The Wind across the Black Sea.

[drron29]

First stop was the botanical gardens which was getting a much needed facelift before the Olympics.

 

As with a lot of places this was a private residence before the revolution but fortunately survived and the gardens put to good use.

 

Peppered with smaller structures-

 

Naturally this structure was built for the owner's wife so she could enjoy the gardens-

[drron29]

Around the main house which was in bad need of repairs were some impressive works-

 

Unfortunately there were on view some of the less inspiring aspects of Russia.These 2 young women had a peacock,monkey and raccoon which you could pay to take photos off-no one did.

 

Back to the less natural-

 

Now it was back on the bus to go to an Obsevation tower that Stalin had built in just over 100 days because according to our guide was because he so loved his people he wanted them to have something that would bring them pleasure.Dont think many on the bus swallowed that line.

That will be next.

[drron29]

This Observation Tower is in the Georgian style.Stalin,of course,was Georgian,not Russian.But just imagine building this in 140 days in the 1930s when it is at the top of a mountain-

 

Many stalls on the walk to the tower-

 

But just remember the temperature was in the high 30s and the flies were plentiful.

Once again the animals were being used for profit but this little guy was cute and a high zoom comes in handy.He at least found a mate-

 

On my way up to the tower a pair of Doves posed for the camera-

Views next.

[drron29]

The view back to the city of Sochi and note the mountainous terrain making road building a challenge-

 

Looking towards Georgia and the airport.Shame about the pollution-

 

And a carnival on top of the mountain-

 

And these fellows enjoyed playing dress up-

 

And a restaurant but this was not the restaurant where we were to have our "typical Russian meal".

That next.

[drron29]

So here is where we had our typical Russian lunch,at least the restaurant had a Russian name-

 

However we arrived about 40 minutes before they were ready to serve us.Some of the women looked around the very expensive shops but most of us sat and twiddled our thumbs.

Then to the food.Started with a simple salad which you served yourself from 2 large plates per table of 8.Then a breaded chicken dish.Couldn't be a Kiev because that is in the Ukraine.Then a tart-really cant tell you exactly what it was as mine was burnt-it is not chocolate around the top-

And of course washed down with a typical Russian wine,Made in France.

Really wasn't a necessary stop.Worse was we then backtracked to the mountain we had just come from to visit Stalin's Dacha.That next.

[drron29]

Stalin's Dacha-so as I said this was my must do for Sochi.Was hard paring down the hundreds of photos but here goes-

This was the view down the road from the front gate.Now our group enters-

 

Stalin was obviously green before it was popular-

 

More to come.

[drron29]

Guess I couldn't be Stalin's double-

And his chess set-really didn't matter whether he played black or white he usually won-

 

Then his office-

 

And many photos of family and important meetings-

 

Still more to come.

[drron29]

An impressive meeting room but more humble family dining room-

 

We were told everything here was original so it appears Russia was more technologically developed than was thought-

 

And another of his sporting prowess.This is his billiards cue-those who have weilded a cue will note that the tip is larger than usual-

Not only that but the cue was filled with lead to give mim even more of an advantage-guess he would have been a sore looser.

Then we saw the real reason he had the Georgian Tower built-

 

Hope you are not bored but a few more pics to come.

[tedbear]

Hello

We to were on the cruise and the one prior.. from Venice. It is good to see the photographs. brings back so many memories and the wonderful weather. Recognised the waiter. he is Turkish with a wicked sense of humour. He has been on Wind for a long time. The previous week he had standard legth hair. but was allowed on shore for the turn around day in Istanbul. His father made him have a short hair cut!!

 

Keep the report coming

[drron29]

More of his office-

 

His bed suggests he really wasn't physically big-

 

And a nice little verandah outside-

Apparently Stalin didn't personally sign any documents making an aide do so-

The Dacha is now a Private hotel and reputed to charge up to $US800 a night!

 

On the drive back to the Wind we noted all the typical Western fast food outlets.No problems going through Immigration.Without the lunch and going to Stalin's Dacha on the way to or back from the Observation Tower would have made this an easy half day tour.Instead many felt it poor value

Back on the boat I was stiil tired as it had been very hot.Tried to have a nanny nap but Charley bought us our afternoon tea scones as Rojaan had said she loved scones.

once again had dinner in the Restaurant with the Californian couple and a couple from Darwin-a great evening so I have totally forgotten what we had.We were even late for the Billy Joel concert-which again was good.

 

Next-we arrive in Yalta,Crimea,Ukraine.

[drron29]

Yalta was another of my must see places.The Yalta conference site was the last major conference site of WW2 that I had not been to.Once again it was breakfast on the verandah as we came into port-

And once again all the locals were out at the beach-

 

And once again a lot of building actvity-

 

Also signs of conspicuous wealth-

 

We were feeling very refreshed as we had an extra hour to sleep overnight.looking forward to our tour.The first signs though weren't encouraging-

 

However Ukrainian Immigration was much easier than Russia-just walk past the agent with your passport opened at the photo page.Coming back we didn't even have to take out our passport.

We were on the Best of Crimea tour and our guide was much better than the one in Sochi.First stop at the St.Alexander Church.That next.

[drron29]

First shots of us coming to the dock,not very impressive-

 

Then to the church-

 

It was Sunday and the church was packed.Even though we were told we could go inside most thought it inappropriate.There was enough to see outside-

 

More to come.

[drron29]

One reason for high Church attendance could be because they think of young families-

 

But probably not because of the restrooms-

 

Some of the transport had seen better days-

 

After the Church it was on to the Lividia Palace,the site of the Yalta Conference.Those interested in militiary history would recognise these photos-

 

The place of the first photo as it is today-

 

More of the palace to come.

[drron29]

The whole of the ground floor of the Lividia Palace is a museum of the Yalta conference.The palace itself is impressive and no wonder Stalin chose it-

 

There are usually photos with the original settings still in place-

 

Some impressive rooms-

 

And more intimate places-

 

And some in between-

 

Of course the Lividia palace was already in existence and has a place in history as the Summer Palace of the last Tsar,that is next.

[drron29]

The palace was rebuilt by the last tsar-Nikolai the second.He only got to use it on 4 occasions before he and all his family were executed 95 years ago.

 

The second floor of the palace is now a museum fo this family.There is a large carpet said to be original showing the Tsar,his wife and only son who had haemophilia-the family was related to the British Royal Family.

 

Obviously much of the palace is not as it was ptior to the Revolution.most things of value almost certainly disappeared.It is said though to be reproduced as it was-

 

Some beautiful rooms-

 

Next the grounds,views and the Romanov's chapel.

[drron29]

Trees dominated the land in front of the Lividia palace-

 

But did not stop some magnificent views-

 

Next to the palace was the Romanov chapel-it was part of a previous palace used by Nikolai's father.nikolai was married here so wanted the chapel kept when the palace was rebuilt-

 

Again it was Sunday and the chapel was full.These young children were singing outside.

Next the Vorontsov Palace which was Winston Churchill's accommodation during the conference.

[drron29]

The Vorontsov Palace didn't seem as grand as the Lividia-

 

But the views were spectacular-

 

Most of the rooms were modestly furnished-

 

But an impressive internal sculpture garden-

 

To be continued.

[drron29]

But there were impressive rooms as well-

 

With some interesting art-

 

The cat amongst the seafood is a nice touch.

Outside were the gardens that WC liked to walk in-

 

Though I am sure he also enjoyed the billiards table as well-

 

Next-to a local restaurant for lunch.

[drron29]

The local restaurant was a large affair over several levels.It was outside and the temperature was 39C(102F).So it was slightly uncomfortable.

 

We started with a small salad and then a pancake with salmon roe-

 

The main was stewed veal with cheese and vegetables and dessert was "a cake"-

 

The lunch was accompanied by a glass of Crimean red wine-glasses were already on the table when we arrived.We declined tea or coffee due to the heat.But the reason we plus several other bus groups were here was the view-

 

The Swallow's Nest castle.

After lunch it was off to Anton Chekov's house.That next.

[drron29]

Anton Chekov,physician and writer,I read during my Uni days-I went through a Russian phase.He only moved to Yalta after he finally agreed to be examined and was diagnosed with TB.His life story is interesting and despite our guides enthusiastic words Chekov had called Yalta his"hot Siberia".So as usual to the pictures-

 

He loved gardens,planting trees at all his residences over the years.He did a pretty good job.He moved to Yalta with his mother and sister.He married after he moved to Yalta but his wife continued to live in Moscow.Now the house-

 

As you can see fairly modest.Now the kitchen and front entrance-

 

Chekov died at a German spa resort.It is said his physician prescribed a glass of champagne which Chekov drank then promptly died.Not a bad way to go!

From there it was back to the ship at 1600.We were exhausted but found this tour much better organised with a very good guide and quite reasonable value.

We were going to have a nanny nap but The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel had just started so we watched it again-a very good film.Whilst watching a platter of sliced fruit arrived-we had not ordered it but it was greatly appreciated.

We went to the Panorama lounge at 1900 and it was Name that Tune night.A couple from Vermont invited us to join them.By serendipity it turned out to be another Cruise Critic poster-Champlain.Enjoyed their company and by some miracle we came second.So it was then off to dinner with our new friends.As it also turned out we will meet again in November on the Cloud.A very enjoyable night.

Next-Sevastopol.

[drron29]

First just a picture that took my fancy on the return to the Wind in Yalta,a new meaning to undercover parking-

 

Unfortunately just before dinner the previous night Rojaan developed the symptoms of food poisoning.Definitely not from anything on the ship-lunch was our suspect.Fortunately our tour in Sevastopol had a slightly later start at 0930 so she was at least settling by then.

On the way to dock passed old forts-

 

The tour we had chosen was Balaclava and the Secret base.Being educated in the 50s in Australia we were taught all things british.The Charge of the Light Brigade struck a chord with most young boys.The second and third verses have lines not to be forgotten-

"Forward, the Light Brigade!"

Was there a man dismay'd?

Not tho' the soldier knew

Someone had blunder'd:

Theirs not to make reply,

Theirs not to reason why,

Theirs but to do and die:

Into the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred.

 

Cannon to right of them,

Cannon to left of them,

Cannon in front of them

Volley'd and thunder'd;

Storm'd at with shot and shell,

Boldly they rode and well,

Into the jaws of Death,

Into the mouth of Hell

Rode the six hundred.

[drron29]

So in this next picture we are standing where the British Commander Lord Raglan was.The light Brigade was under the hill out of sight.Raglan wanted them to advance across the rise where houses are now as Russians were taking captured British artillery back to the Russian lines-

 

Instead they attacked up this valley where the main Russian artillery was-

 

They came under heavy fire just beyond the vineyard in the distance.The middle tree in this photo is said to be where the first casualties were incurred-

 

 

Just below us was artillery from a much later conflict-these were in fact German artillery pits-

 

Next-the Secret base.

[duct tape]

Thanx for a reminder of some tours we really enjoyed. Loved the Secret Base.

[drron29]

So here comes the Secret base.First an aerial photo at the conclusion of WW2-

 

And then in the 50s-

 

Then our group entering and then looking back at the town of Balaclava-

 

They even do boat tours through the base-

 

And then the dry dock-

 

More to come.

[drron29]

Massive doors to protect against attack-

 

Some of the weaponry-

 

And the base as seen from the other side of the harbour-

 

Once again plenty of money in the harbour plus Ukraine's finest-

 

And the reason why Balaclava harbour was picked for this base,the harbour entrance-

 

After touring the base we were taken to a restaurant and had a soft drink,then wandered around the small town area.I voted Ukraine though the place with the tackiest souvenirs though.The tour though was everyting I expected and good value.

Back to the ship and lunch by the pool again.It was then time for a nanny nap as it was Venetian Society cocktails that night.

That next and on to Odessa.