Sochi to Gelendzhik
This is how Sochi is spelt in Russian, useful to know so when reading road signs, you chose the correct way to go.
The railway station built in 1930's with a mixture of classical and soviet styles.
On the clock tower are the signs of the Zodic, but they are not in the correct order and note one, three and four o'clock. Some have been replaced with two loaves of bread, a swan and a snake for some unknown reason and no one queried the architect.
The main shopping street in Sochi leading down from the railway station to the port. And unusual for Russia, note the palms.
A celebration of the 2018 World Cup. plus more palm trees behind.
The city coat of arms depicting the important things for Sochi, the mountains, the sea, the sun, the palms and in the centre the hot healing springs which is the attraction for many tourists and sanatoriums.
The main port building..
...and the statue of the goddess of navigation in front of the building.
A couple of photos of the patron saint of the city, St Mikhail and the cathedral dedicated to him.
The entrance to Josef Stalin's dacha, he had 20 around the country, all with similar design features and all painted green.
The building is built in a square with a central courtyard.
One end of the courtyard and the main entrance.
A view of the gardens inside the courtyard.
The dining room.
Stalin sitting at his desk.
His private cinema.
And behind the cinema, a billiard room.
The area is sub tropical with the most northerly tea gardens which were planted here until Yorkshire planted some tea bushes.
Sitting on the end of a ridge over looking Sochi is a traditional tea house.
Some views of the inside, the main vestibule,
...the gallery overlooking the main vestibule...
...a traditional oven and means of heating the house in winter...
...a table laid out for tea...
...a collection of musical instruments. I was going to be treated to the history of instruments, music, harmony and some traditional music.
A working samovar in the corner of the room.
My table set out for tea with two types of tea, two types of bread, honey jam, feijoa jam and lemon.
No comments:
Post a Comment