Yalta

Day 8 Yalta, Ukraine , Sunday 7th October , Clear and sunny, 23C

Yalta is a resort city in Crimea, southern Ukraine, on the north coast of the Black Sea. It is situated on a deep bay facing South towards the Black Sea surrounded by wooded mountains. This is now the furthest east we have ever been. It is famous for the Yalta conference held in 1945 to discuss the post war reorganisation of Europe. It was held at the Livadia Palace which we are going to visit on a organised tour.

Awake at dawn to see us sail round the southern tip of the Crimea, seeing Sevastopol and Balaclava from our balcony. Yet again we are on the right side of the ship for view from our cabin, sorry STATEROOM! Have breakfast while we very cautiously enter the very small harbour and moor with our cabin having views over the pretty holiday resort town of Yalta.

Off by coach through the narrow streets of Yalta to the village of Livadia, some two miles away. Here we visit the Italian Renaissance style palace, the former summer palace of the last Tsar, and see where the future of post war Europe was decided! After tea in the courtyard we return to the ship for lunch.

Livadia Palace

Then a chance to explore Yalta on our own. We really liked the small holiday resort. The wide promenade is traffic free and on a hot Sunday afternoon was being enjoyed by tourists and locals.

Lenin Embankment, Yalta

Walked up to the impressive Alexander Nevsky cathedral, built in 1902.

Still time for a swim before our third formal night and a show called Hotel Royal in the Theatre. We have been a little disappointed with the dirgy songs in previous shows but will still go and hope it improves.

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