Experience peace...

Peace in the island nation of Crimea. Photo: Le Ngoc Anh

Singing and fireworks in Yalta

After a nearly three-hour flight from Sheremetyevo, Moscow (Russia), we arrived at Simferopol Airport. During our stay in Crimea, we had to buy our own SIM cards, as we could not use numbers with Moscow area codes.

About 100km from Sheremetyevo airport, you will reach Yalta - a beautiful city on the Black Sea coast. The scenery along the road is sea on one side, mountains on the other side with pretty little houses leaning against it.

While waiting for the red light, a girl stopped her car, opened her window, and smiled brightly at us. It seemed that this smile was enough to give us a small joy to start our journey.

Yalta is a large city in the Crimean peninsula, located on the Black Sea coast, known as the resort paradise in Crimea.

The Yalta beach has no sand, just smooth pebbles. The water is clear and cool. Along the coast, restaurants and cafes lean against the cliffs. The beach is crowded but does not feel crowded.

We arrived in Yalta on the occasion of the city's birthday (August 11). So, with the brilliant fireworks in the night sky, people held hands, danced and sang happily.

Around the city, small green alleys are shaded by trees, grapevines are full of fruit, and flowers are in full bloom. From a distance, ripe apricots look like thousands of tiny orange flowers dotted among the green leaves.

Swallow's Nest Castle - symbol of Crimea.

A bus ride with the Crimeans

One of the symbols of Crimea is the Swallow's Nest Castle, also known as the Castle of Love. The Gothic-style castle is perched precariously on the Aitodor promontory of the Aurora Mountains.

I loved walking down the wooden stairs, stopping at the window overlooking the blue sea with clear sky and white clouds. And looking at the colorful paintings hung solemnly throughout the castle.

We decided to visit the top of Ai-Petri Mountain - where the shadow of the mountain can be seen from the Swallow's Nest Castle. It took more than three hours to queue for the cable car to the top of the mountain. But the scenery was enough to make the wait worth it.

On the top of the mountain, the whole of Yalta appeared in sight like a picturesque landscape painting. In the distance was the place where the sky and water met, a deep blue. Below was a green forest, the sky was approaching autumn so the leaves were gradually changing color. We chose to return by car to enjoy the vast steppe, where horses leisurely grazed in the afternoon sunset.

Along with the beautiful nature, Crimea also touches the hearts of visitors by the friendliness, loveliness and enthusiasm of the people. During the days in Crimea, wherever we went, we were helped and guided enthusiastically with a friendly and hospitable attitude.

On the way to Kanatnaya Doroga station - where the cable car station to Ai-Petri mountain is located, we took the wrong bus number 100 instead of 132. After the bus went around the mountain passes, we asked the driver and were told that the bus would not go to Kanatnaya Doroga station.

Listening to our conversation with the driver, a Russian couple told us to follow them down to the roadside stop and then go back to catch bus 132. The woman was extremely enthusiastic, asking every bus that came by whether it went to Kanatnaya Doroga stop. After a while, bus number 132 arrived.

They accompanied us for about 30 minutes on the bus, repeatedly reminding us that we had two more stops to go. They also told the driver to let the children off at Kanatnaya Doroga. The warmth of the Crimean people made me feel like I was in my own country.

Sudden dawn

Due to personal matters, I had to return to Moscow earlier than my companion. On the day of my return, the taxi driver picked me up at 6am to take me to the airport. On the way, I was amazed at how beautiful the sunrise in Crimea was! The driver asked me about my flight time. Then he silently drove me to one of the most beautiful places to watch the sunrise in Crimea.

He told me to get out of the car to watch the sunrise, he would wait and reassure me that I would still make it to the airport on time. I was both surprised and extremely grateful. When I opened the car door, I was stunned by the beautiful scene that appeared before my eyes.

I have been to many places and seen countless times the brilliant moments before sunrise, but I have never seen a sunrise as beautiful and peaceful as the one in Crimea. Light spreads everywhere. People's hearts suddenly light up in the midst of that special moment.

Russians often say they never get tired of visiting Crimea. And now, I am not surprised to hear that Russians are still traveling to Crimea, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. Simferopol airport is still closed and they have to travel by road via the Crimean Bridge.

Goodbye Crimea and don't know when I'll be back, but the memories of the days wandering here will always be one of the most beautiful things I was lucky to have in the land of birch trees.

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