The Black Sea

Trabzon & Sinop, Turkey

Brian checking out the olive shop

So yesterday and today we were in Turkey at two different ports.  This is our first time sailing in the Black Sea and we are really enjoying it.  The weather is a beautiful 78* and the skies are blue and sunny.  Turkey is a beautiful country – who knew?  The people have been very friendly and gracious to us.  Both Trabzon and Sinop are small cities built into the hillsides.  We wandered the main shopping streets, explored the markets and sampled the foods – not the local McDonald’s, though I did use their facilities (which were western style, thank God!)

I am writing this from my balcony stateroom.  There is a Turkish flag on the top of the hill, brightly colored apartment-like housing sprouting the hillside and seaside, lovely parks and cafes to “have a coffee”…

Brian and I seem to be the only faithful “athletes” on board as we go to every sporting event.  I finally beat B today in the rope toss game they call “blongo”.  Yea me!  I got a set of golf balls, which I will give away, because as I always tell ya’ll, “it’s not the prize, it’s the winning that matters!”  LOL!

cute Turkish girls... Jess??

Sochi, Russia

On Monday we were in Sochi, Russia and on the only tour we will do this trip.  We took the tour because passengers were not allowed off ship unless with a tour.  It was an interesting place – the site of Stalin’s summer home.  Sochi is definitely a seaside a luxurious  town and will be the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics…  They have a lot of work to do in the next 11/2 years to be ready for all those people.  The traffic was horrendous, and most of the guides English was barely passable…  The highlight of my tour was Bernie – a young dog who was playing in the park with is owner.  I walked over and asked if I could pet his dog and he said ok.  As soon as I kneeled, Bernie spied me and came running over and I was lavished with puppy kisses.  He was adorable and I wanted to smuggle him on board with me…lol!  The Russian people were also very friendly to us and B & I made a few balloons to promote good will…

I want to try to add some photos to this blog so will stop here.  It is also about time for trivia…  Happy Sailing