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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Jun 30, 2021 08:00 PM Catacombs of Odessa and the unforgettable evening in opera
In the morning we visited big Privoz Bazaar - vibrant market near the Odessa Railway Station. Interesting place but watch your pockets! From this area marshrutka 90 (12 hr) took us to the Odessa Catacombs out of the city. The terminology is confusing because what you see are not a catacombs like in Rome, nobody was burried there, but therere were sandstone quarries. During the WW2 Russian partisans had their quarters there. You can visit some 500 m of the underground trail with the local guide (200 UAH per group plus ticket 50 pp).
But the highlite of the day was the evening in the Odessa Opera House. The performance of the "Swan Lake" was on the world's level and the atmosphere in the 19th century ornata theatre made this spectacle unforgettable! I think I will be back here someday!
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Jun 29, 2021 08:00 PM Odessa, ah Odessa...
Nobody speaks Ukrainian on the streets, nobody wears the mask. Odessa has still his charm with many expats living here and the life is vibrant in the shaddy streets of the old town.
We took the walk to the monument of Russian empress Catherine the Second who erected the city at the end of 18th century. then, passing elegant Hotel de Paris we reached the monumrnt of Richelieu - one of the westernes invited to develop Odessa (Russia at this time didn't have many engineers). Richulieu looks down to the famous from the early moovie Potiomkin stairs. And on the other end of the stairs there is marine terminal and you can buy for just 100 hrywnia (3 euro) ticket for the boat excursion along the port and the beaches. It lasts 45 minutes with Russian comment. Worth to make! It was hot day. We found the buffet per kilo restaurant on Katerinska - you pay here 27 hrywnia - 1 dollar per each 100 g of the chosen food on your plate. Bon apettite!
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Jun 28, 2021 08:00 PM Landing in Odessa
At the boarding time in Gdansk airport they checked our covid certificates. Then there was almost 2- hours flight to Odessa on the Black Sea. I was impressed by the brand new airport terminal. The immigration checked our covid insurance. Yes, they built the nice terminal, but there is no public transport to the city except taxis for 250 hrywnia. Uuu... There is info on internrt that marshrutka 117 goes to Katerinska St. but they do not operate now, You have to walk almost 1 km to the stop of 168 - it will take you to Sadovaya an then walk again about 1 km.
OK, I found our apartment in the quiet courtyard.
A lot of walking people in the central streets. We took a walk to the port area where they placed the monument of the soldiers from Battleship Patiomkin - see picture.. Evening is hot, Odessa is vibrant and easy going.
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Jun 27, 2021 08:00 PM Short escape - not only to the opera...
It's full summer so I can't leave my Wojtkówka for long. But a trip for a few days is quite real. When I visited Odessa in 2003, the famous opera house was being renovated. Today it is reopened and for me - a lover of opera and ballet - the opportunity to see not only its magnificent interiors, but also to see the ballet "Swan Lake" has opened. I fly directly from Gda?sk to Odessa on a cheap airline, I rent a cheap apartment near the opera house, which will be not only a base for visiting the theater, but also for trips - including the one to the Akerman fortress, built centuries ago at the mouth of the Dniester. There will also be an opportunity to visit the catacombs and other places that I did not see during my first visit... Friendly cat Elegant with my friends will take care of Wojtkówka -
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Jun 17, 2021 08:00 PM Swimming the crystal- clear lakes
It was very hot day - 31 deg Celsius. I started the day with a forest walk - real 2-hours pleasure. I didn't see any other people. The pine forests on such a hot day have a special scence
The it was a time for the long swim in the calm and clean Drzeczno Lake (on the picture). My hosts prepared for the lunch tasty soup and dumplings filled with cottage cheese. Delicious! Domage - after the lunch ot was a time to say goodbye! I war rushing to go back to my Wojtkówka yo spray all flowers and vegetables with the water. Tomorrow will be another extremely hot day! My peonies are ibn full blossom!
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Jun 16, 2021 08:00 PM Kashubian Switzerland - little break
It is not easy to work in the garden even if you lake such a work. Today my friend invited me to the little village in the region called Kashubian Swizerland (because many lakes spread around there). The village is located in a dense pine forest. It is 28 deg Celsius warm. We are taking long walks, swimming in the crystal-clear lakes. Yes, I have a good time!
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Jun 15, 2021 08:00 PM Nice summer in Wojtkówka
As every year I am spending my summer in my dacha near Gda?sk. There is a lot of work for the single gardener on the vegetable beds but the garden rewards me with fresh vegetables. Flowers are in blossom all around and from time to time to enjoy my dacha and good music too. All my friends and the travellers are welcome!
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May 09, 2021 08:00 PM Flying home...
No, I did not drive the main highway to Ljubliana airport. I made a choice of the mountain road sneaking on the slopes of the green mountains, crossing white rivers and climbing to the passes. It was a challenge for the driver, but I was awarded by the great views... I was on time in the airport to return the car after 650 kilometers done. Not too much - but keep in mind - most of them were driven on the mountan roads. The LOT flight to Warsaw was on time and there were only less then a halfl of the seats occupied. Through the window of the plane I had the great view of the mountains - see picture. The great trip of Slovenia is over... It is the time to plan the next journey! :)
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May 08, 2021 08:00 PM Under the Devil's Bridge...
I spent the noght in the lovely, countryside private pension near Kobarid - "Rucna". Imagine to have a fireplace in the living room with unlimited load of firewood! In the sunny morning we were driving to Tolmin, to see the Tolmin Gorge. Tourists know this place, so for the locals it is a good chance to charge money for the entrance. Adults pay 8 euro, seniors - 6. Then you go by path down into the gorge, which is in some places only 10 meters wide. The path goes along the roaring river under the Devil's Bridge - you can see it 40 m above you...
In the right branch of the gorge after the serious climbing up and down you will see "The Bear's Head" rock wedged between two walls of the gorge walls. Very original place! And all of these in the fresh green of the spring spring. It is 18 deg Celsius today!
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May 07, 2021 08:00 PM High passes in the sun
The most popular and picturesque mountain road of Slovenia goes from Kranjska Gora up to the Vrsic Pass (1611 m above the sea) and then down to Soca Valley.. It was built during WW1 by the 10 thousands of Russian war prisoners. Many died. This road is a challenge for the drivers: 24 cramp switchbacks on the one side and 26 on the other! I experienced great views, and on the pass there was 1,5 m high snow on both sides of the road. Then I was driving along beautiful Soca and up to the Predel Pass on Italian border. Great panoramas again, but the final high road to Mangart was blocked by avalanche.... Down in the valleys I still was able to see Boka Waterfall 106 m high. So Savica isn't the highest fall of this country!
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