Arrived in Sevastopol on the Black Sea this afternoon. During USSR days, Sevastopol was the base for the Soviet Black Sea fleet. After the breakup and independence of Ukraine, the status of the Russian fleet was a major issue for the two countries. Ukraine wanted the fleet out, but Russia was not about to leave. The temporary solution was a lease to Russia to use some of the facilities. This part of Ukraine is over 70% Russian so sympathy toward Russia is ve...

Another relaxing day cruising down the Dnieper River. We had an afternoon stop at Kherson. This is an industrial city with a shipbuilding industry and a port servicing the interior and the Black Sea. A lot of agriculture products are shipped through this port. Not a lot to see. Weather continues to be good. Tomorrow we enter the Black Sea heading to Crimea. We will get to Sevastopol in the afternoon and begin touring. This next week is the main touring fo...

Afternoon in Zaporozhye, an industrial city with two features --- the second largest lock in the world (34 meters) and the historical home of the main Cossack sect. (See the photos section for both). The tour took us to a Cossack show that featured Cossack(?) horsemen. The show was good, but it was a bit Disneylike. Nevertheless, good horsemanship. I have posted a few pictures and will try to post a short video, but I am not sure our wifi connection will all...

Lazy day sailing on the Dneiper River south from Kiev toward the Black Sea. This is the heart of the Ukraine, quite flat and not very exciting. Mainly agriculture. Several dams on the river, including the one near Kremenchuk. One of the photos in the album shows a lock we passed through. Weather is surprisingly pleasant in the low 20s and sunny.

A day of touring, both organized and on our own. Tourist sites are mainly churches and monasteries. We did visit the museum of Ukrainian history. A great deal of green space in Kiev. The city does have some run-down areas but there is a lot of restoration taking place. Traffic is absolutely horrendous in the downtown. Many central square areas have no lights and it is every car for itself (kind of like the traffic around the Arc de Triomph in Paris). Weath...