CRIMEA ~ Sevastopol - Klokachev Quay (House of Children and Youth) ~

...Beautiful view of  an area with still a difficult political situation...my earlier received Crimea postcards are with Ukrainian stamps...this one has Russian...Thanks a lot David !!

Photo: ©B. Epemehko
Sevastopol is an important and historical port on the Black Sea.

As a result of the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia, the city is administered as a federal city within the Crimean Federal District of the Russian Federation, though Ukraine and most of the international community continue to regard Sevastopol as a city with special status within Ukraine.

Founded in 1783 as the base of the Black Sea Navy of Russia, it was besieged by the British in the Crimean War. In the 20th century it was the home port of the Soviet Navy's Black Sea Fleet. After the break-up of the Soviet Union, the city became part of Ukraine. Both Russian and Ukrainian fleets were based in the city.

The city is currently a de facto part of Russia, and can only be entered by following Russian visa requirements. It observes Moscow time, the Russian ruble (RUB) is the primary currency used and Russian laws are enforced.

Stamps:

State Awards of the Russian Federation
(Issued 19-02-2016)

Aviation History
 (Issued 18-04-2014)

UKRAINE ~Crimea~

Thanks a lot Alex for this lovely card showing Crimea... an area that became the focus of a dispute between pro-European and pro-Russian in Ukraine...I hope they can come to a dialogue and solve this conflict...


With  nice stamps:
200th Anniversary of Birth of Taras Shevchenko (Writer)
(Issued 09-03-2013)

CRIMEA ~Vorontsov Palace~

Great second card showing the majestic Northern facade of the palace... The stone used was mined locally as part of an effort to blend the building with its mountainous surroundings in the style of a medieval English castle... Thanks a lot Alex for another view of this unique building!!


With nice tiny stamp!!

The Vorontsov Palace is a historic palace situated at the foot of the Crimean Mountains, southern Ukraine.

 This Palace is one of the oldest and largest residential palaces in all of Crimea, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions on Crimea's southern coast, built over a 20 year period from 1828-1848. Several architectural styles are nicely blended together to create the overall effect, it united Gothic and Arabic architecture.

 Churchill slept here during the Yalta conference in 1945.

 Crimea is known as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea,surrounded by the Black Sea. It has its own parliament and capital, Simferopol, but is governed by the Constitution of Crimea in accordance with the laws of Ukraine.

CRIMEA ~Vorontsov Palace~

This great postcard shows the imposing Moorish southern entrance facade with elements of Islamic architecture and lions... Thanks a lot Alexey of thinking of me during your travel!!


With two sweet UNICEF stamps:
Through the Eyes of Children
(Issued 02.06.2013) and
Famous religious people
350 Years - Ivano-Frankivsk Stanislaviv
(Issued 07-05-2012)

The Vorontsov Palace is a historic palace situated at the foot of the Crimean Mountains, southern Ukraine.

This Palace is one of the oldest and largest residential palaces in all of Crimea, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions on Crimea's southern coast, built over a 20 year period from 1828-1848. Several architectural styles are nicely blended together to create the overall effect, it united Gothic and Arabic architecture.

Churchill slept here during the Yalta conference in 1945.

Crimea is known  as the Autonomous Republic of Crimea,surrounded by the Black Sea. It has its own parliament and capital, Simferopol, but is governed by the Constitution of Crimea in accordance with the laws of Ukraine.

UKRAINE ~Crimea-The Fortress Chembalo~

...Another fortress today (UA-335349)... Even though there are only ruins left...the view over the Baltic Sea from the fortress must still be stunning... Thanks Dasha!!

With lovely stamps: UEFA EURO 2012 (Issued 01-06-2012) and two from Definitive (leaves & seeds)set (Issued 03-02-2012)

The fortress of Cembalo is located atop Kastron mountain on the Crimean coast and dates back to XIV.
It is one of the major landmarks of Balaklava and an important historic site.

Through the centuries it has been an outpost of various battles: from The Ottoman Empire attacks in XV through the short Balaklava Greek battalion defence in 1854, in the course of the Crimean War, and up to the continuous Soviet defence from the Nazi in 1941-42, during the World War II.

CRIMEA ~Gaspra-Swallow's Nest Castle~

Thanks a lot Alex for this gorgeous fairytale looking castle with a wonderful name "Swallow's Nest" and in an amazing seting !!
It now appears to be a very expensive Italian restaurant...
As Crimea is an autonomous republic of Ukraine, located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, I think I can consider it as a new place...:D


The "Swallow's Nest Castle" stands on the Rock of Aurora,40 meters (130 feet) above the Black Sea. It is known that it was built by a retired general, a participant of the Russian-Turkish war and he was a really romantic person, because only a romantic could have the strength to build a castle as Swallow's Nest, called "Castle of Love”. It was built in the spirit of chivalrous times. Its house is decorated with towers, steeples, balconies, windows of Gothic forms and battlements.

Gaspra is a village, situated on the southern coast of Crimea. It is a part of Great Yalta. The name of Gaspra comes from the Greek "Aspres" - white.

UKRAINE

.... There is a such lovely story behind how I got this 3 very nice postcards all with great stamps from Ukraine! The people from the "Organizing Comittee of Direct Marketing Days"found by surfing on the web a few of their cards on my blog...It was a nice surprise for them and they decided to sent me a few more cards to show me their beautiful country...
JUST GREAT!!! ^___^

Chatyr- Dagis a mountainous massif in Crimea,the highest peak is Eklizi-Bourun (1527m. above sea level)
The Crimean Mountains is a range of mountains running parallel to the south-east coast of Crimea, Ukraine, between about five and eight miles (13 km) from the sea. Toward the west, the mountains drop steeply to the Black Sea, and to the east, they change it slowly into a steppe landscape.


View of the Southern Coast of Crimea and the waters of the Black Sea.


St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery is a functioning monastery in Kiev, Ukraine.The monastery is located on the Western side of the Dnieper River.Originally built in the Middle Ages but then reconstructed in the 20thC.