So bizarre crossing the paths of old trips. For sure Odessa is a nicer place in the sunshine. It's alive with mafia bosses, strip clubs and families from across the old USSR. It's a multilayered sin city with an overcrowded beach and dilapidated but beautiful architecture. It's one of the most important cities in this region of the world for.its impact.on local events. Hence its a fascinating place to explore. But also tiring as it's hugely busy compared to Mol...

A very long day. A day not yet over still... despite already being up for the best part of 10 hours. Thanks to a large snoring man on the bed below me we were out of our cute little Odessa hostel rather earlier than expected. At last, uber worked successfully and got us to the airport at a fifth of the price we paid to get to the hostel. Odessa Airport really is a step back in time. There's stray dogs wandering around the check-in desks and the place can only ...

We're in Odessa! Or Odesa. How many ssses you use depends on which side you're more sympathetic to Ukraine or Russia. We left from different airports, I had an easy time making it to the big international airport by train and had plenty of time to use airport wi-fi and have a vending machine coffee before boarding my Ukrainian operated Brazilian plane bound for Odessa. Odessa is the 4th city of Ukraine but a very important port city. It's also under Martial Law...

In 1986 Reactor 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Site exploded in the worst nuclear disaster in mankind's history. Today, we went there on a tour. It was an early start, making our way via the metro to the rather austere hotel that was the meeting point for the tour. There were maybe 25 of us split into 2 minibus loads with 2 seperate guides. Most of the men on the tour seemed to either be American, German or had very fancy facial hair (most likely both). It ...

The hostel was an absolute furnace last night. Sleep wasn't assisted by the bright exit light above the door. Nevertheless, we were up and out by 9, navigating the slippery icey pathways of Western Kyiv. It turned into a bit of an adventure even finding the nearest metro station. We took a couple detours, along railway tracks and through abandoned industrial estates, as well as a breakfast stop. Had a Ukrainian breakfast of Symrda (or similar) - a set of weird d...