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INTERESTING PLACES

Crimean Resort

Crimea is a fascinating region to explore, as well as a great place to spend a vacation. Across the centuries it has attracted settlers such as the Greeks, the Venetians and the Genoese - all of whom founded cities along the coast and inter-married with the local people. Crimean resorts is a prime vacation destination for millions of tourists from all over the world. Crimean health resorts are famous for their mineral waters as well as wines. Private enterprise is flourishing and well-stocked shops and good restaurants are the norm.

Crimea is one of the largest and most famous health resorts of the former USSR. Stalin, Khruschev, Brezhnev, and other powerful leaders of the former Soviet Union often visited Crimea for relaxation and vacation. Crimea's high season starts in July and lasts till September. Tourists start coming in mid-April when it usually gets warm. September is a perfect time to enjoy the resorts with less crowds, and October brings wonderful, golden colors to the peninsula. Even though winter months bring occasional snowfalls, there are usually periods of sunshine every day.

The temperature of the water of the Black Sea usually ranges between 22-25°C (72-78F) during summer months and is usually warm enough to swim in untill late October. Occasional strong winds can cause chilly water to reach the surface and stay there till it warms, so it is difficult to forecast water temperature based only on air temperature.

Lvviv,Ukraine

Lviv is a very poetic city steeped in legends both ancient and relatively new. Narrow medieval streets paved with stones, architectural decoration done in different styles – all preserved in its original form. In ancient times Lviv was the capital of a mighty Slavic state called the Galicia-Volyn principality. Being a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and then Poland contributed to the formation of the city’s unique image. In spite of all the whims of history the city has not lost its Ukrainian spirit, and thank God, Lviv’s delicate architecture has not suffered from monstrosities of the Soviet Era. So it is no wonder that the central part of the city is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage.

There is an international airport in Lviv that connects the city with Warsaw, Toronto, Manchester, Frankfurt, Moscow, and several other airports in the former USSR. If you fly to Kyiv, you can catch a daily overnight train "Kyiv-Lviv" (#90, 91) which will get you to Lviv at around 6-7 am next day. The overnight train from Kyiv to Lviv costs $30 a person in a four-person compartment. Lviv's airport has a tourist information bureau where one can find out about accommodation, city and regional tours, and other travel tips. A car trip from Kyiv to Lviv takes about 7 hours.

The proud and beautiful medieval city of Lviv has been the "Western Ukraine capital of culture" for three centuries. Founded in 1256 by Danylo Halytskiy, a prince of the Galicia-Volhynia principality, this city of 850,000 is only 50 kilometers from the Polish border. Under the long reign of Danylo's son, Lev (1264-1301), Lviv came to be the capital city of the Galician-Volhynian Kingdom. It is full of culture & historical significance to Ukrainian history. One can find in Lviv the most beautifull architecture in Eastern Europe and it is no wonder that many who visit the city leave with lasting memories and love for Ukraine.

Poltava, Ukraine

Located between Kharkiv and Kyiv in Ukraine, Poltava is best known as the site of a 1709 battle between a coalition of Cossacks, led by Mazepa, and the Swedes (Charles XII) against the Russian army of Czar Peter I. The subsequent Russian victory in battle established Russia’s prominent position in Europe and consequently Ukraine’s decline.

The battlefield and its monuments are the major draw. Places to see in the town include the October Park, the gun-barrel-shaped Column of Glory and the Spassky Church, which is actually an outer shell protecting an earlier, wooden church inside.

It is still unknown when the city was founded. Within the city limits the archeologists unearthed a Paleolithic dwelling as well as the Scythian remains. The present name of the city is traditionally connected to the settlement Ltava which is mentioned in the Hypatian Chronicle.

The city belonged to Lithuania from the 14th century. Polish administration took over in 1569. In the 16-17th cc. it belonged to Pereyaslav Kniazhestvo (Principality). In 1648 Poltava was captured by the Polish magnate (of ruthenian descent) Jeremi Wiśniowiecki (1612-51). Poltava was the base of a distinguished Polk (Regiment) of the Ukrainian Cossacks. In 1667 Poltava became a part of the Russian Empire.