Blogs from Sochi, South, Russia, Europe

You wake up on the 24th of February finding that 2022 would be a very different year than what the world would have anticipated. No, it's not happening, and it's not happening this way. But the reality is yes it's happening, and nothing can change the will of one single soul. Sad. Then you think. I've been more than once in places where I should not be....where the international news show you people being gunned down between where you are...and your local airport. So first thing first...do not let run your emotions...analyze...and your few moments of thinking do not send you straight to the airport...but tell you to be patient. You are not changing the course of history...and you are not making any difference as of this morning! Well, this was 24th of February in St ... read more

January 18 The visit to Russian Olympic Rosa Khutor Skiing Resort was a substitute for my two Alps plans. It was due to, on the one hand, to the dropping ruble, and on the other hand due to lack of work so I didn’t manage to earn enough money. I studied the official website of Rosa and found it to be quite a high-quality place for skiing. I invited my friend Alexei for a week trip there. The currency exchange rate was absolutely not important in case of Rosa – I paid just exactly what it cost, while almost any European trip has become twice as expensive. On January 18 I got up at 5 o’clock in the morning. My departure from St. Petersburg to Sochi by Aeroflot Airlines was at 8-45. I saw the huge ... read more

That would be Joseph Stalin's dacha (term used very loosely as most dachi are way, way smaller compared to Uncle Joe's) near Sochi's coast that I toured today. Interesting place set several hundered thickly wooded feet above the Black Sea and totally painted green to blend in with the surrounding environment. There is puportedly an elevator and tunnel to the Black Sea but that was sadly not included with the 300p. tour price. Bummer. Couple more days along the Black Sea then Monday night flying to Yerevan, Armenia via Moscow. There does exist a short, direct one hour flight on one of the Baby-Flots but my flight on S7 was purchased for a mere $25 and 10,000 American Airlines frequent flier miles. Cha-ching! I've already flown on S7 twice and was impressed by the service but ... read more

Krasnodar-Taman-Tuapse-Sochi/ 1.4.-9.4.2012/ Z Krasnodaru se vydavame na vylet smerem k Port Kavkaz, coz je pristav odkud se jezdi na ukrainsky Krym. Zaroven je tato oblast Kubane znama pestovanim vina. V jednom mistnim " vinzavode" si kupijeme par lahvi vina a vyrazime na pobrezi Cerneho More. U mesta Novorosijsk je asi nejznamejsi vinzavod ABRAU DURSO, ktery produkuje nejslavnejsi" ruske sampanske" a dalsi perliva vina. Kupujeme lahev nejlacinejsiho na Helci narozeniny a vyrazime za sluncem. Zastavujeme se v Anape a Gelendziku , prochazime se po mistni promenade, ktera si s nicim nezada se zapadoevropskymi primorskymi letovisky.. Pocasi uz je slunecne a more azurove modre, klidne jako rybnik. V meste Tuapse potkavame naseho znameho a on nam meni zadni brzdove desticky. Zaroven nam doporucuje mista kam se podivat a kde prenocovat. Nocovat budeme na skale za mestem, aspon to ... read more

The Russian resort town of Sochi with it's year round mild temperatures, where it almost never snows and site of the 2014 Winter Olympics was our next stop after a +1 hour time difference. On a side note, Sochi is the longest city in Europe, over 140 km long but very narrow. The second and last port where we would be tendered we were a little smarter and managed our way of early with the large ship sponsored tour groups instead of waiting until they had all departed as we knew they weren't going out full the previous day and they could easily squeeze six more in. Russia requires a Visa ($200!) but is waived if you bought a tour from the ship. Even though the cruise boat didn't mention it the Visa is also waived ... read more