Bass Strait to the Black Sea.

[serfty]

I thinks there's a problem ... is is Odessa? (Cue spooky musac)

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I thinks there's a problem ... is is Odessa? (Cue spooky musac)

View attachment 8882

Oh those russians ........

 

[drron]

The pics show up on my computer but not mrsdrrons.Computers obviously have a mind of their own.I will try to repost.

Well reposted the photos and they now appear on mrsdrron's computer.Picassaweb was playing up last night so maybe that was the problem.

 

[drron]

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 mrsdrron 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 mrsdrron went back on the shuttle i had another couple of hours just walking around admiring the architecture.
More of that next.

 

[drron]

A wonderful collection of buildings from the ordinary-

To the official and well maintained-

Impressive-

But with streets for pedestrians-

And nice parks-

But public toilets were not entirely first world-

You had to pay someone to go in and the paper is kept on the outside.


Still more to come.

 

[drron]

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-

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.

 

[drron]

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

some internal courtyards are put to good use-

Not all is beautiful though-

Some of the modern buildings had at least a little style-

And the french influence in statues everywhere-

Even simple residential areas have style-

And a paslace converted to government offices-

with magnificent public buildings-

next Primorsky Boulevarde.

 

[drron]

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!

 

[drron]

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-

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 mrsdrron had put in an order for a large lobster!
That next.

 

[drron]

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.Mrsdrron 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 mrsdrron 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-

near the museum was Constanta's largest Mosque(or Moskay as our guide called it).

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.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Fabulous pictures drron!

 

[drron]

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-

 

[drron]

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.

 

[drron]

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-

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.

 

[drron]

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-

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.

 

[drron]

Through town we passed a cathedral-

and below the Roman edifices museum-

As well as Communist era edifices-

But the view a lot of us enjoyed was this-

Even though there was another magnificent tall ship nearby-

amongst the pride of the Romanian navy-

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.

 

[drron]

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.

We found the quality of the entertainment on this cruise was very good and tonight was no exception.First Sonny and Cher-

Then the remarkable Mick Jagger-

But I couldn't get sir elton to look around-

But then Cyndi put her heart and soul into her number-

More to come.

 

[drron]

Then the women took over-

the audience was singing along-

But we were waiting for the King-

But unfortunately he didn't sing one of his classics so a bit of a letdown.The music was soon back as everyone was invited up to do-
All the moves like Jagger
I've got the moves like Jagger.

Well i got up and found i certainly didn't have the moves like Jagger so left it to the man himself-

Night had well and truly fallen by the time we left port.This port didn't stop with some nice night scenes-

And the work just continued-

Next-Nessebur,Bulgaria

 

[drron]

As we cruised into Nessebur(or Nessebar if you prefer)the locals were ready for business-

The Old Town however was originally built on an islans but is now connected to the Mainland.It was founded by Thracians,then Greeks and Romans to then change hands regularly over the years.Because it is a small Island there are not Port facilities for the Wind and we take to the tenders for the only time this cruise-

You can see why-

But this gives nature a chance.I do love my birds!

The causeway-

All tourist busses have to stop here so very little traffic in the town-

Again our research on Nessebur suggested an organised tour was not really necessary.This proved correct as most of the places of interest had signs with decent English descriptions.We further felt better about our decision because the Israeli tour group whose bus was bombed occurred ~ 40km south of here the day before we arrived.
So to the walls of the city-

just before we entered the town proper we saw this-

Just couldn't figure what was missing.

 

[drron]

There were the ruins of many a fine church-

With some great detail-

And of all sizes-