Hey guys! I'm back, and it's time for day 3 of the Chernobyl trip. Day 3 was by far the most packed of the entire trip, and there's quite a lot of ground to cover. So let's dive right in!
Previous threads here:
https://uer.ca/for...=1&threadid=134567https://uer.ca/for...=1&threadid=134580 1) Day 3 started at the beyond over-photographed amusement park at the center of Pripyat that everyone and their mom has posted on Facebook. Our guide wisely suggested we go here early on a weekday. So, we went first thing in the morning on a Wednesday, and sure enough we had the place to ourselves. Now that I think about it, I don't think we ran into any other groups during the entire trip, other than in passing once in the center of Pripyat.
I don't think I've ever actually seen a photo of this ride, it was a nice little surprise
2) After that, we made a very quick stop at a nearby stadium
3) We then scurried over to a nearby apartment block. The apartments themselves were not terribly interesting; we were there for the view from the roof.
Ignore my friend's hand in this first one
Could get a very clear view of the Sarcophagus from the roof. I bet someone with a telescoping lens could do wonders here
We visited during peak summer, which temperature wise was very miserable. But it did mean we got to see this sea of trees rolling through the entire city of Pripyat. Very surreal.
4) Next, we ran through another massive public school, Public School Number 5(?) I think. It wasn't quite as beautiful as Number 2 or a few of the others but still had a number of fantastic scenes.
5) After wrapping up at the public school, we explored a more excluded kindergarten. This one in particular was known for having many toys left behind, and for having a few rooms set up by "stalkers."
This is one of the "setup" rooms I mentioned. It's also one of the only places in the entirety of the Zone where I saw graff. Probably, someone wanted to mess up the setup.
Something stuck with me about this toy. I don't know what this box and net were supposed to be, but I thought they were weirdly beautiful
6) After wrapping up at the kindergarten, we rolled through a massive vehicle graveyard where trucks, tanks, and assorted machinery that were used in the cleanup were dumped after becoming irradiated. Some signage and remnants of fencing suggested this was something of a curated museum at some point in time, one that was subsequently abandoned.
A few months after I took this photo, I saw photos circulating of this exact tank covered in a Hello Kitty paint scheme. I should include a photo of that here but I'm too lazy to find it.
7) Finally, we've arrived at Hospital 126. Previously, on Day 2, we explored the dental division of this hospital, though we had no time for the rest. I'm a hospital and asylum guy, so this was the spot I was the most excited for coming into this trip. Thankfully, I can safely say it mostly delivered.
The only disappointing part was my (otherwise very accommodating) guide not allowing me into the basement. The extremely radioactive clothing of the fire fighters that responded to the reactor explosion famously still rest in the basement, and I really wanted to see them. I even brought a full body suit and respirator to reduce the radiation exposure, but my guide said this wasn't enough and wouldn't allow it. Probably a reasonable call, but I was still disappointed. I probably could have sneaked down there without him at a few points, but it seemed disrespectful, given what a great guide he had been the entire time.
I really loved this little stage
I also really loved the many, many rows of cribs scattered throughout the maternity ward
Inside the attic were these crazy insulated conduits. I've never seen anything else like them.
The hospital also had a small, separate mortuary, which included a couple of tables, though sadly no cooler.
Embalming materials? I don't know, but certainly smelled like it...
My guide insisted this was also an autopsy table, though it looked way different than the others. I'm not so sure myself, but I don't know what else it could be.
8) Next we ran through a few small spots around Pripyat town, starting with this stained glass cafe
One of the only times I've used pano mode
9) Right down the river from this was this cute little ferry that had run aground.
10) Hall of Music, with a goatse style interpretive art piece outside
Only shot I have of this little auditorium
11) Barber Shop
12) Public School Number 1 was too collapsed to explore, but we got a few shots from the window
13) This is the largest gymnasium in the entirety of the Zone. I don't know how well the scale comes across.
Not really sure what these barrels were doing near the entrance, nor do I know why they were cordoned off by biohazard signs
14) A few scenes walking around Pripyat
15) Mostly stripped post office. The only real things of interest were this mural and a partially intact conveyor
16) A small children's hospital. Not as exciting or well known as Hospital 126, but it had enough neat scenes to make it worth a stop.
A small tile pool of unknown utility
I loved the vine curtains on this floor
17) Another spot you've probably seen photos of a billion times. Hopefully I can at least provide some neat angles. Pripyat public pool and gym
This is one of the other only places with graffiti, probably because it is so often photographed.
18) Public School Number 4(?) (I really don't remember the numbers that well, it's their fault for not giving them unique names.) This one is really well known for having a big pile of antique gas masks near the entrance, but there's more there that many don't see.
Whew. That's finally it for Day 3. Words cannot convey how exhausted we were at this point, but we were having such a good time we didn't care. Hopefully I'll be back soon with photos from Day 4, which, while slightly less packed, includes many of my favorite spots of the trip.
See you soon!
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