The Wind across the Black Sea.

[jpalbny]

Enjoying your posts and pics, drron29! The coastal scenery in Crimea is gorgeous - we really enjoyed it when we were there on the Wind 2 years ago, and your pictures are bringing back some nice memories. Glad to see that you had an enjoyable holiday too.

 

The view from the steps of Vorontsov Palace sure is spectacular... And the lions on the staircase are a nice touch - we liked how they're awake at the top of the stairs, and snoozing at the bottom. Chris is still expecting me to build her something like that in our back yard...;)

[chicagogal]

Really enjoying the photos and commentary! Thanks drron29! We are on a Seabourn Black Sea voyage at the end of the month.

 

Patty

[drron29]

Back home now so time to finish this report.first a few more shots of Sevastopol.The Crimea was given to the Ukraine in 1952 by Kruschev.Now the Russians regret it.Sevastopol though still remains a major Russian Naval base and just to make sure everyone knows it is this-

 

Even though a large Russian naval flotilla had left here for Syria the week before there was ample evidence of their navy-

 

One of the nicer buildings in Sevastopol was the original naval headquarters-

 

But there was abundant evidence of the Soviet era-

 

That night however as I said before was the Venetian cocktail party.many people with several hundred nights got a mention.After that we had dinner with the Safety Officer,Tim Cashman.As you can tell from his name he is Dutch.Another great night.Dining also with us an American and an English couple.My meal was Carpaccio,tomato soup,rack of lamb and a cheese plate just to give you an idea of the variety of meals available.

 

The next day it was once again breakfast on our balcony as we steamed into Odessa.That next.

[duct tape]

100 hundred leagues onward...thanx.

[drron29]

First some photos as we entered Odessa port-

 

Some serious work going on-

 

We really didn't think the tours here would be that interesting for us and we knew from our research that Odessa was mainly flat and reasonably laid out so our intention was to get the shuttle into town and then walk.it really was a good way to see Odessa.We got the 9am shuttle and you are dropped at a square near some of the major attractions.A church-

 

A statue of the Duc De Richelieu who was asked by Tsar Alexander 1 to become the Governor of Odessa as his head was in peril in Paris he readily agreed and Odessa has a very definite French feeling.

 

just over the road from the square is the passage-a shopping precinct-

 

more of Odessa next.

[drron29]

There are some magnificent buildings in Odessa-

 

The French influence is obvious-

 

The detail is incredible-

[drron29]

Of course not everything fits with the French style-

 

We walked up the main boulevarde-a wide tree lined street with the centre a park with markets and playgrounds.Also some interesting sculptures-

 

We walked up to the main Orthodox cathedral.That next.

[drron29]

Well computers are wondereful things aren't they.The pictures for the first of the posts on Odessa have disappeared from Rojaan's computer and others I am told but still show up on mine.Picassaweb was playing up last night so I will now repost those pictures.Can an administrator then delete post 55.Thanks.

 

First some photos as we entered Odessa port-

Some serious work going on-

 

We really didn't think the tours here would be that interesting for us and we knew from our research that Odessa was mainly flat and reasonably laid out so our intention was to get the shuttle into town and then walk.it really was a good way to see Odessa.We got the 9am shuttle and you are dropped at a square near some of the major attractions.A church-

A statue of the Duc De Richelieu who was asked by Tsar Alexander 1 to become the Governor of Odessa as his head was in peril in Paris he readily agreed and Odessa has a very definite French feeling.

 

just over the road from the square is the passage-a shopping precinct-

 

Hopefully this time is fine-certainly no problems with Picassaweb this time.

 

more of Odessa next.

[drron29]

Now to the Orthodox Cathedral.very easy to find.For those not wanting to use the organised tours a simple google search usually gives you ideas on what to see.Also at every port there was a representative of the local tourist association and maps were available.on top of that the guest lecturer gave a talk on each city before we arrived.

So to the photos-

 

As you can see renovations are underway.no problems on the inside and today was a Tuesday so not very busy-

 

Dont forget to look up-

 

Or outside-

 

After the cathedral we walked back to the shuttle pick up as Rojaan was still feeling washed out.Her spirits were lifted when we found a Laura Ashley store having a sale so she picked up a couple of items.After Rojaan went back on the shuttle i had another couple of hours just walking around admiring the architecture.

More of that next.

[drron29]

A wonderful collection of buildings from the ordinary-

 

To the official and well maintained-

 

Impressive-

 

But with streets for pedestrians-

 

And nice parks-

 

Still more to come.

[drron29]

There are just so many beautiful buildings in Odessa-

 

I just couldn't stop taking photos!

 

But on virtually every block there were openings into internal courtyards,some well maintained but others in near ruins.I couldn't help but think back to the French Quarter in Shanghai and the hutongs-

[drron29]

Then there is the Hotel Krasnaya-

With beautiful detail-

 

Krasnaya of course means red as in Krasnaya Square in Moscow.However it also means beautiful and I prefer that meaning for this building.

But around every corner was yet another piece of beauty-

 

Still more to come.

[drron29]

I just couldn't resist another shot of Hotel Beautiful-

 

some internal courtyards are put to good use-

 

Not all is beautiful though-

 

Even simple residential areas have style-

 

And a paslace converted to government offices-

 

with magnificent public buildings-

 

next Primorsky Boulevarde.

[drron29]

So now to the Primorsky Boulevarde running parallel to the waterfront.A beautiful pedestrian promenade-

 

Lovely hotels-

 

Buildings and entertainment areas-

 

and modern ways to get around-

 

And at one end-Count Vorontsov's palace-

 

next-finally back to the Wind!

[drron29]

The count wanted to make a statement-

 

What a pity that today it is just a trashy art market and a target for graffiti-

 

From here you could see some of the least impressive relics of the Soviet era-

 

Along with a masterly tall ship-

 

But walking back to get to the ship i wondered if the promenade really had much support-

[drron29]

Finally reached the Potemkin steps.in 1905 the crew of the battleship Potemkin mutinied.The battles were actually on nearby streets not on these stairs.At the top was a typical sight-wildlife being used for profit.in this case eagles-

 

And the view down the steps to the Wind-

 

And the view from the bottom.I am just glad i walked down-

 

And was very happy to get back to the ship-

 

I arrived back at 1400 feeling quite hot and exhausted.Cooled down after a couple of mojitos.A burger for lunch as tonight it was back to Le Champagne.And Rojaan had put in an order for a large lobster!

That next.

[drron29]

It was another very good night in Le Champagne.Our servers Tayfun and Thearith were great.When it came to the main course we again both ordered the lobster thermidor.Rojaan teased Tayfun re the large lobster-our meals arrived and we were both served 2 tails.Silverseas youve done it again.However by the time we had finished-both having the souffle this time-we were too tired for the show and retired to bed.

The next morning it was Constanta,Romania.Again Rojaan did not feel like any of the tours and had a Spa day.I went on the Roman edifices and ancient Histria tour.

Started with a light breakfast in La Terraza.Soon the ship was at the dock.Certainly a large commercial port-

 

The Port building set the scene for the day-

 

most of the place seemed in disrepair-

 

Their archeological museum in particular-

 

The statue of the poet Ovid seemed to be the best kept of all the structures.He was banished here in AD8.

 

Over the road from the museum was a partially renovated building our guide said had been left like this for some time-

 

More of Constanta next.

[drron29]

Next to the Archeological museum are restored Roman warehouses but at least this is explained-

 

And you can certainly make out the renovations-

 

There are also lots of pieces of pottery,statues etc-

 

And outside the enclosed "ruins"seem to be unrestored ruins-

 

After this we got back on the bus to travel to Histria.Actually a pleasant trip.passed the Canal that has been built linking the Danube to Constanta-

 

and numerous lakes-

[drron29]

Not all the sights on the trip were beautiful-

 

But it really was interesting going through many small villages.often the housing was of mud brick and not in the best of condition but virtually everyone had a bountiful garden with fruit trees,veggies and always grapes.On the way back I did manage a couple of photos that were not excessively blurred but that is for later.

When we arrived at Histria we were first of all taken to the museum.once again most was of restored items-

 

Or the cynic in me says possibly reproductions-

 

But it was nature that most impressed me-

 

and being from Australia the nesting storks were the highlight of my day-

 

Next I try to forget the storks and look at the ruins of Histria.

[drron29]

Histria was established by the Greeks nearly 2700 years ago.then 2000 years ago the romans added to the settlement.It was initially a trading port but the bay silted up and it was no longer on the coast.So to a few pictures-

The library and entrance definitely restored.I doubt this technique was in vogue 1500 years ago-

 

but you do get a good sense of the layout-

[drron29]

At one point there are remains of stairs which give you a better idea of the place-

 

And the surrounding area-

 

so some final views-

 

Next the trip back to Constanta.

[drron29]

Couldn't leave Histria without a last shot of the storks-

 

and a view of the excavations that are ongoing-

 

However there needs to be a clean up Romania day.A creek we crossed-

 

A village church-

 

And still used as transport-horse and cart-

 

And example of the productive gardens-

[drron29]

Going back I got a view of a lock on the Danube canal-

 

We then passed through the seaside resort of Marmora which has a casino-The Bellagio.No resemblance to that place in the Nevada dessert.An example of the holiday housing-

 

Our guide asked if we were considering coming back to Romania to stay at such a resort.We were all too polite.Most locals probably stay like this-

 

And buy all sorts of cheap flotation devices from the numerous stalls-

 

So back to the wind next and then a great night of entertainment.

[drron29]

Through town we passed a cathedral-

 

and below the Roman edifices museum-

 

But the view a lot of us enjoyed was this-

 

Even though there was another magnificent tall ship nearby-

 

As well as conspicuous signs of wealth-

 

But it seemed that Romania's main export was scrap metal-

 

Next the Pool deck BBq and show.

[drron29]

BBQ night on the Wind.I took some pictures as it was being set up.Afterwards I was too busy eating!the following are just a sample of the fare-

 

And the little fellow who sacrificed himself for our pleasure-

 

And this looks like the fellow who always gets away when i am fishing-

 

And it was time to thank the ship's company-

 

Then it was time for the show.