"Aristocracy Playground" Yalta by Assenczo

For some reason these palaces were not gutted out by the Natzis and here we are enjoying them as their owners did. During the famous meeting of Stalin Churchil and Roosevelt, this was Churchill's residence. He must have been underprivilaged considering the distance from Livadia. Stalin reserved for himself the ex Yusupov's palace - a stone through from Livadia Palace and on the way to Vorontzov's palace so the "allies" were phisically separated. Maybe it worked?!

Livadia Palace

Livadia was the summer palace of the last Russian Tzar but it is widely known as the place where the three "big" met and decided the fate of Europe. Mr. Roosevlt had this palace as his residence due to his handicap condition.

Bahchisarai Palace

Bahchisarai is another planet compared to Yalta and its surroundings. It has very turkish feel and it cannot be othewise since it was the capital of the turkish possessions on the Northern shore of the Black sea. As a matter of fact it reminds me a lot of northeastern Bulgaria where practically the same architecture can be found in the same semi-arid-chalkstone-based rolling hills.

Pushkin admirers are able to see the original "Fountain of Tears" and its pityfull state. Vorontzov's palace possesses much more convincing replica. Reading Pushkin's verses under the music of the dropping tears must be an "experience of a lifetime".

• Pros:Amazing palaces with sea and mountains in the background
• Cons:Accomodation could be shabby but telling
• In a nutshell:Yalta has offered me the best side trips sofar