One of the most impressive features of the Kiev skyline is the monumental, overwhelming, completely over-the-top Mother Motherland Statue overlooking the Dnieper River.  This statue sits atop a museum dedicated to the Great Patriotic War (World War II).  It stands 203 feet tall and is larger than the Statue of Liberty.  Gazing on this structure is a vivid reminder of the continuing influence of the former Soviet Union on Central and Eastern Europe. Continue reading “Big Mama Motherland”