Pierre Thuilier, The Isle of Reunion , September 2009
Gratitude to the direction of the agency BA
Hello, BA manager Oksana,
I would like to thank you and your agency for the help which you brought us during our meeting, Irina and me, that it is for the accommodation and  for the organization with the assistance of Karina, our interpreter, very kind, patient and full of resources.
I would like to express my attitude to the professionalism of your agency and to the quality of services offered to make easier, to live up and to favor the holding of my visit.

  THUILIER Pierre

Meeting at Kiev airport ( Borispol ). Departure to Sempheropol

Arrival to Yalta. Accommodation. Excursion around the city.
Yalta, it is a nice and most famous resort area on the shore of the beautiful Black Sea. It was founded a long time ago by Greek people. Yalta City is Yalta itself, Greater Yalta consists of several small towns which situated between Bear Mountain (Gurzuf) and Cat Mountain (Simeiz).
It is surrounded by high mountains that help to keep the climate close to Mediterranean one.
Enjoy the walk in the shadow picturesque park or unique wild life museum, Nikitsky Botanic Garden, which is situated 6 km east of Yalta. The garden's collection consists of above 58 thousand kinds, hybrids and forms of flora all over the world, which you can see during the excursion.

Excursion tour: Lyvadia White Palace, Vorontsov Palace-park.
Lyvadia Palace was built in 1910/11 as a summer residence of Nicholas II. It was designed in early Italian Renaissance style with Florentine and Arabic country yards, using much of Crimean white granite. Lyvadia is famous for the scene of the Yalta Conference in 1945 when Stalin, Roosvelt and Churchill decided the future of post war Europe.
The exotic Vorontsov palace-park complex is built in 1828-1864 for the regional governor Count Mikhail Vorontsov has got a grand exterior, embodying the features of a classical English castle as well as elements of oriental architecture. An extensive collection of the samples of applied art, sculpture and paintings by Russian and foreign masters are on display in 150 rooms of the palace-museum.

Visit to Massandra Wine Cellars + wine-tasting, the Massandra Palace
The Massandra Wine Cellars collection is the largest in the world. The oldest wines are dated back to 1775. Its construction began in 1894. Massandra contains over 250,000 decalitres of wine in wooden caskets as well as 1,000,000 bottles. The architect, A.I. Ditrikh, was one of the most prominent in Russia. The large and unique construction is called the Head Winary of the Massandra Union. In 2002, it has celebrated its 105th anniversary. The Massandra Union produces ecologically pure grape wines of different types: table wines, sweet wines and strong wines. The White Muscat of the Red Stone has been selected as the best wine in the world at two international wine exhibitions.
The Massandra Palace is one of the best architectural monuments of Southern coast of Crimea- a palace of Emperor Alexander III. Its construction has begun in 1881. The park area of 6 hectares and a palace composition create marvelous ensemble

Balaklava Harbour, Chersonesus, Sevastopol -full day tour.
2500 y.o. Balaklava is located on both sides of curved bay. You find there ruins of Genova's fortress built in XV century, during the Crimean War it was a base of British army. It's only 15 minutes by car to historic Sevastopol and the Sapoun Heights, where Lord Raglan gave the order that led to the Charge of the Light Brigade.
Balaklava was one of the most secret and closed points of Crimea during Soviet time being a base for submarines. Still you can find there a big tunnel with access from the Black Sea, before it was a submarine repair factory inside of the mountain.
Sevastopol is a big tourist center. It is hard to be estimated during one tour...It is an excellent resort having great combination of climatic factors, the city of monuments and exotic features as well. For years it's been closed to foreigners, as for some of Ukrainians who didn't have a good reason for coming. Sevastopol was the home of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet. Since 1997 the city is open for visitors. Chersonesus, the archeological reserve is one of the most significant centers of ancient culture in Ukraine. It's been built in 422-421BC by Greek colonists. In the 3rd cent. BC it was one of the largest states, the slaveholding republic. The unique monuments of the 4th cent. BC are introduced in the exposition.

Return to Sempheropol + visit to Bahchisaray Palace
Bahchisaray was created in XVI century represents all Oriental splendors. It is not only a unique example of Crimean Tatar architecture, but a testament to a strong and enduring community. Some of the rooms have been make to look' lived-in' in Tatar style.
Burned down during Russian-Turkish war and now it is updated and reconstructed. Nevertheless it still remains the first and the unique residence of the Crimean Khans. It's present territory spreads for 4,3 hectares, being much larger earlier.
You're welcome to have a look at Uspensky Cave Monastery, was founded in the XV cent. in caves in the limestone of a spectacular valley leading to the ancient 'cave city of Chufut-Kaleh'
It is said that and icon Mary illuminated by a candle appeared high on the cliffs. The local prince ordered the icon to be carefully moved to his palace, but in the morning the icon had returned to its position on the cliff.
Return to Kiev by train.

Arrival to Kiev. Departure from Borispol airport.