Crimea, Now Scene of a Russian Invasion, Is a Tourist Gem: A Photo Essay

From soaring mountains to craggy shores, from Tsarist palaces to rock-clinging monasteries, from the palace of the Crimean Tatar Khans to the site of the one of the most famous and futile battles in history, Crimea has much to offer the traveller, whatever his/her predilection -- once Russian President Putin reins in his current imperialist caper.

The following is a gallery of photos from a visit to Crimea a few years ago:


View during the ascent of Mt.Ai-Petri, behind the town of Yalta


View at summit



Another summit view with autumnal colours



Alupinksy Palace built for Prince Vorontsov in 19th century



Swallow's Nest castle, a 20th century folly near Yalta


Livadia Palace, built for Tsar Nicholas II, site of wartime meeting between Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin in February 1945



Wartime meeting room



Another wartime meeting room




Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Yalta



Yalta waterfront


Black Sea coast near Yalta


Autumn colours



Bakhchysaray, the Khan's Palace


The Khan's mosque


Inside the Khan's palace



Another palace view



The Khan's throne



Uspensky Monastery built into crags outside Bakhchysaray


Uspensky Monastery

Chufut-Kale cave city outside Bakhchysaray, with entrance blocked by local mafioso demanding money



Balaclava harbour

Scene of the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War

Battle diorama in Crimean War museum in Sevastopol


Cathedral of St. Volodymir the Great, who converted to Christianity in 988, by the ruins of the ancient Greek town of Chersonesus



Ruins of ancient Chersonesus

By the same author: Swimming With Fidel: The Toils Of An Accidental Journalist, available for Kindle, with excerpts available on http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IMNWV2W