21 july and it was a long , hard ride to Sevastopol - the road seemed to go on for ever and it was hot- 35 degrees ( but wait to see what tops that ! ). We passed through one town that had the hot water pipes that heat every building in the whole town. Imagine if that fails in the winter !

we were very glad to see the landscape change to some hills. we pulled up outside the most expensive hotel in town-- would you believe ' hotel sevastipol' and thought ' to hell with price'- we deserve some comfort at Ј96 pn but that did include free IT and breakfast!

it is a truely stunning city with the azure sea, magnificent buildings, Churches, statues and many bars on the wide prom.

This is how they sell beer to the odd passerby !

we went for a boat ride around the bay and saw the russian fleet.

and the many statues in commemoration of different wars

(Sorry - this is not a statue! Photo sequence was out of kilter !!!! Whose computer literate then ? --- You try cutting and pasting with Russian instructions !)

22 july and we were out to see the sights and went to the Panorama which is half painting and half diorama, depicting the siege of Sevastopol. it is magnificent and you walkaround it in a circle - it manages to transport you back to the day-- it is so lifelike. It's 115 metres long and 14 metres high!

next day saw us leaving and we called in at balaclava and saw the Valley of Death, which now is vines.

passed through the hills with some lovely views

Wed 23 july and on to Sudak, which is a typical seaside town, where we had another day off to see the fortress.Went up on the bike wearing jeans, shirt, shoes and helmet- definitely the way to travel !

This is how swords are wrought !

and today's temperature is :

The last few days we have found the heat very trying - have our internal thermostats been upset with the episode in Delhi, we wonder?

The ciccadias are chirping all the time and through the mountains you could actually hear them above the engine !

We are finding that getting food is a problem- plenty there but getting across what you want is difficult. The hotel we are in at present offered breakfast and dinner included in the price (Ј63). we ate it last night - grated cabbage, a dish of unknown substance ( ? chick pea and 6 pieces of lamb, mainly grisle) and 'pastries' filled with jam for pudding. It was disgusting -- and breakfast was no better. we have been to the shop and bought yogurt, cheese and bread and had a picnic in the room. hope to find somewhere tonight to get an omelette!

Other than that we have eaten a lot of crisps and snickers bars !-- glad i brought the multi vitamins !

From here on in we are 'winging it' as there are no hotels listed in the Lonely planets. having said that - every town seems to have had so much reconstuction that I am sure we will find a hotel- of some sort !Up to now we have found nice modern 'western style' hotels- lets hope it continues .

Now what do you carry in your hanbag, Dee? ' Why marmite, Deet and anti- itch cream, of course !'

Our russian visa starts on Sun 27 July, so tomorrow we are heading up country. Don't know when you will get the next blog. not all IT places have a USB port . What I have been doing is preparing the blog and then putting it on the net from the flash stick but if i do the blog from a cafe there will be no photos, as i can't resize them there !

wish us luck folks-- we've already had one day when all we wanted was to be at home - but after a beer or 2 ( for Colin ) and a good sleep things were better.i can't say that this is a trip for the feint hearted- especially in this heat and not understanding one word of the language or signs.The people, in the main, are as helpful as they can be----- some shrug their shoulders and walk off.

We are waiting to see how brendon and tasha get on--- they are now in Russia also and are having their own set of problems !

total miles :3070.----- more to come ( God willing !)