This morning we took a public bus from Tiraspol to Odessa – and as such did cross from Transnistria / Moldova into Ukraine.

We got into Odessa in time for a late lunch. After lunch we were picked up by a guide, who was showing us around the center of town. We kicked it off by looking at the architecture around Derybasivska Street with a side stroll into a passage (or should I say THE passage). From here it was into the City Garden to the Monument to Ilf and Petrov – the monument resembling a chair (with a chair or – better twelve chairs – referring to the key and best known novel of the two authors). Our next stop was at the Monument to Leonid Utiosov, a famous Soviet jazz singer.

We left the park and made our way down Havanna Street and Hoholia Street to arrive at the Faltz-Fein House, i.e. the house with the Atlanteans (details for those with a sense of Russian). We then passed by the Shah’s Palace to the Monument to the Orange, commemorating how Odessa at one point in history was saved by a delivery of oranges.

We now made our way to what is probably the most famous sight of Odessa – the Potemkin Stairs with a statue of Richelieu (who acted as governor of Odessa in the early 19th century) on its top. We spent some time around the stairs, got a bit of its history and reflection on popular culture – and of course enjoyed the view over Odessa’s harbor.

Temperatures had dropped considerably by now with us close to sunset – so it was good, that the tour was about to come to an end, as we walked down Prymorskyi Boulevard for the Monument to Alexander Pushkin and the city hall. The tour concluded in front of the Opera House – and we made our way back to the hotel.