Everyone knows that kids shouldn't play with guns. Unfortunately, no one said anything about big kids playing with tanks.
After a visit to Kiev’s cave monastery, my friends and I made our way to the Rodina Mat war memorial (at right) and found a virtual Cold War playground nearby filled with Soviet fighters, tanks, bombers, cannons, jeeps, trucks, rocket launchers and even a naval ship. Remarkably, you’re apparently allowed to climb atop some of the machines, so I did a little Cher “Turn Back Time” video reenacting. While I won’t share those photos, below left is one of me atop a tank that seems to have gotten the flower power treatment. I’m guessing that’s not the original paint job.
Of course, my Eric Cartman-like personality got carried away and I jumped the chain fence for a closer look at stuff we’re not supposed to touch. My big move was climbing into a bomber plane and sitting in the pilot’s seat, but a guard must have seen me as I was caught red-handed coming out. I played the dumb tourist card and got away with just a scolding. But before you think I was acting the fool by myself, all the adult males were bouncing around on this stuff like 6-year-olds playing G.I. Joe in the backyard.
