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 Swallows
Nest (Yalta)
Photo
by Ukraine Cognita
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 he
name has an almost mystic quality, evoking remote civilizations,
long-forgotten battles between fallen empires, and the
most important summit of leaders in the 20th Century.
And yet, Crimea has a modern pull as well. Its warm climate,
beautiful nature and strategic location on the northern
shores of the Black Sea make it today, as in the days
of the Tsars and Soviet masters, a popular tourism destination
that attracts many millions each year.
But now, as in recent centuries, Crimea remains a destination
visited almost exclusively by Ukrainians and Russians,
with a second group coming from other former Soviet
states. Few Western tourists make their way there.
On a recent October day, southern Crimea was awash in
fall colors. Fields of yellow and red grapevines run
to the foot of hillsides splashed with a rainbow of
warm tints. Above, bare rocks jut towards the sky, often
shrouded in wreaths of drifting mist.
Along the coast, sunlight slants through openings in
heavy rain clouds, and dances on the rippling surface
of the sea. Black seems the wrong name for this sea
in this place. From Crimea, the sea speaks of the sun,
of the south, and on its shores you can find exotic
plants and palms, rare sights for the former Soviet
Union.
No wonder, then, that Russia's Tsars chose this as
their favorite place for relaxation. Or that the Soviet
leaders and ordinary citizens followed in the royal
footsteps, making Crimean resorts the favored resting
place for ruler and ruled alike.
Before them, Alexander Pushkin, Russia’s most
famous author, visited the Crimea as an
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