I visited Odesa during my five plus months backpacking journey across Central and Eastern Europe. After two weeks in Lviv, a UNESCO world heritage and my favorite city in Ukraine, I took an overnight train to Odesa, also spelled Odessa.
Odesa (Odessa), also known as the “Pearl of the Black Sea”, is the third most populous city of Ukraine and a major tourism center, seaport and transport hub located on the Black Sea. The predecessor of Odesa, a small Tatar settlement, was founded in 1240. The city of Odesa was founded in 1794. During the Soviet occupation, Odesa was the most important port of trade in the Soviet Union. Odesa is a lively beach destination with a variety of restaurants, night clubs, shops, and architecture.
Welcome to Odesa! A beautiful Manhole Cover with City’s Coat of Arms.
One of Odessa’s most famous buildings is the Opera House, once called “the best opera in the world”.
Odessa’s Opera House
My Travel Buddy to Odesa.Interior of Opera House. Odessa’s Opera House after dark.City’s historical architecture has a style more Mediterranean, having been heavily influenced by French and Italian styles.The Transfiguration Cathedral (Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral), an Orthodox church, founded in 1794, is the first church in the city of Odesa. The original structure was demolished by the Soviets in 1936. It was rebuilt starting from 1999.Children and the Frog (“Narcissus”), the sculpture-fountain by the French sculptor Max Blond.The Opera House.The Odesa City hall at night.Saint Panteleimon Orthodox Church, built in 1895 using natural stone brought from Mount Athos.A statue of the Duc de Richelieu, the first governor of Odesa from 1803-1814, who made Odesa the fourth largest city in Russia in just eleven years,A public monument to late Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Jobs. The sculpture titled “Thanks, Steve!” is welded from bits of scrap metal, including screws, nuts, bearings and even an ax.To save “Mother’s in law bridge” from destruction due to the weight of all the locks and the weak construction of the bridge, the city built “Love Heart”, a large, metal heart on the Western end specifically to hang Love locks.Very interesting open book shaped bench in Shevchenko Park.A War memorial in Shevchenko Park.Lanzheron BeachLight House restaurant at Lanzheron BeachBeautiful sunset at the vidrada beachBreak time, Beer at one of the newly opened restaurant on Derybasivska Street.Welcome to Arcadia, The party beach of Odesa
August is the busiest tourist season in Odesakvass, a weak dark beer made from fermented black or regular rye bread. It is classified as a non-alcoholic drink by Russian standards, as the alcohol content from fermentation is typically less than 1.2%.
At Arcadia beach, most upscale clubs have alcohol breath analyzer in the restrooms.
After spending a month in Ukraine and last few days in a resort town on the Black Sea, I continued my Backpacking trip across Central and Eastern Europe by taking a marshrutka to Moldova.
In May 2017, 23 days before I was going to complete 50 years, grabbed an opportunity and took an early retirement.. Picked up a backpack and traveling ever since.. Love to travel around the world, experience different culture, local cuisine & drinks .. and take pictures.. so far been to 108 countries and still counting...
Odesa is amazing, probably my favorite Ukrainian city, it’s so classic and stylish 🙂 it was wonderful to read your impressions and see your photos there! Have a nice weekend and cheers from Portugal, PedroL
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Odesa is amazing, probably my favorite Ukrainian city, it’s so classic and stylish 🙂 it was wonderful to read your impressions and see your photos there! Have a nice weekend and cheers from Portugal, PedroL
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