Odessa Hot News

[altiva]

Warning!

 

The funicular for Potyomkin steps in Odessa, Ukraine, is now working

by a new schedule:

 

Monday - 10.00 - 21.00

Tuesday - 10.00 - 21.00

Wednesday - 10.00 - 21.00

Thursday - 10.00 - 21.00

Friday - 10.00 - 23.00

Saturday - 10.00 - 23.00

Sunday - 10.00 - 21.00

 

If your boat arrives early, and you don't want to wait, be ready to

climb the steps, as these people are doing:

 

[tartanexile81]

Thanks Altviva. We're in Odessa at the end of September so we'll make sure we wait onboard till 10:00 when the funicular starts as my partner could not manage all those steps.

[altiva]

Thanks Altviva. We're in Odessa at the end of September so we'll make sure we wait onboard till 10:00 when the funicular starts as my partner could not manage all those steps.

 

You are most welcome, Tartanexile

[altiva]

Danube delta

 

Many people do not even realize that Danube is a Ukrainian river!

Well, some parts of Danube, anyway. And you can visit it in one day,

if you are in Odessa! You can spend a really wonderful day there.

It takes about 3.5- 4 hours to get to Vilkovo - a little Ukrainian

town, built on water, where your journey begins.

Vilkovo is dated from 1764, but, in fact, people lived there much

longer. The first dwellers were people of "old faith", who believed

in Christ and who crossed themselves with two fingers, instead of

three. These two fingers were, really, the most striking

dissimilarity with the then existed official Christian Orthodox

religion, yet the old believers were tortured, prosecuted and killed.

So, they ran away, and lived on the Danube delta islands, in

wilderness, for almost a century before other people came there.

The first thing they show to you is a memorial to them.

 

Then, the old believers church, with a broken bell and wonderful

gates:

 

[altiva]

 

 

Vilkovo itself is built on water, so the main way to go around is by

boat. The main street is a canal! When we came, the water level was

low, so many canals were half dry. But, you can't go anywhere but by

boat. All the normal streets are recent, and won't take you

everywhere. Here is the main street:

[altiva]

They grow grapes and sell very nice, tasty wine there. If you see the

word "Wine", written in chalk on the gate, it means you can knock,

try and buy some.

 

 

The island were they bring you for lunch. It's very peaceful there.

For lunch, you have fish soup, fish with vegetable, fresh bread and

local wine. Everything was cooked on real wood!

 

 

[altiva]

After the lunch, you could explore the island, swim in Danube (they

have a special swimming place, bring your swimsuit), and even borrow

a fish line and fish in the lake (on the basis of - you catch it -

then drop it back). After your activities, you were invited back to

drink herbal tea with local honey from a real brass samovar!

 

[altiva]

Then, by boat, and on you go down Danube to Delta, to a zero

kilometre! It's called Danube biosphere nature preserve. On the way

there, you can see people's dwelling, and how they live, and even

another old believers church. Also, many birds.

 

 

 

[altiva]

People are very friendly, and wave at you, when you pass by. They

wave from boats, also. This boat actually overcame us! Yamaha all the

way.

 

 

[altiva]

Museum of Jewish history in Odessa, consists of authentic papers,

artefacts, clothing and religious objects. Converted from a real-life

apartment, it holds not only exhibits, but a real life kitchen and a

living room. Real family papers, like letters from the front (WW2)

are on the exhibits. Also, a little shrine to the holocaust victims

(always burning fire).

Fridays, Saturdays and Jewish holidays are the days off.

It's a fascinating place to visit for anyone, interested in

history.

What: Jewish history museum

Where: 66 Nezhinska street, Odessa Ukraine

When: Monday to Thursday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Friday, Saturday, and Jewish holidays - days off

 

Tips: to get there, when you are on Sobornaya square (the place where

they sell souvenirs), face the cathedral. Then turn lefts and walk 2

blocks.

 

 

[altiva]

A real letter, sent by a Jewish woman in 1944 to her family, exhibited

in the museum:

"Good day, my dears!

Today, it's exactly 3 years of war. Exactly 3 years that I thought

that I'd never see you again, and you - me. But now, when I found out

that you are alive, I want to think, that we will be together some

day and will be happy, because if we could live through this dreadful

time, we should live.

My dears, I sent you seven letters already, and did not receive a

single reply, maybe simply because you are that far, or maybe because

we did not get my letters.

My dear Mom. I just received the letter, which you sent to Lubashovka

town hall (Lubashovka is a little town in Odessa region), asking

about our relatives. I don't like to send you such a reply, because

it will be a great sorrow for you, especially for Dad. Because they

all died in Vradievka (a village in Odessa region). I sit and write

this letter, and the medical nurse- she is Jewish - tells me things,

because she knows all the particulars about how they died.

Is, indeed, you have such a good fortune that you emigrated? Maybe

it's your good fortune, and maybe it's mine."

 

More photos here:

http://odessainterpreters.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=37

[JC2922]

A real letter, sent by a Jewish woman in 1944 to her family, exhibited

in the museum:

"Good day, my dears!

Today, it's exactly 3 years of war. Exactly 3 years that I thought

that I'd never see you again, and you - me. But now, when I found out

that you are alive, I want to think, that we will be together some

day and will be happy, because if we could live through this dreadful

time, we should live.

My dears, I sent you seven letters already, and did not receive a

single reply, maybe simply because you are that far, or maybe because

we did not get my letters.

My dear Mom. I just received the letter, which you sent to Lubashovka

town hall (Lubashovka is a little town in Odessa region), asking

about our relatives. I don't like to send you such a reply, because

it will be a great sorrow for you, especially for Dad. Because they

all died in Vradievka (a village in Odessa region). I sit and write

this letter, and the medical nurse- she is Jewish - tells me things,

because she knows all the particulars about how they died.

Is, indeed, you have such a good fortune that you emigrated? Maybe

it's your good fortune, and maybe it's mine."

 

More photos here:

http://odessainterpreters.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=37

Thanks Altiva,for information.

[altiva]

Thanks Altiva,for information.

 

You are welcome, JC2922.

[JC2922]

You are welcome, JC2922.

Hi Altiva.We are originaly from Kishinev,Moldova.Can i take a train from Odessa to Kishinev in the morning and came back hext day.Our ship is in Odessa from 9am to3pm next day.and how long is the trip.SPASIBO ZARANIE!!!jc2922

[altiva]

Hi Altiva.We are originaly from Kishinev,Moldova.Can i take a train from Odessa to Kishinev in the morning and came back hext day.Our ship is in Odessa from 9am to3pm next day.and how long is the trip.SPASIBO ZARANIE!!!jc2922

 

hi jc2922,

train Odessa Kishinev departs from Odessa at 16.48 and the slow one -

at 16.51. They are in Kishinev at 21.44. It's better to take a bus

from the main bus station. The first bus is at 6.45 at the morning,

and it arrived at Kishinev at 10.50. Then, the next one is at 8.20,

then 10.20, 12.50, 16.15. And to come back, there are buses which go

basically every hour. Or, you can come back by an early diesel

train, which arrives to Odessa at 12.18.

[JC2922]

hi jc2922,

train Odessa Kishinev departs from Odessa at 16.48 and the slow one -

at 16.51. They are in Kishinev at 21.44. It's better to take a bus

from the main bus station. The first bus is at 6.45 at the morning,

and it arrived at Kishinev at 10.50. Then, the next one is at 8.20,

then 10.20, 12.50, 16.15. And to come back, there are buses which go

basically every hour. Or, you can come back by an early diesel

train, which arrives to Odessa at 12.18.

Hi Altiva.Thanks Altiva for information.How reliable is bus service?and how long it takes?Do we need a visa?We are USA sitizens.jc2922

[altiva]

Hi Altiva.Thanks Altiva for information.How reliable is bus service?and how long it takes?Do we need a visa?We are USA sitizens.jc2922

 

Hi JC2922,

the bus is fine.

It goes by a schedule. You will need to call a taxi to get the first

one. It's quicker than the diesel (suburbain train). Citizens of US do

not need a visa to enter Ukraine for up to 90 days. U.S. citizens can

stay in Moldova for up to 90 days within a six-month period without

any visas. You will have to have your passports with you, when you

travel, for customs and border control between Ukraine and Moldova.

[JC2922]

Hi JC2922,

the bus is fine.

It goes by a schedule. You will need to call a taxi to get the first

one. It's quicker than the diesel (suburbain train). Citizens of US do

not need a visa to enter Ukraine for up to 90 days. U.S. citizens can

stay in Moldova for up to 90 days within a six-month period without

any visas. You will have to have your passports with you, when you

travel, for customs and border control between Ukraine and Moldova.

Thanks Altiva.

[altiva]

Thanks Altiva.

 

You are welcome, JC2922.

[altiva]

October 27 Odessa Ukraine

Today's temperature - + 20 C (68 F)

There were four cruise ship at once in Odessa port that day.

Cruise ship "Hamburg", registered in Bahamas, arrived to Odessa on

October 26. On October 27, at 15.00 it she lefr Odessa for Nesber,

Bulgaria.

October 27 - the first ship to arrive was MSC OPERA, registered in

Panama. She arrived at 6.50 a.m. and left Odessa at 13.20 for a

cruise "Odessa-Venice". You can see her leaving Odessa on the photo

below.

The next was "Island Sky", registered in Bahamas. She arrived from

Sevastopol and left at 16.00 for Constanța, Romania.

The last one was "Discovery", registered in Bermuda. She arrived at

12.21 p.m. This ship has a Ukrainian captain, Alexander Tkachuk. So,

the last time she came to Odessa (April 23), the captain organised a

ship tour for children with visual disabilities from Odessa special

boarding school. Besides the tour, children had a lecture on

the ship's travels, and then were treated to a concert. Then the

children had a dinner and received little souvenirs as presents. Many

passengers of "Discovery" participated in this event, for which we all

thank them.

The other interesting fact: "Discovery" arrived to Odessa from

Sevastopol, where she docked near a Ukrainian yacht "Scorpius".

Scorpius is a 30 meters (98 ft) yacht, which managed to set several

world records in one sailing: they reached 77 degrees south latitude

in Ross sea (South Pole), which a yacht never done before, sailed

without stopping for 30 months, covering the total distance of 70,000

nautical miles, and went to North Pole, to Ukrainian Akademik

Vernadskyy Antarctic station. All with only 8 people abroad! It looks

like "Discovery" people are always in for some fun!

[altiva]

Odessa Ukraine November 24

 

Today, all Ukraine and Ukrainian diaspora (Ukrainians in the USA,

Canada, Australia, France, the UK, Germany, and so on, in all, 32

countries on the planet) hold a memorial to the

victims of Holodomor - artificial famine, created by Russian

occupants in 1932 - 1933 to exterminate Ukrainians by hunger. By most

approximate calculations, from 3 to 5 million Ukrainians perished in

just 2 years. Russians forcibly removed all food from Ukrainian

families, leaving them to die. People became as thing as skeletons,

then puffed up and died.

At 4 p.m. your local time, please, light a candle and think about

innocent men, women and children, babies, toddlers, starved to death just because they

were Ukrainians. Let God rest their souls.

If you ever in Kyiv, please, visit National Museum "Memorial in

Commemoration of Famines' Victimes in Ukraine":

http://www.memorialgolodomors.org/Museum/Map-Engl.htm

And Baby Yar, where 25 thousand innocent starving people were first

shot and then burned alive, while they begged for bread.

[altiva]

Ukrainian visas.

hi people,

people who need a visa to enter Ukraine keep asking this question, so

I am posting my reply again.

According to the order of Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from 1997 N

145 "About establishing visa-free on-shore visits for foreign citizens

- cruise tourists" and the order from Goskomgranitsa (Government

border control) N 7/5342 from 12.06.00 says that cruise passengers are

allowed to stay in the ports of call for up to 48 hours with the

necessary staying on board at night (sleeping on your boat only). With

the arrival of the boat to the port of entry, it says, the cruise

organisers are notified about the rules concerning the stay of foreign

citizens/cruise passengers in Ukraine. Organised tours, on which

foreign citizens-cruise passengers visit places outside of their port

of call, if it's not on the cruise program, ARE NOT FORBIDDEN.

Please, note, that it concerns only cruise passengers, who arrive to

Ukraine by cruise ships. If you are arriving to Ukraine by air,

railway, motorway or by foot, even to join a cruise ship, you will

need a visa. If you want to stay on after your cruise ship departed,

you will need a visa.

[altiva]

Today, December 3, is a birthday of Hryhorii Skovoroda, a Ukrainian

writer, philosopher, translator, poet, composer, humanist. Today is the 290

anniversary of his birth. He was born into a cossack family of very

modest means. Studied in a celebrated Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. He was

always top of the class, and learned Latin, Greek, Old Slavic

Language, Polish and German. in 1771, he went to sing in the imperial

choir in Moscow and St Petersburg. Since 1745, he travelled abroad,

to Hungary, Slovakia, Austria. Then he came back to Ukraine and

became a professor in Pereyaslav, and then - in Kharkiv. He

translated works of Plutarch into Ukrainian language. After attacks

on his personal believes and his course of lectures, he abandoned

everything. He took only his works with him, and went all over

Ukraine by foot. He called it "my journey". He stopped in rich and

poor households, explained his view, Bible, played his flute and the

songs and psalms which he composed. He never ate fish or meat. He

became so celebrated, that even Katherine the Great, a Russian

empress, wanted to have him at his court. Her courier found

Skovoroda, sitting near the road, playing his flute, watching sheep.

Skovoroda plainly refused to moved to court, saying that he would

never abandon Ukraine.

He even knew the day of his death. At the time, he stayed with a

local landowner. After lunch he went to the garden and started

digging a hole. He was 72 years old then. He told his host, that it

was time to stop the "journey", and asked to be buried in that

garden. The host tried to reassure Skovoroda, but later went to his

room, cleaned himself, put on fresh linen, put all his works and his

modest grey coat under his head, and crossed his hands on his chest.

Next day, he was found dead in this position, and buried in that

garden. On his grave, there is a saying, which he asked to be put on

it: "World tried to catch me. But it failed".

Now, you can see Hryhorii Skovoroda's face on five hundred hryvna bank note.

 

[JC2922]

Today, December 3, is a birthday of Hryhorii Skovoroda, a Ukrainian

writer, philosopher, translator, poet, composer, humanist. Today is the 290

anniversary of his birth. He was born into a cossack family of very

modest means. Studied in a celebrated Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. He was

always top of the class, and learned Latin, Greek, Old Slavic

Language, Polish and German. in 1771, he went to sing in the imperial

choir in Moscow and St Petersburg. Since 1745, he travelled abroad,

to Hungary, Slovakia, Austria. Then he came back to Ukraine and

became a professor in Pereyaslav, and then - in Kharkiv. He

translated works of Plutarch into Ukrainian language. After attacks

on his personal believes and his course of lectures, he abandoned

everything. He took only his works with him, and went all over

Ukraine by foot. He called it "my journey". He stopped in rich and

poor households, explained his view, Bible, played his flute and the

songs and psalms which he composed. He never ate fish or meat. He

became so celebrated, that even Katherine the Great, a Russian

empress, wanted to have him at his court. Her courier found

Skovoroda, sitting near the road, playing his flute, watching sheep.

Skovoroda plainly refused to moved to court, saying that he would

never abandon Ukraine.

He even knew the day of his death. At the time, he stayed with a

local landowner. After lunch he went to the garden and started

digging a hole. He was 72 years old then. He told his host, that it

was time to stop the "journey", and asked to be buried in that

garden. The host tried to reassure Skovoroda, but later went to his

room, cleaned himself, put on fresh linen, put all his works and his

modest grey coat under his head, and crossed his hands on his chest.

Next day, he was found dead in this position, and buried in that

garden. On his grave, there is a saying, which he asked to be put on

it: "World tried to catch me. But it failed".

Now, you can see Hryhorii Skovoroda's face on five hundred hryvna bank note.

 

Thanks Altiva, very interesting!jc2922:)

[altiva]

Thanks Altiva, very interesting!jc2922:)

 

thank you, JC2922, it's a pleasure to see that someone reads this thread.