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Your first impression when you come to Odessa that you are in France or Italy. Only language is different. May be this is because the first governor of Odessa was Duke de Richelieu, a Frenchman by origin, tireless and brave warrior, noble man, a friend of Emperor Alexander the 1st and Generalissimo Suvorov. Rumors were also saying he had the ugliest wife in Europe, but this is a different story. Architects, who built the city were also French or Italians. Thank you Duke for Odessa! It is truly a beautiful city. That’s why Odessa stands out among all other cities in the Ukraine.
Now two centuries later the city center is the most favorite place for tourists and locals. Numerous Odessa majors managed to preserve and restore most beautiful buildings and made old city center accessible only for pedestrians.
I was in Odessa several times and can’t stop wondering what it’s secret.
This city grasps your attention, and enchants you, and will never let you forget it’s beautiful places and people. Odessa is also very romantic because of all the history, famous people, actors and writers, and artists who lived there. Like Capri and Sorrento in Italy, Paris in France this city was home to so many writers and artists, seeking refuge during turbulent times in Russia’s history. The names of Leonid Utyosov, Konstantin Paustovsky, Ilf and Petrov, Aivazovsky, Anna Akhmatova, and our favorite Michail Zhvanetsky are connected to this city, like a golden chain. There is even a tour called “Odessa in Literature”.
My friends in South Africa don’t know too much about Odessa but when they do, they become very enthusiastic. One Indian friend became so interested that he wanted to go to Odessa to find the girl of his dreams.
Unfortunately, lately Odessa made headlines in international newspapers because of recent incident when pro-russian protesters died in a House of Trade Unions in May 2014. Luckily, the main military action is far from Odessa and it is business as usual for tourists and holiday-makers from all over the country and abroad. When I was there in July, I saw many tourists flocking through Odessa Opera Theatre and Deribasovskaya street from different places: France, Italy, New Zealand, Germany, Australia. Very often we can see Americans coming for business (mostly IT professionals).
Odessa Opera Theatre is the biggest attraction for tourists and it is really the must to see. Odessa’s Opera Theatre is, by far, one of the most beautiful in Europe. It’s building was tastefully restored in 1980’s and it is interesting to know that decorators used 9 carat gold generously in it’s internal decorations. There are a lot of sculptures on the roof of the theatre, as well as on the external and internal walls. Tours just to see the building and to hear about its history are every week, on Fridays and Saturdays, from 17.00-till 18.00.
Love of music is evident everywhere in Odessa. Nearby hotel has the name of Mozart Hotel, just 200 metres from it Salieri café. Almost everything you need to know and to do is around Deribasovskaya street. You can spend the day wandering from café to restaurant to another café and try all the glorious food. Ukrainian cuisine not known very much, but some dishes remind of Italian food. Italians have tortellini, Ukrainians have vareniki (tortellini with cheese) and pelmeni (tortellini with meat). And borsch. One can immediately think of mother in law in a good way.
If she can do borsch like in Odessa you will not need anything else in your life, you are covered. What about sea food? Famous “scumbria” was in all Odessa songs and movies. You have to try it to appreciate it. Prices in restaurants are reasonable. An average dinner can cost you one hundred rand ($10), or so.
Odessa is a big sea port, both commercial and tourist. Cruises from Odessa go to the nearby countries-Bulgaria, Italy, France and Israel, and Turkey. You can see big Hotel Odessa from far away, it has 16 floors. If you go up, to the city-you can’t miss famous Potemkin stairs and on top of it the stature of Duke De Richelieu. Every tourist wants to have a picture of himself near Duke de Richelieu. They say he brings luck to everyone, who makes photo near the stature.
Traditionally, Odessa is a brewing pot of nationalities. You can find here all 15 nationalities from the former USSR (Russians, Georgians, Armenians, Kazakhs, Chechens, even Greek, Italians). Before the big wave of emigration in 1972 and 1989 there were a lot of Jews in Odessa. They left a sparkle in Odessa’s language and humor.
Africans and Arabs are very noticeable in Odessa. Usually they are students from local Universities. Very often I came across people from South Africa, who used to study in Odessa. I’ve never met even one person, who did not have good memories about the time spent in my city.
Cultural life is very active in Odessa, with its 5 theatres, many exhibitions and museums. Every year, on the first of April, traditionally there is a Festival of Humor. The whole Odessa, especially young people, dress up and come out on streets of Odessa. It is like famous fiesta in Brazil, only there are no half-naked dancers. It is truly celebration of Odessa’s free spirit, hospitality and humor. There are only comedies in theatres. The best actors and comedians consider themselves honoured if they are invited to give performance in Odessa during festivals.

So, are you interested?
Where to go:
The tour Architecture of Odessa. Who would you like to see in Odessa? Beautiful women? Sea?
Buildings? Well, this tour is about architecture and how Odessa was built.
Price: adult R120 ($10); child R60 ($5);
Tours around Odessa: (you can go on one, two, three, or four days tour).
One day tour has a name: “It was good, but too short”.
Two days: “So , you don’t even want to drink tea?’
Three days: “May be you will have a nice tan in Odessa”.
Four days: “O-O-O! people in shops started to notice you”.
Where to eat:
Anywhere around Deribasovskaya. It is all good. Choose, according to your pocket.
Where to stay: average price for staying in hotel is around $100 per night per person sharing. For more details go to travel agency”Tudoi, sudoi”.

http://www.tudoy-sudoy.od.ua/eng.html

Travel agency “Tudoi, sudoi” in Odessa:
+38 (048) 700-60-50 (многоканальный)
+38 (048) 799-90-90 +38 (063) 528-96-91 (Life) +38 (096) 431-80-99 (Киевстар)
+38 (048) 798-52-01 +38 (066) 181-14-40 (MTC)
Odessa, Gogolya str, 8.
There is more to that.
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