lot of peeking inside of windows and doorways.
Then, we stopped at the sign entering Chernobyl. It was done in a very brutalist style which is one of my favorite aesthetics (see image at the very top of the page). At this point, we entered the operational part of the site/city.
We went into the town and saw some memorials, statues, and some of the buildings that are still in use, including a restaurant where we ate lunch. Everything seemed so photogenic and dreary.
After lunch, we went to the Duga Radio Tower, also known as the Russian Woodpecker. It was used to detect missile attacks by using radio waves during the cold war. This tower was enormous and dizzying to look up at. The structure is about 150 meters high and 700 meters long. The symmetry and the span of the structure was breathtaking.
There were some cool snippets of art along the way. Of course I was only able to get the big ones from a distance. Pokemon Go! was a popular game at the time so I think that explains the last piece.
Next was the kindergarten. There were remnants of beds, desks, school materials, dolls, random toys, and other furniture. This area was so spooky and picturesque. It was left as a true time capsule, and I felt it as I walked through each room. We were warned not to touch anything, of course, due to the probability of radiation. I also was trying not to open myself up energetically to this place; I just wanted to observe. It was sad and eerie, though. Lastly, we were shown an area right outside of the schoolhouse where the radiation spikes were hitting high.
After that, we were driven to the site of the explosion of the nuclear reactor. We could go close enough for some pictures near the monument, and we learned about some of the staff that are employed there. They work on site in 3 month intervals to lower the risk of radiation harm to their bodies.
The last part of the trip took place in Pripyat where we saw what was left of the original city. The first stop was a boat house which was housing one of the best pieces of stained glass I’ve ever seen. We were told not to enter the building, but I couldn’t help myself and I briefly stepped in for a photo.
From the city center we could see some of the main buildings which were once hotels and supermarkets. The structures were impressive, and I liked seeing the signs in their original form. The supermarket was a mess, but I was so curious was was left behind the barriers. This time I behaved myself and carried on to peep some art on the outside of some of these structures, including the animals pictured. I love how it looks as if they’re just staring at you.
Next we walked to the amusement park, which was the star of the show. The ruins that were left after the explosion had never been used by the children they were intended for. There were two kinds of swings, a ferris wheel, and a bumper car rink!
There was also a football stadium that we walked by briefly.
Lastly, we saw a vehicle graveyard at an old mechanic station and inspected some of the rides that were left behind. There were trucks, cars, buses, trailers, scooters, and military vehicles. Some were more in tact than others, in groups and scattered around the property and on top of the building. These rusted metal parts and pieces added to the apocalyptic feel as they rotted away slowly in the dirt and leaves.
Before leaving the site, we went through radiation detectors to make sure we were cleared to get back into the van and go home.
At the risk of sounding like a weirdo, I am so lucky I got to witness the remains of this horrible tragedy. It’s a grim reminder of what can happen when safety is neglected for secrecy at the expense of innocent people. This kind of nuclear disaster was quite misunderstood for years as Pripyat continued to be looted. Various items and appliances from this site were snatched, sold second-hand, and were brought back into homes unknowingly causing more health problems for the people who purchased them.
The visual atmosphere of this place, the silence, and the stories told made this cold day ominous and reflective. I’m very thankful for our guides for keeping us safe and informed. I’m also thankful to my travel pal for being ready for a romp through a place with such a dark reputation. Get yourself a tour and go see this site!
Brown Beyond Borders 