We’re back from our trip to Crimea, and I can’t wait to show this side of Ukraine, because so few people would realize how scenic and temperate and gorgeous it is (I didn’t know either.) We took an overnight train into Simferapol and then went to Yalta; which is a great ‘base camp’ for a lot of sight-seeing. There are amazing palaces, old Turkish forts, monasteries built into the mountains and scenic beaches. We could not have chosen a better season to go because the fall colors reminded 
me of Tuscany. Oh, and there are vineyards galore!Our drive to Yalta was incredibly scenic. It's about an hour and half from Simferapol through the mountains and the city of Yalta is nestled along the coast of the Black Sea and the Crimean Mountains.
Yalta used to be an exclusive resort city of the Tsars and aristocrats. Lenin, turned the city into a retreat for the proletariats which is why there are 'sanatoria' in the city. However, the high prices has generally kept the city as a place for the 'nouveau riche' to frolic.
Tolstoy and Chekhov had residencies in Yalta.
Of course, Yalta is also known for the Yalta Conference when the "Big Three" came together in 1945 setting an agenda for governing Post-War Germany (and other issues/agenda for the UK, US and USSR)
The history of the Crimean region is fascinating because it has gone through so many hands: Greeks, Mongols, Ottomans and then Russians. Arun's favorite word during our trip was "Tatar" because he thought it was funny. Tatars are an ethnic minority that was expelled from the region by Stalin. They still make up about 13% of the population.
Our three day weekend was jam-packed (of course!). I'll cover our first day on this post. We spent it enjoying Yalta, and we took a trip out to the Swallow's Next castle and Vorontsov Palace.
Of course, Yalta is also known for the Yalta Conference when the "Big Three" came together in 1945 setting an agenda for governing Post-War Germany (and other issues/agenda for the UK, US and USSR)
The history of the Crimean region is fascinating because it has gone through so many hands: Greeks, Mongols, Ottomans and then Russians. Arun's favorite word during our trip was "Tatar" because he thought it was funny. Tatars are an ethnic minority that was expelled from the region by Stalin. They still make up about 13% of the population.
Our three day weekend was jam-packed (of course!). I'll cover our first day on this post. We spent it enjoying Yalta, and we took a trip out to the Swallow's Next castle and Vorontsov Palace.
This is the boardwalk/ seaside promenade in Yalta: (yes, that is Arun with a statue of Lenin)
We then took in some of the sights of Yalta. There is a famous chu
rch: the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
We then took a cable car with Arun freaking out about Russian engineering the whole time. He insisted that the cable cars had probably not been mai
ntained since the 1980's and that it was a huge mistake to get on them. These are from that little adventure (you can see his forced smile.)
ntained since the 1980's and that it was a huge mistake to get on them. These are from that little adventure (you can see his forced smile.) After our adventures, we headed off to the Swallow's Nest castle. It was built by a Germ
an baron who made his money drilling oil in Baku. A Russian architect built it in this neo-Gothic style. It is built on top of the Aurora Cliff and is pretty spectacular. You can see why it's called the "Swallow's Nest" because of the way it is perched on top of the cliff (40 m above sea level).
Finally, our last stop for the day was the Vorontsov Palace, also known as the Alupka Palace. The whole thing is an extravagant mixture of Scottish and neo-Moorish styles; with Islamic- style minarets and mosaic tiles on one of its entrances. It's also surrounded by an incredible park with trees flown in from all over the world.
an baron who made his money drilling oil in Baku. A Russian architect built it in this neo-Gothic style. It is built on top of the Aurora Cliff and is pretty spectacular. You can see why it's called the "Swallow's Nest" because of the way it is perched on top of the cliff (40 m above sea level).Finally, our last stop for the day was the Vorontsov Palace, also known as the Alupka Palace. The whole thing is an extravagant mixture of Scottish and neo-Moorish styles; with Islamic- style minarets and mosaic tiles on one of its entrances. It's also surrounded by an incredible park with trees flown in from all over the world.
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