Eupatoria
On the recommendation of Marcus at the Kiev hostel, I headed for Eupatoria on the west coast of the Crimea. It was one of the favourite family resorts for Soviet holidaymakers and had been settled by the Greeks since around 500BC.
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Upon arrival it was bright and sunny at around 17C when I saw my first glimpse of the Black Sea….the White sea and its regular -20C temperatures seem like a more a distant memory than 3000km would suggest.
Black Sea
White Sea
Eupatoria is a fusion of pre-revolution buildings
With wide tree lined avenues and open plazas
…..interspersed with futuristic Soviet era concrete structures now abandoned and decaying
While the Soviet constructed mock Grecian facades of the seafront
Clash somewhat with the commercial port
….and the rusty relics of busier tourist times.
The Tsarist era dachas replete with private beaches are either derelict or have been transformed into multiple apartments
Whilst the best Soviet holiday blocks were often given as incentives to workers who achieved their targets and norms……an all inclusive communist Club Med if you like.
On the way into town I spied a large factory complex which had been abandoned but looked structurally intact…so I decided it would make a good campsite!…so I parked up in one of the huge empty hangers
…set about repacking the truck….
…quite a bit of stuff I’ve been hauling about actually
…cooked a slap-up meal….
…but it was a bit spooky at night in the warehouse..
…and on the second morning, before I departed, I indulged in a little juvenile graffiti…..(I think Banksy is safe)
