FGC – when I commented to you earlier that your blocking of Russian IP addresses had not blocked me, it’s funny that I had not considered why.  The reason is that depending on who you ask, apparently including your blocking software, at the moment I am not in Russia.  So, the question is, where could I be, if according to Russian authorities I have not left Russia?

On Sunday, I left Moscow and went on a 27.5 hour bus ride to the south.  I would have preferred a train, but there were no empty seats for at least a few days.  And commercial flights to this destination have been suspended for the time being.  So, I came here by a grin & bear it bus.  Check out this map to see the interesting route to an interesting destination:

This route took me along the old Ukraine border and across the bridge that was damaged by an explosion in October, then re-opened in February after being repaired.

Yesterday, I arrived in Sevastopol, Crimea in ideal springtime conditions, flowers and greenery everywhere, birds singing and no tourists.  It goes without saying there are no other Americans to be seen here, but that’s not a surprise, as I haven’t encountered a single American or western European anywhere in more than two months in Russia.

Sevastopol is a really pleasant city.  There’ s so much to see and do.  The highlight today was walking in shorts along the cliffs at Fiolent:

Something that makes an impression here is the frequent thunder of fighter jets.  They’re using the military base just five miles north of Sevastopol.  It’s a reminder that war is not so far away.

Tomorrow I’ll move to Yalta and spend a few days there.  All for now.