Tag Archives: Ukraine

Adventure, Relaxation, Travel, Vacation

Welcome to the Pearl of the Black Beetle, I mean Sea…..

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After arriving at my hotel, the Palladium, check in was smooth, the staff helpful, and I was ready for bed. After midnight, and the city was quiet. The hotel was clean, and after carrying my bag up the stairs to the second floor, found my room close to the stairs, and I was ready to pass out for 12 hours.

Palladium hotel

Small problem though, before I could go to sleep, I had to close the windows, and kill all the small black beetles that enjoy the light outside the building, that came in to my room with the same idea I had. They were probably looking for a good night sleep too! They didn’t come in during the day, but at night they were more than happy to visit. It only took me about 10 minutes, but I killed more than 30 of them. No screens on the windows, and the weather was hot, so the windows of all the unoccupied rooms were left open. But, that was a minor inconvenience, and off to dreamland I went. I dont know about many other hotels, but if you go to Odessa in the summer, it might not be a bad idea to pack a flyswatter, I used a shoe, and made a few nasty squished bug marks on the walls….

Tomorrow, we’ll find some history!

Relaxation, Travel, Vacation

First Impressions….

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After a 16 hour flight, just about anyone is more than ready to get off the airplane, I was no exception.

 

 

 

 

 

Clearing customs in Odessa was a breeze, especially since we were the last flight to land that night.

We arrived about 10 p.m., and after a 15 minute bus ride to the terminal, we walked right up to the Customs officers in their booths.  Clearing through these guys went quick and easy, but for a Westerner, having never been through an Eastern European airport, it was a bit different.

Firstly, I guess I wasn’t quite ready for the camouflaged fatigues and AK-74’s at the gate. (Yes, I looked closely and asked what model it was…..) I don’t know if the Ukrainian army controls customs and immigration, but it certainly looked that way. Intellectually, I knew I would probably see the guards and guns, but as an American who grew up and served in the Army during the Cold War, this was a bit of a wake up.

However, the guards, and the airline employees, and in fact, everyone I came across, was friendly and helpful. Smiling and trying to show off their English language skills, they tried to understand my smattering of Russian, and figure out what I wanted.

The airport itself was about what I expected. Concrete block buildings, with governmental looking chairs, and desks, and looked like it hadn’t been painted in quite a while.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI knew that after the breakup of the Soviet Union the economy in Ukraine hadn’t been too robust, and with the recent military actions in the east, and conflicts with Russia, there would not be much money for improvements to government buildings for some time. But, I wasn’t there to tour airports…..

I’ll tell you about the ride in from the airport in my next report…..

Adventure, Relaxation, Travel, Vacation, Welcome to Yondering

Beautiful Tropical Ukraine????

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Yes, Beautiful Tropical Ukraine!! Odessa is known as the pearl of the Black Sea, and it deserves its moniker…

While it is more than a little distance from my normal Tropical vacations, Odessa, Ukraine, actually is quite a tropical location. Palm trees, warm breezes off the warm Black Sea waters, and skimpy bathing gear as far as the eye can see. No wonder all the Leaders and Ranking Military of the USSR had their Dachas here….

Why Ukraine? Firstly, because I’d never been there. Never even been that side of the “Pond”, as the British put it. It is something new that I wanted to see. Second, I like to combine my love of the tropics with another love of mine, History. Yes, that capitol H is intentional. I enjoy seeing, reading, and being historical. (Some friends might change that spelling to hysterical, but that is another story altogether.

Here in the US, we have some History, but most of it is not much more than 250 years old. Ukraine has churches that are a thousand years old. The catacombs under Odessa are older than that.

So, a good place to go if you like History.

Before I set out, I thought I should do my best to try to learn at least some of the local language. At least how to find a restaurant, or even a bathroom. What I found after arriving is that the worst part of visiting Ukraine isn’t any difficulty communicating. The people are friendly,  and if you have any Russian language skills at all, (can you say Da? ) they will nearly fall over themselves trying to show you their English skills, (whether they have any or not!! )  🙂

As I live on the west coast of the US, the flight was long. Very long. I didn’t want to spend too much of my vacation on a plane so I paid for a one stop flight, with as short a layover as I could get. In so doing, I also had to take off from a Major international airport. (For some reason we don’t have many international departures at the airport here in southern Oregon.) So, I drove to San Francisco. I could have paid for a flight to get there in just over an hour, but I figured I would save money and have more to spend when I got to Ukraine. (Note to self: Next time calculate parking fee!!) The parking fee for the 10 days I left my truck at SFO would have covered the flight from home to San Fran……

At least my first flight was only 16 hours. From SFO to Istanbul, Turkey. Then a short layover, and a hop to Odessa. Total travel time, just  under 20 hours. Not too bad for a trip just about halfway around the world. And I flew Turkish Air. I didn’t even know there was a Turkish airlines, but the service was good, the seats comfortable, and lots of movies and games on the seatback video console for entertainment.

Next? Finally arriving in Odessa…..

 

Adventure, Fishing, Food, Relaxation, Travel, Vacation, Welcome to Yondering

Here we go!

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Well, the supplies are bought, catalogued, folded, spindled and mutilated, bags packed, lists made and printed in triplicate, passport copied, and its time to hit the road! The trip is to Costa Rica, but I’m traveling on my own. No tours, no guides, traveling without a net, so to speak. I looked at what Costa Rica has to offer, picked my favorite 4 or 5 things, and I’m hitting the road! Should be a real Kick in the Pants!

The plan includes fishing, diving, surfing, zip-lining, and a visit to Baldi Hot Springs; the biggest collection of hot spring pools I have ever heard of.

Baldi is twenty pools of varying size and temperature located on the side of a volcano, with water slides, hotel, and all manner of interesting and provocative food and activities.

Fishing will be on the Caribbean coast for Tarpon, with offshore trips in the morning, and river trips in the afternoons. A bonus will be the possibility of seeing a crocodile or two, possibly eating a fish I hook.

Surfing? Tamarindo. Beach break with soft sand, friendly people, and great food. No reef to get torn to shreds on, just a bit of sandblasting if I fall too often. Oh well, thats surfing! I haven’t been on a board for nearly forty years, so I’m taking a lesson the first thing when I get there.

The zip-lining will be in the form of a Canopy tour. According to their website, I will be taking 25 zip lines, with 11 of them going over waterfalls. I’ll also be doing the “Superman” zip line, where I lay out like I’m flying. I hope my videos come out!

Diving will be on an as available basis. Maybe Pacific coast, maybe Caribbean coast. I hope to get to the worlds second longest barrier reef, off the Caribbean coast of Central America, but if it should come up when I’m over at the Pacific? I’ll go there!

Should be a really interesting trip.

I decided to go it alone, because I want to get off the beaten path. I’m renting a car, driving myself, and hoping to find the adventure that I’m looking for, after too many trips with planned side trips, staged luau’s, and non-original performers. I’ll see the real country, eat the food wherever I find something that looks good, and meet the people that live there.

Stay tuned folks…it should be one hell of a ride!!!

Oso…..