Sevastopol & the Russian Navy

Well off to Sevastopol we went today. Only a 2 hr drive by young Manic chauffeur. I’m Surprised I am still alive lol.  Stopped at a very Beautiful church half way up a mountain. Foros Church of the resurrection of christ. Great views and very Beautiful inside and out. Valentina lit the candles and did the polishing.

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From here we fell down the mountain side into the war museum at Sapun Hill,

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Where ever I go there seems to be more of these. This was for the storming of the hill before the town by the Russian forces in 1944. Although it commemorates the 1941 attacks by the Germans as well. The Museum was excellent with the diorama inside being the high lite of the trip.

But the tanks where pretty awesome to lol. Next time I hope to see the Crimea war one in Sevastopol its self.

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Into Sevastopol we went from here at brake neck speeds. Dropped off in a beautiful square and onto the boat ride around the basin that is the harbor. As good as any in the world so the Captain said. After a quick conversation on how Crimea was Russian and will always be Russian and a bit of spitting on the deck when I mentioned the Ukraine he showed us the Russian navy. 26 Ships in harbor, some old but some brand new sub hunters capable of 120km and hour as well. We wont mention the Ukrainian submarine or the fact that the Ukrainian president happens to own half of the harbor still lol. Politics eh.

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Back to port after seeing the Crimea war memorial and that built by the locals for there Afghanistan dead. A quick Coffee and delicious pizza at the cafe Montana and home for supper. Great day. Even got my doll from an old English lorry driver who reckoned the uk was brilliant but don’t mention the Ukrainian bandits lol. Don’t worry that’s not me being bundled into the back of the van by the KGB

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The winery at Massandra

Well what a place and what a history. Ranks with the best in France and New Zealand. The only down side was no translator from Russian, but some how the tour guide found time to talk to me in English. I suspect my Valentina bribed her to do so lol. The tour was magnificent for a small fee and we got taken around the entire complex. What it was like to stand next to a bottle of wine ordered by tzar Nicolas II. Oldest wines going back to 1893. And still plenty of them. Mostly sweet and Tokay style wines but some decent reds and whites too.

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Massandra

After the trip through miles of barrels and bottles we got to try alot of the different types. I brought a couple of recent ones and almost brought a bottle of 63. Just out of my price range lol.

If you go to Yalta go here. Tomorrow Sevastopol. DA

 

Byron bay

Well after almost a week here I am well rested after my exhusting 20 day tour of New Zealand. Lisa goes to work at her law firm and charlotte goes to day care and I Relax and drink coffee read papers and try and work out how this site works. Hope you like the new features as I will be using em more when I get home. As you can see The area around Ballina/Lennox head/ Byron bay is an extremely beautiful location. We went down to Byron Bay today and walked around the lighthouse and the town. It was very hot. Full of holiday makers and surfers here for the weekend. All Bronzed & tanned. Just like bay watch lol.P1020709 (1280x961)

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The history of Europeans in Byron Bay began in 1770, when Captain James Cook found a safe anchorage and named Cape Byron after John Byron. In the 1880s, when Europeans settled more permanently, streets were named for other English writers and philosophers.The lighthouse was built in 1901 at the most easterly point on the Australian mainland. Still works to, and a great view. I will be here for a while, but of to the gold coast for 2 days tommorow. Should be fun.