Walking everywhere

The first thing you notice about Ukrainians in this town of 300,000 residents is that everyone walks everywhere.

From the center city to the rural countryside, you see people walking.

There are vehicles and mass transportation, but it is incredible how many people are walking, usually in groups of two to five people or more.

There are probably more people walking in downtown Sumy in a day than walk in downtown Amarillo in a week - or longer.

Most of the downtown streets are pedestrian only with trees and wide sidewalks. There are green spaces throughout downtown.

I'm beginning to see now why Americans are so fat and Ukranians are not: cars and unhealthy food vs. walking and healthy food.