September 15, 2004

Quick stop in Sevastopol...

So - Jeanine and I made it to Odessa around 6am this morning, on the night train from Simferopol. We only spent one really quick afternoon and night in Sevastopol.

Sevastopol was interesting. It is a small town (400,000) and it is also the home of the Russian Navy's Black Sea Fleet. They have only allowed tourists into the city since 1996 so they found us very strange! The city sits on a peninsula, and there are literally hundreds of rusting battleships, submarines, frigates and fishing trawlers tied up together.

We didn't spend long in the town, there were only three or so hotels - and the Let's Go recommended one hasn't existed for over a year. We took a lunchtime train to Simferopol and then jumped on the night train to Odessa.

Ordering food over here has been interesting. We haven't found a restauarant in the last few days that has an english menu, or a waiter/waitress who speaks english. We have a tiny Cyrillic/Russian/English dictionary so we have been pointing to "Chicken" and "What would you recommend?" So far it has worked out fairly well...

We are planning on spending a few days in Odessa (if the hotel is cheap) and then we have to figure out how the heck we are going to get to Greece.

Ok, I am pretty bagged (3 of the last 6 nights on trains) and I need a shower. The pics are kinda weak this time, I didn't take very many. I will see if JB has anything to add...

YUP..LOTS OF TRAIN TIME..OUR COMPARTMENT MATES HAVE BEEN PRETTY INTERESTING..LAST NIGHT IT WAS A COUPLE WHO ARE ENGINEERS (WE THINK), AND THEY WERE VERY INTERESTED IN TRYING TO CHAT WITH US, AND SHARE FOOD (THE SNACK THEY HAD WAS LIKE FRENCH TOAST-SMOTHERED WITH KETCHUP!)

Posted by Alistair Howard at September 15, 2004 10:49 AM

Comments

Posted by: Malcolm at September 16, 2004 10:49 AM

Posted by: Sandra at September 16, 2004 11:05 AM