A final day in Odessa - 4th June

We rise to a tour of the old City – electric trolley – guide and driver – the guide? – 25 year young male Odessian – English very good – proud.

He tells of the history of Odessa – a young city says he – just 250 years old – “ multicultural” says he.

He talks of the city founders - he talks of Katherine the Great– he talks of it's grain trading history – of it's free trade status – of it's rapid growth – of it's planners – of the involvement of American revolutionaries in the Russian federation ( needs checking)

He takes us to the famous steps – he talks of the early silent movie that galvanised opposition to the Russian royalty.

A scene of Cossacks attacking protesters on the steps – a baby in a runaway pram is seen crashing down the steps – a scene sufficiently horrific to change the course of history – a film decried as propaganda by the West described as a masterpiece by Chaplin.

On wards past the Opera House – built by the Tolstoy family – one of the great Opera House of Europe says he – the Tolstoy family did a lot for Odessa says he.

Past the monument.

Past more delightful architecture – a child runs across the road in front of the trolley – no real danger – the mother pursues the child – catches him – proceeds to slap him across the face – Bernie is outraged – the young guide looks sad – “you can tell a country’s culture by the way it treats it's children and it's women” says he – “we have someway to go” says he!

He drops us off at the park in the centre of the old City – we sit and watch the people stroll by – we watch the children play seemingly independent of their mothers – the reality is that they are under constant surveillance be these multi-taskers.

We watch shirtless men, young girls, young mothers, young men in their  tee shirts with English sayings emblazoned on the front – if only they knew the Russian translation of the savings they proudly display to the world they may have chosen a different shirt!

It is early summer and clearly everyone is making use of the extended hours of sunlight, the flowering of the plants, the green of the environment and the delightful weather – people look happy and at least in this small part of town look prosperous!

We wander home comfortable in the old City .

Brian's birthday dinner is used as a farewell gathering for the travellers who have been newly christened Murray Rollers. The origin of the name? – the result of an extended nomination, shortlisting and voting process – a process that I proffered may well have been better served by a more severe application of benevolent dictatorship than the application of Democratic selection but in true Mayo spirit David persisted with the Democratic process and managed to achieve an outcome that was deemed entirely satisfactory by all.

The dinner? – a success – farewells all round – the travellers will travel again – next time as the Murray rollers!

Home to prepare for a 4:30am hotel departure for Rome via Kiev.