Independence Square, Kiev

The heart of Kiev, this enormous square boasts a large floral clock (visible above) many cascading fountains, the largest underground shopping centre in Kiev, the central post office and a trendy McDonald's. (Yes, McDonald's are trendy in this part of the world.) It is a popular gathering place at all times of day, and a nice venue for cooling off on a hot summer day.

In 2004 this entire huge area was filled with protestors wearing orange scarves in support of their presidential candidate Victor Yushchenko, who claimed he had been poisoned by Russian agents. The peaceful Orange Revolution led to Yushchenko's rise to power, but to many observers now it seems to have been a case of exchanging one group of oligarchs for another.

In any case, it is a must for visitors to Kiev.