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taboo5 | profile | all galleries >> Ukraine >> Odessa, the Ukraine (May 2006) tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Odessa, the Ukraine (May 2006)

Odessa is often referred to as "The Pearl of the Black Sea." It is a major port located on the Black Sea coast holding a special place in the hearts of Russians and Ukrainians. The city of Odessa was founded by a decree of Empress Catherine the Great in 1794. Catherine the Great wanted to extend her horizons beyond Russia, so she used French and Italian architects to design the city. Today, it looks like a Mediterranean city having more character than any other city in Ukraine with its scenic boulevards. Odessa is also known for its rich art and culture. It has, what is considered to be, the second most beautiful opera house in the world (after la Scala in Milan). Deribasovskaya Street, Odessa’s main street, has a variety of restaurants, theaters and frequent concerts, which are enjoyed by people from different parts of the world who from are brought from ships that arrive daily. After the collapse of Communism, "The Pearl of the Black Sea" shines even brighter. It will continue to maintain its luster as the one of the Ukraine’s most treasured cities.
Odessa, the Ukraine cover page.
Odessa, the Ukraine cover page.		 Map of the Ukraine with a star indicating Odessa's location.
Map of the Ukraine with a star indicating Odessa's location.		 View of the port of Odessa.
View of the port of Odessa.		 The famous Monument to Orange in the Odessa.
The famous Monument to Orange in the Odessa.
Close-up of the Monument to Orange.
Close-up of the Monument to Orange.		 The statue of Lacoon (Trojan priest who warned not to take the gift of the wooden horse).
The statue of Lacoon (Trojan priest who warned not to take the gift of the wooden horse).		 Typical Odessa architecture on Rushkinskaya Street.
Typical Odessa architecture on Rushkinskaya Street.		 The impressive archeological museum on Rushkinskaya Street.
The impressive archeological museum on Rushkinskaya Street.
A public building on Pushkinskaya Street. My tour guide is on the left.
A public building on Pushkinskaya Street. My tour guide is on the left.		 Sign in Odessa showing distances to major world cities.
Sign in Odessa showing distances to major world cities.		 Right side of Odessa City Hall building (too bad I didn't bring my wide-angle lense)!
Right side of Odessa City Hall building (too bad I didn't bring my wide-angle lense)!		 Left side of Odessa City Hall building.
Left side of Odessa City Hall building.
View of Moon Park in Odessa.
View of Moon Park in Odessa.		 Another view of Moon Park in Odessa.
Another view of Moon Park in Odessa.		 Photo (taken from a postcard) of the Monument of Aleksandr Pushkin. This monument was built by citizens of Odessa.
Photo (taken from a postcard) of the Monument of Aleksandr Pushkin. This monument was built by citizens of Odessa.		 Silhouette of Aleksandr Pushkin monument with the City Hall in the background.
Silhouette of Aleksandr Pushkin monument with the City Hall in the background.
Statue in the square of the founder of Odessa, Duke de Richelieu.
Statue in the square of the founder of Odessa, Duke de Richelieu.		 Classical-style colonnade of the Vorontsov's Palace on the bluff above the harbor in Odessa.
Classical-style colonnade of the Vorontsov's Palace on the bluff above the harbor in Odessa.		 View of the suspension bridge at Odessa's harbor.
View of the suspension bridge at Odessa's harbor.		 Hunch-backed wooden bridge at the Old Odessa in miniature park.
Hunch-backed wooden bridge at "the Old Odessa in miniature" park.
The Shah Palace (Maritime Transport Bank) across from the Hunch-Backed wooden bridge.
The Shah Palace (Maritime Transport Bank) across from the Hunch-Backed wooden bridge.		 Great house with sculpture of titans on the corner on Gogolya Street.
Great house with sculpture of titans on the corner on Gogolya Street.		 Closer view of the titans.
Closer view of the titans.		 Close-up view of the titans.
Close-up view of the titans.
A example of typical Odessa architecture.
A example of typical Odessa architecture.		 Nice entryway with cariatides!
Nice entryway with cariatides!		 More typical Odessa architecture.
More typical Odessa architecture.		 View of a beautiful apartment building in Odessa.
View of a beautiful apartment building in Odessa.
Potempkin sculpture in memory of the 1905 Revolution against czarism in Russia.
Potempkin sculpture in memory of the 1905 Revolution against czarism in Russia.		 It started with a mutiny on the battleship Potempkin after the crew was given spoiled meat.
It started with a mutiny on the battleship Potempkin after the crew was given spoiled meat.		 7 officers died in the mutiny. The ship sailed to Odessa (where the people were sympathetic).
7 officers died in the mutiny. The ship sailed to Odessa (where the people were sympathetic).		 Townspeople sent the sailors food & water. Russian troops fired on them on the Potempkin Steps.
Townspeople sent the sailors food & water. Russian troops fired on them on the Potempkin Steps.
It was the 1st revolutionary effort against the Czars' regime. Footnote: I climbed all 192 steps.
It was the 1st revolutionary effort against the Czars' regime. Footnote: I climbed all 192 steps.		 After the shots rang out, hundreds had died under czarist rifles.
After the shots rang out, hundreds had died under czarist rifles.		 Ornate façade of indoor shopping complex.
Ornate façade of indoor shopping complex.		 View of the incredibly beautiful Passage Mall (shopping mall) on Deribasovskaya Street.
View of the incredibly beautiful Passage Mall (shopping mall) on Deribasovskaya Street.
Sculptural details inside the Passage Mall.
Sculptural details inside the Passage Mall.		 View of the upper details and glass ceiling of the Passage Mall.
View of the upper details and glass ceiling of the Passage Mall.		 Preobrazhensky Cathedral (Transfiguration Cathedral) at Sobornaya Square.
Preobrazhensky Cathedral (Transfiguration Cathedral) at Sobornaya Square.		 Monument to Vorontsov (1782-1856), Odessa's Governor General with a great building behind it!
Monument to Vorontsov (1782-1856), Odessa's Governor General with a great building behind it!
A distant view of Vorontsov's monument. Pushkin had an affair with Countess Vorontsov, his wife.
A distant view of Vorontsov's monument. Pushkin had an affair with Countess Vorontsov, his wife.		 Carving of Athena in the modern Athena Gallery shopping mall (where I bought caviar).
Carving of Athena in the modern Athena Gallery shopping mall (where I bought caviar).		 View of a nice cathedral in Odessa (I don't know what denomination it is).
View of a nice cathedral in Odessa (I don't know what denomination it is).		 Statue of a horse in the park with kids climbing on it.
Statue of a horse in the park with kids climbing on it.
Church on Pushkinskaya Street (I don't know what denomination it is).
Church on Pushkinskaya Street (I don't know what denomination it is).		 View of the Odessa Railway Station.
View of the Odessa Railway Station.		 Close-up of the Odessa Railway Station.
Close-up of the Odessa Railway Station.		 Square near the train station with a statue of Lenin in the background.
Square near the train station with a statue of Lenin in the background.
Me posing in front of the statue of Lenin.
Me posing in front of the statue of Lenin.		 The Odessa Saint Panteleymon's (Svyato-Pantelemonovskiy) Cathedral.
The Odessa Saint Panteleymon's (Svyato-Pantelemonovskiy) Cathedral.		 A nice building that I admired walking by (when I was lost).
A nice building that I admired walking by (when I was lost).		 Another impressive building that I also admired (when I was lost).
Another impressive building that I also admired (when I was lost).
Opera & Ballet Theater (built by Felner & Gelmer (1884-1887). It was closed when I was there.
Opera & Ballet Theater (built by Felner & Gelmer (1884-1887). It was closed when I was there.		 Note the beautiful building (on the left) next to Opera and Ballet Theatre.
Note the beautiful building (on the left) next to Opera and Ballet Theatre.		 Close-up of the beautiful building.
Close-up of the beautiful building.		 More details of the façade of the Opera and Ballet Theater.
More details of the façade of the Opera and Ballet Theater.
Close-up of the top.
Close-up of the top.		 Close-up of the entrance.
Close-up of the entrance.		 Ukrainian cadets marching.
Ukrainian cadets marching.		 They still didn't know I was photographing them.
They still didn't know I was photographing them.
They are doing their daily drill.
They are doing their daily drill.		 Now, they are starting to notice that I am photographing them.
Now, they are starting to notice that I am photographing them.		 In this last photo, the cadets knew that I was photographing them, and they were cracking up!
In this last photo, the cadets knew that I was photographing them, and they were cracking up!		 Docked ships and cargo cranes at the Odessa harbor.
Docked ships and cargo cranes at the Odessa harbor.
People, a modern sculpture and the Marine Station building at the Odessa pier.
People, a modern sculpture and the Marine Station building at the Odessa pier.		 A British ferry boat (which was among many other ships) docked at the Odessa port.
A British ferry boat (which was among many other ships) docked at the Odessa port.		 Golden Boy Statue in front of the Marine Station building.
Golden Boy Statue in front of the Marine Station building.		 More views of the pier with the Hotel Odessa in the background.
More views of the pier with the Hotel Odessa in the background.
The modern Hotel Odessa is on the harbor. I stopped in and had caviar there.
The modern Hotel Odessa is on the harbor. I stopped in and had caviar there.		 View of the 4-star Continental Hotel where I stayed. The service was excellent!
View of the 4-star Continental Hotel where I stayed. The service was excellent!		 Doormen at the Hotel Continental waving goodbye to me (and to you since the slideshow is over)!
Doormen at the Hotel Continental waving goodbye to me (and to you since the slideshow is over)!

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