Sevastopol & Yalta, Ukraine. 10/17/2011
Susan's Story, The Black Sea & Holy Lands
Our month was filled with memorable destinations but likely none as historic & interesting as this one. The Prinsendam docked in the large port city of Sevastopol. This city was destroyed by the British & Ottomans in the Crimean war and was 97% flattened during the Nazi siege during the Great Patriotic War (WWII). The Russian Navy has its Black Sea fleet here as does the Ukraine. We toured the city and then drove to Massandra Palace which was seldom-used by the Tzars. We visited Balaclava where the famous Light Brigade met it’s tragic end. We then drove across the Crimean Peninsula to Yalta which has long been a vacation destination. Here we visited Livadia Palace which was occupied by the Tzars several months a year. There were many photos & exhibits of the last Tzar’s family here. At this palace in WWII was held the second meeting of Stalin, Churchill, & Roosevelt. Postwar Europe was split up here and Roosevelt received Stalin’s promise to enter the war with Japan. /susan
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