Norman's Blog: Yalta

Yalta

Made famous throughout the world as the meeting place in February 1945 when the allied leaders Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt met for a week long conference to decide how to re-order the world after the impending defeat of the Nazis in Europe.

It is also a well known summer resort on the Black Sea offering warmth, sunshine and relaxation to Russians who live in the far north a place in the sun. Even in October, there were still a few tourists braving the beaches but it had the air of a summer paradise shutting down for the winter and it was empty.

And despite the reputation, the beach is stony and not sand. But there are plenty of attractions on offer for families such as parks, zoos, aquariums, a cable car ride to the top of the mountain behind the town, numerous restaurants, cafes and bars. And of course the chance to catch up with some rays.

The promenade would be heaving in summer with temperatures hitting 40C but in October, the visitors have gone and many businesses have shut for the season. I would hate it at the height of summer, far too hot and too many people so this was a good time of year to visit for me.

Even so it was still a bit too quiet for some of the locals. I do like to chat to locals about the economy and local affairs but this one was too fast asleep to be woken. I tried Russian, thinking it might be a local, English just in case he was used to foreign tourists, then German, Spanish, French and then a gave it a prod...he moved a paw pathetically and went back to sleep. He had obviously had had a long summer being petted by tourists and was hibernating.

I came across an old friend, Vincent van G, who was travelling in cognito wearing a false ear as a disguise as many people think he is dead but he is alive and well and holidaying in Yalta but he didn't have much too say.

A view across the harbour and the incoming bad weather so it was time to head home.

But not before passing a great site on the shore, not quite a quinquereme but a good replica, now serving as a cafe.

There are pleasant walks along the seafront with gardens displaying palms.

A statue of Chekhov who had a house in the town but I got lost trying to find it. He was a Russian playwright and short-story writer, who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short fiction in history. His career as a playwright produced four classics, and his best short stories are held in high esteem by both critics and other writers.