Odessa - The Beauty Of The Black Sea

Odessa, the legendary port city on the Black Sea, was built in 1794 at the behest of Catherine the Great. In the 19th century it blossomed into a commercial metropolis. Artists such as Pushkin, Tchaikovsky and Maxim Gorky helped the city to win worldwide fame. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, all has become quiet in the port. Every ship that arrives is now an event. The sailing school ship, “Druschba” is in danger of rotting in the port of Odessa. The ship has not sailed out in a long time because it urgently requires an overhaul. Captain Kremlyansky, however, is keeping his chin up and still searching for an investor. Until then, he’s training his students on “dry runs”. The people of Odessa are true survivors. During World War II, half of the city sought refuge in the catacombs, which are far more extensive than those of Paris, and it was from here that the resistance was organized. For hundreds of years, pirates and smugglers hid their treasures in the tunnel systems. Many of the caves have direct access to the sea. The famous Privoz Market is the fish market of Odessa. You can buy almost anything here: from Russian caviar to pig’s trotters, from dried cod to Black Sea sprat. The tough market women are fondly called “queens”. They invite their customers to buy using such charming endearments as “my little bird” or “my jewel”.

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