I am going to California for two weeks for a visit with my darling daughter and darling sister. We will be attending the wedding festivities of a cousin's child in the Los Angeles area. Can't wait.
As a postscript to the last trip, all the photos are on google plus. Please contact me for instructions on how to view all fifteen hundred of them.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Photos
I have placed photos of the entire trip on Google Plus Photos and Picasa 3 Web Albums. If anyone wishes to be thoroughly bored and see them please contact me by email and I will tell you how to access them.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013
LAST FROM ISTANBUL
WE WERE STLL ON THE SHIP AT 4:30 AM WHEN SUDDENLY WE WERE AWAKENED BY THE MUEZZEIN CALLING EVERYONE TO PRAYER. WE HAD THE BALCONY DOORS OPEN AND THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A MOSQUE NEAR THE PIER. I NEARLY FELL OFF THE BED. ARE THESE PEOPLE NUTS? 4:30 AM?????????????
ISTANBUL
WE ARE IN ISTANBUL BUT IT IS PEACEFUL WHERE WE ARE. THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING: THE HOTEL WHERE WE ARE STAYING IS ON HIGH ALERT. THE ENTRANCE TO THE GROUNDS IS BARRICADED AND WHEN OUR TAXI CAME IN THEY CHECKED UNDER THE CAR WITH A MIRROR AND OPENED UP THE TRUNK. THEN WE HAD TO GO THROUGH A SECURITY CHECK TO GET IINTO THE LOBBY AND WE NEED A SPECIAL CARD FOR THE ELEVATOR IN ORDER TO GET UPSTAIRS TO OUR ROOM. PRETTY EXCITING.
WE LEFT THE SHIP EARLY AND TOOK THE SHIP TOUR AROUND TOWN BUT NOWHERE NEAR WHERE THE DEMONSTRATIONS ARE. THAT IS IN TAKSIM SQUARE. WE ARE IN FOR THE EVENING SO THINGS SHOULD BE FINE. WE WENT TO A MODERN OUTLET MALL BEFORE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN SAWGRASS MILLS. SAME STORES, SAME FOOD. HOWEVER, EVERYTIME I COME TO ISTANBUL I SEEM TO SEE MORE BURKAS AND I DON'T LIKE SEEING THAT. WE WENT TO THE SPICE MARKET AND THE GRAND BAZAAR AND THE OBLIGATORY RUG STORE. AFTER A WHILE EVERYTHING STARTS TO LOOK ALIKE AND THE SHOPKEEPERS ARE JUST LIKE THE ONES
IN TIJUANA. IT WAS TOO HOT TO BARGAIN SO I REALLY DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING. ALSO, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT WE GOT LOST IN THE GRAND BAZAAR AND COULDN'T FIND THE RIGHT ONE FOR A LONG TIME. IT'S SO EAS TO GET LOST THERE.
GUESS I AM READY TO COME HOME FOR A WHILE BUT I AM ALREADY INVESTIGATING THE NEXT EXCURSION.
WE LEFT THE SHIP EARLY AND TOOK THE SHIP TOUR AROUND TOWN BUT NOWHERE NEAR WHERE THE DEMONSTRATIONS ARE. THAT IS IN TAKSIM SQUARE. WE ARE IN FOR THE EVENING SO THINGS SHOULD BE FINE. WE WENT TO A MODERN OUTLET MALL BEFORE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN SAWGRASS MILLS. SAME STORES, SAME FOOD. HOWEVER, EVERYTIME I COME TO ISTANBUL I SEEM TO SEE MORE BURKAS AND I DON'T LIKE SEEING THAT. WE WENT TO THE SPICE MARKET AND THE GRAND BAZAAR AND THE OBLIGATORY RUG STORE. AFTER A WHILE EVERYTHING STARTS TO LOOK ALIKE AND THE SHOPKEEPERS ARE JUST LIKE THE ONES
IN TIJUANA. IT WAS TOO HOT TO BARGAIN SO I REALLY DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING. ALSO, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT WE GOT LOST IN THE GRAND BAZAAR AND COULDN'T FIND THE RIGHT ONE FOR A LONG TIME. IT'S SO EAS TO GET LOST THERE.
GUESS I AM READY TO COME HOME FOR A WHILE BUT I AM ALREADY INVESTIGATING THE NEXT EXCURSION.
YALTA
YALTA IN THE CRIMEA AND SITUATED ON THE BLACK SEA, IS THE LA JOLLA OF THE UKRAINE. NICE STORES, NICE PLACES TO LIVE, SOME SPECTACULAR SCENERY AND GORGEOUS WEATHER. WE WERE MET BY OUR PRIVATE GUIDE, NATASHA, AND THE DRIVER AND MINIVAN AND ALONG WITH OUR TOUR COMPANIONS, SHELLY, ELLEN AND CHERYL, WE WERE OFF ON ANOTHER ADVENTURE. THIS WAS A FUN, INTELLIGENT AND HAPPY GROUP. OUR FIRST STOP WAS A BEAUTIFUL SCENIC OVERLOOK FOR PHOTOS OF THE SWALLOWS NEST CASTLE, PERCHED HIGH ON A CLIFF OVERLOOKING THE BLACK SEA. IT LOOKS LIKE CINDERELLA'S CASTLE AT DISNEY WORLD. IT WAS CLOSED FOR RENOVATIONS BECAUSE OF EARTHQUAKES BUT IT WAS STILL A SPECTACULAR SIGHT.
THEN IT WAS ON TO VORONTSOV PALACE UP IN THE HILLS. THIS WAS BUILT IN THE STYLE OF A LATE TUDOR ENGLISH CASTLE AND APPOINTED LAVISHLY. THE BACK FACADE FACING THE WATER IS BEAUTIFUL TOO, DONE IN THE STYLE OF AN ORIENTAL PALACE OF THE 19TH CENTURY WITH MAGNIFICENT GARDENS AND A CONSERVATORY. THE COUNT, RICHEST MAN IN RUSSIA, OWNED EIGHTY THOUSAND SERFS TO CARE FOR HIS MANY PROPERTIES. NO WONDER THEY REVOLTED. THE AMOUNT OF PURE OPULENCE WAS DISGUSTING. AFTER LOLLING AROUND THE CASTLE WE HEADED FOR THE LIVADIA PALACE, SUMMER RESIDENCE OF THE LAST TSAR, NICHOLAS II. IT WAS BUILT IN THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE STYLE AND IS STARK WHITE. THE HISTORY OF THIS PLACE WAS SO THICK YOU COULD CUT IT WITH A KNIFE. IT WAS THE SITE OF THE CRIMEAN CONFERENCE DURING WW II. THERE ARE PHOTOS OF THE CONFERENCE EVERYWHERE. YOU COULD ALMOST HEAR ROOSEVELT,HILL AND STALIN CARVING UP THE WORLD. T HERE WERE ALSO DOZENS OF PHOTOS OF THE RUSSIAN ROYAL FAMILY AND IT WAS SAD TO SEE THE FACES OF THOSE FIVE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN WHO WERE MURDERED BY THE BOLSHEVICS. IT UPSET ME.
OUR TOUR ENDED BACK AT THE SHIP WHERE WE HAD A QUICK LUNCH AND WERE OFF AGAIN TO EXPLORE THE SEASIDE AREA OF YALTA. SINCE IT IS SATURDAY EVERYONE IS OUT EITHER WALKING THE PROMENADE OR AT THE BEACH WHICH IS ALL STONES AND ROCKS. NOT TOO PRETTY. ALL SIZES AND SHAPES, BUT ALL LOOKING VERY RUSSIAN . MANY PEOPLE STOPPED TO SPEAK TO US IN RUSSIAN AND WERE TRULY SURPRISED WHEN WE ANSWERED THEM IN ENGLISH. SOMEONE TRIED TO SELL US CAVIAR FOR $20. WE ARE BACK ON OUR BEAUTIFUL SHIP NOW, TOTALLY EXHAUSTED. WE MET SOME LOVELY PEOPLE TODAY AND HOPE TO CONTINUE OUR FRIENDSHIP WITH THEM. THAT IS ONE OF THE NICE PARTS OF CRUISING. ONE MEETS SUCH NICE PEOPLE MANY OF WHO REMAIN LONGTIME FRIENDS.
THE ENTERTAINMENT WAS EXCELLENT AS IT HAS BEEN THROUGHOUT . JERRY INFORMED THE CAPTAIN THAT HE WILL NOW SAIL WITH NOBODY BUT HIM. THE CAPTAIN CHUCKLED. GUESS HE HAS HEARD THAT BEFORE. WHAT HE DIDN'T REALIZE WAS THAT JERRY MEANT IT. THIS CAPTAIN IS AMAZING.. HE IS EVERYWHERE. WE WONDER SOMETIME IF HE HAS A TWIN ONBOARD. HE HAS A TERRIFIC SENSE OF HUMOR, IS GRACIOUS, SMART AND CHARMING AND HAS ACTUALLY BEEN KNOWN TO DRIVE THE SHIP OCCASIONALLY WHEN THIS DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH HIS SOCIAL ACTIVITIES,
WE ARE HEADING FOR ISTANBUL, TURKEY, WHERE THEY ARE RIOTING IN TAKSIM SQUARE, ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES IN TURKEY. THE CAPTAIN WILL INFORM US AT THE NOON BRIEFING WHETHER OR NOT THINGS ARE GETTING STICKY. WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE SHIP'S TRANSPORT TO OUR HOTEL FOR SAFETY REASONS. WE HAVE BEEN TOO CLOSE TO THE ACTION IN PAST TRAVELS, WHAT WITH SWINE FLU AND TAHRIR SQUARE. SO THIS TIME WE GOT SMART. I GUESS JERRY HAD A GUT FEELING. I BELIEVE IN THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELLING IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD..ONE NEVER KNOWS AND EVENTS CAN LITERALLY TURN ON A DIME SO IT IS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY..
THEN IT WAS ON TO VORONTSOV PALACE UP IN THE HILLS. THIS WAS BUILT IN THE STYLE OF A LATE TUDOR ENGLISH CASTLE AND APPOINTED LAVISHLY. THE BACK FACADE FACING THE WATER IS BEAUTIFUL TOO, DONE IN THE STYLE OF AN ORIENTAL PALACE OF THE 19TH CENTURY WITH MAGNIFICENT GARDENS AND A CONSERVATORY. THE COUNT, RICHEST MAN IN RUSSIA, OWNED EIGHTY THOUSAND SERFS TO CARE FOR HIS MANY PROPERTIES. NO WONDER THEY REVOLTED. THE AMOUNT OF PURE OPULENCE WAS DISGUSTING. AFTER LOLLING AROUND THE CASTLE WE HEADED FOR THE LIVADIA PALACE, SUMMER RESIDENCE OF THE LAST TSAR, NICHOLAS II. IT WAS BUILT IN THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE STYLE AND IS STARK WHITE. THE HISTORY OF THIS PLACE WAS SO THICK YOU COULD CUT IT WITH A KNIFE. IT WAS THE SITE OF THE CRIMEAN CONFERENCE DURING WW II. THERE ARE PHOTOS OF THE CONFERENCE EVERYWHERE. YOU COULD ALMOST HEAR ROOSEVELT,HILL AND STALIN CARVING UP THE WORLD. T HERE WERE ALSO DOZENS OF PHOTOS OF THE RUSSIAN ROYAL FAMILY AND IT WAS SAD TO SEE THE FACES OF THOSE FIVE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN WHO WERE MURDERED BY THE BOLSHEVICS. IT UPSET ME.
OUR TOUR ENDED BACK AT THE SHIP WHERE WE HAD A QUICK LUNCH AND WERE OFF AGAIN TO EXPLORE THE SEASIDE AREA OF YALTA. SINCE IT IS SATURDAY EVERYONE IS OUT EITHER WALKING THE PROMENADE OR AT THE BEACH WHICH IS ALL STONES AND ROCKS. NOT TOO PRETTY. ALL SIZES AND SHAPES, BUT ALL LOOKING VERY RUSSIAN . MANY PEOPLE STOPPED TO SPEAK TO US IN RUSSIAN AND WERE TRULY SURPRISED WHEN WE ANSWERED THEM IN ENGLISH. SOMEONE TRIED TO SELL US CAVIAR FOR $20. WE ARE BACK ON OUR BEAUTIFUL SHIP NOW, TOTALLY EXHAUSTED. WE MET SOME LOVELY PEOPLE TODAY AND HOPE TO CONTINUE OUR FRIENDSHIP WITH THEM. THAT IS ONE OF THE NICE PARTS OF CRUISING. ONE MEETS SUCH NICE PEOPLE MANY OF WHO REMAIN LONGTIME FRIENDS.
THE ENTERTAINMENT WAS EXCELLENT AS IT HAS BEEN THROUGHOUT . JERRY INFORMED THE CAPTAIN THAT HE WILL NOW SAIL WITH NOBODY BUT HIM. THE CAPTAIN CHUCKLED. GUESS HE HAS HEARD THAT BEFORE. WHAT HE DIDN'T REALIZE WAS THAT JERRY MEANT IT. THIS CAPTAIN IS AMAZING.. HE IS EVERYWHERE. WE WONDER SOMETIME IF HE HAS A TWIN ONBOARD. HE HAS A TERRIFIC SENSE OF HUMOR, IS GRACIOUS, SMART AND CHARMING AND HAS ACTUALLY BEEN KNOWN TO DRIVE THE SHIP OCCASIONALLY WHEN THIS DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH HIS SOCIAL ACTIVITIES,
WE ARE HEADING FOR ISTANBUL, TURKEY, WHERE THEY ARE RIOTING IN TAKSIM SQUARE, ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES IN TURKEY. THE CAPTAIN WILL INFORM US AT THE NOON BRIEFING WHETHER OR NOT THINGS ARE GETTING STICKY. WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE SHIP'S TRANSPORT TO OUR HOTEL FOR SAFETY REASONS. WE HAVE BEEN TOO CLOSE TO THE ACTION IN PAST TRAVELS, WHAT WITH SWINE FLU AND TAHRIR SQUARE. SO THIS TIME WE GOT SMART. I GUESS JERRY HAD A GUT FEELING. I BELIEVE IN THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELLING IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD..ONE NEVER KNOWS AND EVENTS CAN LITERALLY TURN ON A DIME SO IT IS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY..
SEVASTOPOL
WE ARRIVED IN SEVASTOPOL AT NOON. IT IS A SMALL CITY ON A PENINSULA SURROUNDED BY WATER. IT IS THE HOME OF BOTH THE UKRANIAN AND RUSSIAN BLACK SEA NAVAL FLEETS SO THERE ARE LOADS OF SHIPS ALL AROUND THE HARBOR. IT WAS PRETTY HOT TODAY SO NO JACKET NECESSARY. WE FOUND A TAXI DRIVER WHO SHOWED US AROUND. WE SHARED HIM WITH ANOTHER COUPLE, A RETIRED BRITISH DIPLOMAT AND HIS WIFE. HE SPOKE FLUENT RUSSIAN SO THAT MADE COMMUNICATION WITH OUR GUIDE VERY EASY. HE TOOK US ALL AROUND THE CITY, INCLUDING VARIOUS GIGANTIC MONUMENTS, RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCHES, PANORAMAS OF THE BATTLE OF BALAKLAVA. THIS WAS WHERE FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE GOT HER START. SHE AND ANOTHER NURSE CARED FOR ALL THE MANGLED WARRIORS IN THIS MOST HORRENDOUS BATTLE, THE BATTLE OF BALAKLAVA, MADE FAMOUS BY THE POEM WHICH BEGINS...INTO THE VALLEY OF DEATH RODE THE SIX HUNDRED...IT WAS A GORY MESS WHICH WE SAW DEPICTED IN AN AMAZINGLY LIFELIKE PANORAMA ON THE SITE.
I HAD TO PUT ON A COVERUP FOR SHOULDERS AND HEAD TO GO INTO THE CHURCH. I SURE LOOKED FUNNY. ACTUALLY, I STRONGLY RESEMBLED MY OWN GRANDMOTHER. THE THING ABOUT THE RUSSIAN AND GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCHES IS THAT THERE ARE NO SEATS. EVERYONE MUST STAND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SERVICE NO MATTER HOW OLD THEY ARE AND HOW LONG THE SERVICE IS. THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF BOWING AND KNEELING. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DO IT.
AFTER SIGHTSEEING WE RETURNED TO THE SHIP FOR A QUICK SWIM AND GOT READY FOR OUR SPECIAL EVENING. AND WAS IT EVER SPECIAL. WE FELT LIKE IMPORTANT DIGNITARIES AND THE MOST IMPORTANT VIP'S. AFTER A FOURTY MINUTE BUS RIDE WE ENTERED THE MICHAELOVSKAYA NAVAL BATTERY GROUNDS. THERE WAS A RECEIVING LINE WITH SAILORS DRESSED IN ALL MANNER OF NAVAL GARB FROM THE 1700'S TO THE PRESENT. THERE WERE ALL MANNER OF WEAPONS, OLD AND NEWER, PLANES, AND EVERY WAR CONTRAPTION IMAGINABLE. THERE WERE WHITE TENTS SET UP WITH RUSSIAN AND UKRANIAN FOODS, WINES AND VODKA. IT WAS LIKE A STATE AFFAIR. WE WERE BLOWN AWAY. AFTER COCKTAILS THE NAVY BAND, SINGERS, DANCERS, BOTH MALE AND FEMALE, TREATED US TO A FANTASTIC SHOW OF FOLKLORIC, NATIONAL AND LOCAL MUSIC, ALONG WITH SOME VERY WELL-KNOWN MUSIC WHICH IS UNIVERSAL. AT THE INTERMISSION WE WENT TO THE TENTS AND ATE OURSELVES SICK WITH ALL THE LOCAL DELICACIES INCLUDING FINE CAVIAR. THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW WAS JUST AS GOOD AS THE FIRST AND WE GAVE THEM A STANDING OVATION. WHAT A SPECIAL EVENING AND WHAT A TREAT. OUR CAPTAIN AND HIS OFFICERS WERE IN ATTENDANCE AS WELL. IT WAS A PERFECT EVENING. THE WEATHER COOPERATED AND WE MANAGED TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER DESPITE THE LANGUAGE BARRIER. A WONDERFUL TIME WAS HAD BY ALL. THE VODKA WAS POWERFUL!
WE SET SAIL AT MIDNIGHT ACCOMPANIED BY FIREWORKS AND THUNDER AND LIGHTNING PROVIDED BY MOTHER NATURE, RUSSIAN STYLE. OUR NEXT PORT OF CALL IS YALTA, A PLACE REEKING WITH ALL SORTS OF INTERESTING HISTORY AND FAMOUS FOR ITS SPAS AND HIGH-END MEDICAL CLINICS. YOU GET YOUR DOCTOR TO WRITE YOU A PRESCRIPTION FOR A WEEK'S “CURE” AT THE SPA. IT WORKS FOR ME.
I HAD TO PUT ON A COVERUP FOR SHOULDERS AND HEAD TO GO INTO THE CHURCH. I SURE LOOKED FUNNY. ACTUALLY, I STRONGLY RESEMBLED MY OWN GRANDMOTHER. THE THING ABOUT THE RUSSIAN AND GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCHES IS THAT THERE ARE NO SEATS. EVERYONE MUST STAND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SERVICE NO MATTER HOW OLD THEY ARE AND HOW LONG THE SERVICE IS. THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF BOWING AND KNEELING. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DO IT.
AFTER SIGHTSEEING WE RETURNED TO THE SHIP FOR A QUICK SWIM AND GOT READY FOR OUR SPECIAL EVENING. AND WAS IT EVER SPECIAL. WE FELT LIKE IMPORTANT DIGNITARIES AND THE MOST IMPORTANT VIP'S. AFTER A FOURTY MINUTE BUS RIDE WE ENTERED THE MICHAELOVSKAYA NAVAL BATTERY GROUNDS. THERE WAS A RECEIVING LINE WITH SAILORS DRESSED IN ALL MANNER OF NAVAL GARB FROM THE 1700'S TO THE PRESENT. THERE WERE ALL MANNER OF WEAPONS, OLD AND NEWER, PLANES, AND EVERY WAR CONTRAPTION IMAGINABLE. THERE WERE WHITE TENTS SET UP WITH RUSSIAN AND UKRANIAN FOODS, WINES AND VODKA. IT WAS LIKE A STATE AFFAIR. WE WERE BLOWN AWAY. AFTER COCKTAILS THE NAVY BAND, SINGERS, DANCERS, BOTH MALE AND FEMALE, TREATED US TO A FANTASTIC SHOW OF FOLKLORIC, NATIONAL AND LOCAL MUSIC, ALONG WITH SOME VERY WELL-KNOWN MUSIC WHICH IS UNIVERSAL. AT THE INTERMISSION WE WENT TO THE TENTS AND ATE OURSELVES SICK WITH ALL THE LOCAL DELICACIES INCLUDING FINE CAVIAR. THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW WAS JUST AS GOOD AS THE FIRST AND WE GAVE THEM A STANDING OVATION. WHAT A SPECIAL EVENING AND WHAT A TREAT. OUR CAPTAIN AND HIS OFFICERS WERE IN ATTENDANCE AS WELL. IT WAS A PERFECT EVENING. THE WEATHER COOPERATED AND WE MANAGED TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER DESPITE THE LANGUAGE BARRIER. A WONDERFUL TIME WAS HAD BY ALL. THE VODKA WAS POWERFUL!
WE SET SAIL AT MIDNIGHT ACCOMPANIED BY FIREWORKS AND THUNDER AND LIGHTNING PROVIDED BY MOTHER NATURE, RUSSIAN STYLE. OUR NEXT PORT OF CALL IS YALTA, A PLACE REEKING WITH ALL SORTS OF INTERESTING HISTORY AND FAMOUS FOR ITS SPAS AND HIGH-END MEDICAL CLINICS. YOU GET YOUR DOCTOR TO WRITE YOU A PRESCRIPTION FOR A WEEK'S “CURE” AT THE SPA. IT WORKS FOR ME.
ODESSA
ODESSA, UKRAINE, HOME OF MY PATERNAL ANCESTORS. I KNEW I WOULD LIKE IT AND I DID. IN FACT, I LOVED IT. IT IS OLD AND NEW AT THE SAME TIME. WE WALKED UP THE POTEMKIN STEPS FROM THE PORT TO THE CITY, ALL 200 OF THEM. IN FACT, WE DID IT TWICE. IT WAS A CHALLENGE BUT WE DID IT. WE TOOK A FIVE HOUR TOUR OF THE WHOLE CITY. WE WENT EVERYWERE. WE SAW BEAUTIFUL OLD BUILDINGS, LUSH PARKS AND SQUARES, LOTS OF INTERESTING MONUMENTS AND STATUES, SCHOOLS, AND HOUSES OF WORSHIP. PEOPLE SPOKE TO ME IN RUSSIAN BECAUSE I REALLY DO LOOK LIKE I BELONG THERE. I KNEW THAT WOULD HAPPEN. UKRAINE IS TOTALLY FREE BUT WITH DEEP RUSSIAN ROOTS AND ODESSA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CENTER OF LEARNING AND THE ARTS. WE WENT TO A MODERN SHOPPING MALL, AN OLD SYNAGOGUE, AND A MAGNIFICENT RESTORED FIVE STAR HOTEL. EVERYONE WAS DRESSED VERY WELL AND THERE WERE VERY FEW BEGGARS AND GYPSIES. THE PEOPLE WE ASKED FOR DIRECTIONS TRIED TO BE HELPFUL. I USED MY ALMOST NON EXISTANT RUSSIAN VOCABULARY TO THEIR DELIGHT. I REMEMBERED A
MY LITTLE BIT OF IT FROM MY CHILDHOOD WHEN MY GRANDFATHER SPOKE IT.
I REALLY ENJOYED ODESSA AND FELT QUITE AT HOME THERE, NOT THAT I COULD EVER LIVE THERE. BUT IT WAS A COMFORTABLE AND INTERESTING PLACE TO VISIT.
SOME OF THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS ARE EYE CANDY AND I AND COME OUT AHEAD.HOPE THEY REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THESE BUILDINGS ARE AND THAT THEY ARE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR HISTORY. MOST OF THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS STILL HAVE THEIR MAIN ENTRANCES THROUGH COURTYARDS WITH EVERYONE'S WASH HANGING OUT ON THEIR TINY BALCONIES. THE MAJORITY DON'T HA VE DRYERS SO IT'S THE OLD FASHIONED CLOTHES LINE.I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE SOME OF THE MONUMENTS TO SOVIET-ERA HEROES AND OTHERS FROM IMPERIAL TZARIST TIMES. I THINK THEY JUST LOVE MONUMENTS. THERE WERE PLAQUES ON MANY BUILDINGS TELLING WHICH HERO LIVED THERE. ODESSA, LIKE YALTA, SEVASTOPOL AND VOLGAGRAD (FORMERLY LENINGRAD) ARE DESIGNATED AS HERO CITIES BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM IN VARIOUS WARS. THESE PEOPLE HAD A ROUGH TIME THROUGHOUT THEIR HISTORY BUT SOMEHOW MANAGED TO PULL THROUGH AND COME OUT AHEAD. I EXPECTED TOO SEE MANY MORE OLD LADIES DRESSED IN LONG BLACK DRESSES WITH BABUSHKAS ON THEIR HEADS BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE AT ALL. IT WAS MODERN DRESS AND SANDALS WITH WEDGES ALL AROUND. ONE MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA.
NOW IT IS ON TO SEVASTOPOL FOR A DAY OF SIGHTSEEING AND AN EVENING CONCERT BY THE NAVY BAND AT THE LARGE NAVAL BASE THERE. THIS IS THE CRIMEA, THE RUSSIAN RIVIERA SO IT SHOULD BE BEAUTIFUL. THE WEATHER IS GREAT WHICH WILL ONLY MAKE THE EXPERIENCE EVEN BETTER.
MY LITTLE BIT OF IT FROM MY CHILDHOOD WHEN MY GRANDFATHER SPOKE IT.
I REALLY ENJOYED ODESSA AND FELT QUITE AT HOME THERE, NOT THAT I COULD EVER LIVE THERE. BUT IT WAS A COMFORTABLE AND INTERESTING PLACE TO VISIT.
SOME OF THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS ARE EYE CANDY AND I AND COME OUT AHEAD.HOPE THEY REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT THESE BUILDINGS ARE AND THAT THEY ARE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR HISTORY. MOST OF THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS STILL HAVE THEIR MAIN ENTRANCES THROUGH COURTYARDS WITH EVERYONE'S WASH HANGING OUT ON THEIR TINY BALCONIES. THE MAJORITY DON'T HA VE DRYERS SO IT'S THE OLD FASHIONED CLOTHES LINE.I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE SOME OF THE MONUMENTS TO SOVIET-ERA HEROES AND OTHERS FROM IMPERIAL TZARIST TIMES. I THINK THEY JUST LOVE MONUMENTS. THERE WERE PLAQUES ON MANY BUILDINGS TELLING WHICH HERO LIVED THERE. ODESSA, LIKE YALTA, SEVASTOPOL AND VOLGAGRAD (FORMERLY LENINGRAD) ARE DESIGNATED AS HERO CITIES BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM IN VARIOUS WARS. THESE PEOPLE HAD A ROUGH TIME THROUGHOUT THEIR HISTORY BUT SOMEHOW MANAGED TO PULL THROUGH AND COME OUT AHEAD. I EXPECTED TOO SEE MANY MORE OLD LADIES DRESSED IN LONG BLACK DRESSES WITH BABUSHKAS ON THEIR HEADS BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE AT ALL. IT WAS MODERN DRESS AND SANDALS WITH WEDGES ALL AROUND. ONE MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA.
NOW IT IS ON TO SEVASTOPOL FOR A DAY OF SIGHTSEEING AND AN EVENING CONCERT BY THE NAVY BAND AT THE LARGE NAVAL BASE THERE. THIS IS THE CRIMEA, THE RUSSIAN RIVIERA SO IT SHOULD BE BEAUTIFUL. THE WEATHER IS GREAT WHICH WILL ONLY MAKE THE EXPERIENCE EVEN BETTER.
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