Kerch Strait, Anapa and Gelendzhik, Russia, 10-12th August 2011

Kerch Strait (Керченский пролив) is about 40 km long and 4,5 – 15 km wide. The Strait connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov, and Ukraine to Russia. Boat thip through Kerch Strait took half an hour.

The distance between Kerch, Ukraine, and Anapa, Russia is only 120 km, 20 km on the Ukranian side and 100 km on the Russian side, but the trip took 5,5 hours.

I had to stand in line at the Ukrainian border 1:10 h and at the Russian border 45 min, part of the time outside in the sun.

I rented a private room in Anapa for 500 rubles (15 euros). The hostess waked me up at 6:00 am and told me I have to go, because new customers from St. Petersburg had arrived.

Next day I took bus to Novorossisk, 1 hour, and from there to Gelendzhik, 2 hours. I had stomach problems so I could not continue to Sochi yet.

In Gelendzhik private rooms close to the beach were expensive, I was asked even 90 euros/night. One host lied to me, that it is impossible to find a room below 1000 rubles/night (25 euros). A Russian woman heard this and told that Russians like to lie in order to earn money as much as possible.

It took some time and walking, but I found a room with shared bathroom in a kind of unofficial hotel, about 20 minutes by foot from the beach, for 600 rubles (15 euros).

The host suggested that we would take vodka or wine and order some girls, but I was unpolite and refused.

I liked the beautiful beach boulevard of Gelendzhik, there was an open view to the sea all the time. The place was cosier than Anapa.

Prices

– net cafe near Anapa Bus Station 2,5 e/hour

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