Get Your Indy Kiev On!

When rallies overtook the central square during the early '90s independence rallies and the 2004 Orange Revolution, little did these freedom fighters realize exactly what they would get -- free dance parties, baby!

That's right, Independence Square (or "Maidan Nezalezhnosti" to locals) is the place to be during Kiev's (few) warmer weekends as the place transforms into one party or another. So in fact, these people really did fight for their right to party!

Ultimately, it's a great place for companies to promote their goods, and the people like MTV Europe are happy to come in with DJs and music artists to give the little beer-swiggin' kids something to dance to. Sure, they're on the same Michael Jackson overkill as the States, but it's a bit more interesting to see young Uks trying to interpret the gloved one on cobble-stoned streets.

During the day, the Square is also home to countless street performers, which range from the horrible to the humorous bad. My favorite were the Ukrainian b-boys who apparently watched one too many "Step Up" DVDs. I mean, if you thought 3rd Base were goofy, you should see some of these guys bust a move. Nevertheless, they still provide a great early afternoon moment of entertainment.

So what about the weeknights? The great thing about the Ukraine is that you can drink on the streets, so people grab cheap beers in the underpass and hang out under the square's beautiful monuments. The police are usually around, which keeps things safe and generally under control, and the young people have a cheap, free place to hang out and enjoy themselves. It just goes to show that kids actually can drink and congregate in public without always starting a riot!