Tag Archives: Crimea

Islam & Arabia in Europe

Tracing Islamic architecture in Europe

Euro 24 Match Day 13 – Ukraine v Belgium

All teams have 3 points from 2 matches in this group, something that has never happened before. Ukraine In 2011 I visited the disputed territory of Crimea, then firmly part of Ukraine. We had a wonderful time, staying in Sevastopol and visiting the nuclear submarine base at Baklava and the Islamic town of Bakhchiseray. Belgium […]

Tuesday Train – Simferopol to Lvov in Ukraine

With my thrice aborted attempt to take the trans-Siberian train, at 27 hours this 2011 trip remains my longest train journey. We actually started out from Sevastopol, a further 90-minutes south in Crimea. Total distance in excess of 1,000 km. You can see on the map below the area travelled. Unfortunately the cities shown have […]

Ukraine in 2011

Ukraine is never far from my thoughts these days. One can only imagine the fear & hardship that innocent citizens are facing. Ukrainians are our friends. A proud & hospitable nation that made me feel so welcome in 2011, less than a year before they hosted Euro 2012 with their great Polish neighbours. Here are […]

The Khan's Palace, Bakhchysarai, Crimea

Ukraine Tour 2011 Part 4 – Bakhchiseray & Sevastopol

Continuing the recount of my tour of Ukraine over a decade ago. See my previous posts from Odesa, Sevastopol Arrival and Balaklava. Khan Do Attitude Bakhchiseray is a stop off on the main line from Sevastopol to Simferopol in Crimea. Back we went to the scene of the previous day’s hell. I was pleased to […]

Ukraine Trip 2011 Part 3 – Balaklava in Crimea

Continuing our wonderful trip to Ukraine from over ten-years ago. Picking up where we left off, we had at last found a hotel in Sevastopol after a horrid overnight bus journey from Odesa, followed by a frustrating time at the train station trying to procure train tickets to Lviv. The Balaclava Helmet A sixty-minute kip […]

Odessa Port View From Potemkin Steps

Ukraine Trip 2011 – Part One, Odessa

In 2011 I visited Ukraine, first arriving by train in Odessa from Moldova. I wrote about the trip a few years ago and with the awful events taking place at the moment, I thought I’d share my travels during far happier times, whilst I pray for a return to peace. Train Journey: Chișinău to Odessa, […]

Euro Match Day 17 – Ukraine v Sweden

The final match of the round of 16 takes place in Glasgow. Ukraine The ex-nuclear submarine base in Balaclava in the Crimea was such a secret that the town of Balaclava did not appear on maps and even the families of engineers, scientists & technicians who worked there had no idea that the base existed! […]

The Khan's Palace, Bakhchysarai, Crimea

Euro 2020 Match Day 7 – Ukraine v North Macedonia

This Eastern European match up kicks off the days proceedings, played in Bucharest. Not too far to travel then. Ukraine Crimea is disputed territory at present, but in 2011 it was still very much officially part of Ukraine. The Khan’s Palace was occupied by the Tatars, an Islamic minority that resided in Crimea. Built in […]

A-Z April Challenge – X Is For eX-Submarine Base In Balaclava, Crimea

Balaclava Submarine Base Museum