Second day in Yalta. Main visit was to the Aloupka Palace, built by Prince (Count?) Michael Vorontsov, who was apparently richer than the Czar. The picture is of a ceiling in one of the rooms. Although it has the appearance of wood, it is actually papier mache and is original. While many other palaces were looted and badly damaged after the revolution, this one was protected and preserved as a museum. Today we left Yalta at noon and will cruise overnight to Odessa, the last stop on our tour. The area around Yalta is quite picturesque with mountains and beaches. The climate is quite mediterranean. It is not surprising it was chosen as the holiday destination for the Russian royalty and communist leadership alike.