Balaclava - Crimea

Europe-Russia-Crimea-Balaclava  A beautiful view over the harbour. I actually came up to t his point. It was a wonderful sunny day just like this. The famous Submarine base was here, now no longer in use but a museum. 

I posted this card on my last stop in Yalta. I could not find any suitable cards here in Balaclava so got this card from the wonderful philatelic office in Sevastopol . 

Bakchsaray- Crimea

Europe-Russia-Crimea-Bakchysaray  This is the Khan's Palace. It was built in the 16th Century  by Russian and Ukrainian slaves under the direction of Persian, Ottoman and Italian architects. Well worth seeing for sure. 

The stamp is from a miniature sheet. This card was posted in Yalta. Interestingly these postcards were printed for Russian Post office in July 2014 . Only a few months since Crimea changed from Ukraine to Russia.  

Swallows Nest - Crimea

Europe-Russia-Crimea-Yalta   Here is the famous Swallows Nest. This toy town castle is a favourite for Crimean postcards. The castle has a great view and actually overhangs a cliff. Great to visit. It is near Yalta.  I had always wanted to visit Yalta. Especially interested in Chekov's dacha where is nearby. Yalta did not quite live up to expectation , but glad I visited. 

The main post office is right in the middle of town on the seafront. Busy when I was here. I had purchased these stamps in Sevastopol . 

Europe-Russia-Crimea- Yalta   This is the fist time I have placed a postcard of a plane. I have travelled on a Tupolev 154 a number of times. Last time was  in 2006 on a flight from Nakhchivan to Baku on Azerbaijan Airlines. 

Posted in Yalta. This includes the stamps issued by Russia featuring Crimea. This Postcard was part of a individual collection of cards featuring Soviet or Russian aircraft  

Sevastopol - Crimea

Europe-Russia-Crimea-Sevastopol  Another postcard featuring the Eagle Column   .  A bit like the photo I took but the water is calmer in the photo. 

I am showing this card especially because of the stamps. They were as far as I know the first stamps issued by Russia showing Crimea since change from Ukraine to Russia. They again show the Eagle Column and the building that shows the famous painted panorama . This is of the Crimea War. It is fantastic and I really enjoyed taking the time to see it. 

Sevastopol - Crimea - Russia - Ukraine . World Heritage Site

Europe-Russia-Crimea-Sevastopol Here is the Eagle Column to commemorates Russian ships deliberately scuppered at the mouth of the harbour in 1854 to make it impossible for enemy ships to pass. It is a popular tourist location. Sevastopol is such a interesting city with lots to see. 

This miniature sheet issued by Russia in 2015. So they are quick getting out stamps showing areas in the former part of Ukraine. This is the world heritage site - The Greek city of Chersonesus . Founded in 422 BC. Here also is the very first Russian Church. 

Europe-Russia-Crimea-Sevastopol A beautiful view of this city from the water. It is a wonderful place just to walk around. So full of history. 

A new set of stamps from Russia. Some of the stamps are embossed. All these postcards have been cancelled in Sevastopol . The Post office is large . Purchased all the stamps in the fantastic Philatelic shop beside the Post office. 

Simferopol - Crimea

Europe-Russia-Crimea-Simferopol  Here is the capital of Republic of Crimea. On maps Crimea is part of Ukraine. But in practical level it is Russia. So hence I  put this area as Russia. Arrived into the early hours of the morning . So spend my first night here in Simferopol. This is the Holy Trinity Monastery which is in the centre . 

Posted this card in the main Post office in the city. It was as just by luck next door to my "Hotel Ukrainia " . At this post office did not see a choice of stamps so I had the first two "Crimea " stamps and was sold a R5 Definitive. The Crimea stamps are no  longer on sale on Crimea as sold out. 

Crimea

I have been looking forward to visiting Crimea. There is so much to see here. Now part of Russia. Here you do feel it is part of Russia. Due to sanctions all international contact and banking is suspended. Visiting here now may be more hassle  , as you need a Russian visa .
However there is worthwhile place to visit. Not as packed as before tourist wise as really only Russian visitors here.

Sevestapol is interesting . It is a Federal City and has special status. It is governed from Moscow and not from the local " Republic of Crimea" parliament. St. Petersburg and Moscow also have the same status.

The Philatelic section of the main Post office is next door to the main Post office in Sevestapol This office is only 2 years. Before I guess the Post office just had a regular section as then was Ukraine.
Now it has without doubt the best selection and display of stamps I have ever seen in all my visits worldwide. The staff were very well trained and were interested and offered to show and sell more. This surprised me for Post office staff and especially for the usual service one gets in most Russian shops. So I spend quite some time there.

Balaklava

This sight of the Tsar Han's Palace

Sevestapol

Sevestapol

City marker of Sevestapol

Palace where Crimea conference was  held in 1945 .

Swallows Nest Crimea

The Philatelic section of the Post office. It is next door the the main Post office .

Inside the Philatelic Counter.

More views of the philatelic shop

It even has seating areas

Outside the main Post office in Sevestapol 

North Ossetia - Russia

Arrive in Vladikavkaz the capital of North Ossetia.

These photos are from Beslan which is near the airport. Over 300 were killed at the School massacre in 2004. Here is the monument and school .

A wedding in North Ossetia

Wonderful Mountains around this area.

The Post office in Vladikavkaz  .

Russia and Abkhazia

Europe-Russia-Sochi  I was here in 2010, well before the Olympic Games. But you could see all the building work going on while here. Not one of my favourite parts of Russia. 

I had a interesting discussion with the Post office re these stamps. It relates to the two stamps commemorating the 2nd World War. The Post office when I gave them the Postcard to mail, said the stamps on the top were for collectors and I would have to buy " Regular Stamps".. So I did. They were two definitive stamps. You can see one here in green. The other one got removed at some point. I guess they decided after I paid that I did not need that stamp and it was reused.. This happens occasionaly when the Post office does not wish to recognise the stamps that were issued by the Philatelic Section. 

Asia-Abkhazia-Sukhum   Many would say this is part of Georgia. Abkhahazia is the breakaway republic within Georgia. However it is intersting to note, that the people here always had a different language then the rest of Georgia.. Getting a visa here is not too difficult, but getting a Double Entry visa to go back into Russia was. The Russian Embassy in Dublin could not understand why I needed a Double entry visa and more or less told me I could not visit Abkhazia . In the end after 3 visits I got the visa. Strangely enough, Abkhazia is a beautiful "Country" to visit. I had 3 great days here. When here it was full of Russian Tanks , but hidden . The capital Sukhum is very nice , with great views over the sea..  

The trip to the Post office was a event in itself. The Post office really only sells Russian Stamps. Abkhazia stamps are only valid for internal mail. In effect they are never used. I had to try and find someone higher up in the Post office to get me Abkhazia stamps. That was in a small office upstairs after I told the official I would pay more then the value of the stamps! Problem one sorted. Then I went down to mail the postcard at the normal counter only to find that I now needed Russian stamps. All the Russian stamps they had were on prepaid envelopes. So I could put this postcard in a envelope and send it out. I explained that would not work for me. So I went back up to my  good Official and explained I needed Russian stamps. After 10 minutes they found some and I was able to mail my postcard. As you can see the mail goes out via Sochi and it has to have Russian stamps and it is postmarked there too. A postcard from Abkhazia is a rare sight. Because Abkhazia is not recognised and mail not guaranteed to go through the international system. Of course my Russian stamps problem should have been ok, but you may recall I lost them in Moscow so had no extra Russian stamps with me. Hence I was fortunate to get this Postcard mailed. Just a extra foot note. South Ossetia use Russian stamps so I have no plans to visit that area.