Showing posts with label Asia South Ossetia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asia South Ossetia. Show all posts

Thursday, 14 July 2016

Tskhinval- South Ossetia

Asia-South Ossetia-Tskhinval This postcard is showing a overall view of Tskhinval. The capital of South Ossetia. On maps you will see this as Tskhinvali which is the Georgian spelling. You can see in the picture a burnt out building on the front. Also if you look hard enough a Georgian flag as the picture looks towards the border with Georgia . It is only now that the city is starting to take shape again with many new roofs and repaired buildings. 

It is great to see this postcard arrive though the mail. It is never really clear if that will happen. A little over two weeks posting so that is very good. Bearing in mind the mail has to go out via North Ossetia. Stamps show the flag of South Ossetia. There are no postcards for sale in South Ossetia so I got the card printed prior to going. A very rare postcard from a rare Postal area. On this card I spelt the city as per what is on a map. 

Wednesday, 6 July 2016

South Ossetia

It has take me quite some time to arrange a visit to South Ossetia. You need a permit from the Government to visit here. Up to late last year they have been not been forthcoming from the authorities.
It is only now that non Russians are being allowed to visit as tourists. One of the reasons is that there is poor infrastructure and it is only now that this is being updated.
The Scenery on the way across the border from Norh Ossetia is excellent .

The locals speak Ossetian and Russian. After the USSR broke up up in the early 1990s, this area did not wish to be part of Georgia. Just like Abkhazia they speak their own language.
After the last war in 2008 , I think there is no hope that this area will ever go back to Georgia and in fact the people want to join Russia and be part of North and South Ossetia.
The Mountains just across the border from Russia.
The start of one of the many tunnels in this area.
The entrance to the city Tskhinval .
Memorials to dead from the war with Georgia
Overview of the city
The Post office in Tskhinval .
With the Manager of the Post office and some of the staff.
The counter of the Post office. Note a Soldier. There are many in South Ossetia, but cant take photos.
The Stamps on sale at the Post office in South Ossetia
The Parliament that was bombed in the war., Now fixed up.
Parliament building
Just outside the barracks for the Russian soldiers based in South Ossetia
The Minister of Tourism in South Ossetia
A reg plate from South Ossetia