Palaces, Princes and Playwrights

Day eight was a historic hike into history. While yesterday took us southwest to Bakhchisaray and Balaklava, today we left the flat terrain of Simferopol and drove south, across towering mountains, to the seaside and historical port of Yalta. The father of Sasha, a bright 8th form student from the school, selflessly volunteered to chauffeur us while tour guide extraordinaire (and vice principal) Svetlana provided us with the history of all the places we visited.

Swallow Nest Palace along the Black Sea near Yalta, one palace we didn't tour

We started at Vorontsov Palace, a fairy-tale structure set in a sweeping park, that took 20 years to build (1828-1848). Churchill stayed here during the Yalta Conference.

                           Sasha, myself and Dana in the inner courtyard of Verontsov Palace

Next, we went to the site of much of the action of the 1945 Yalta Conference; the meeting between Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin to reorganize postwar Europe. Livadia Palace was originally home to the last Czar of Russia, Czar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra and their children. But, before then, in 1861, Mark Twain visited the original wooden structure that first existed here, when he toured Europe. His visit is recorded in his book Innocents Abroad. Then, of course, there is Ms. Barnes. Now I am part of this illustrious group of people who have walked these historic grounds.

                                           Lividia Palace, the site of the Yalta Conference

              Dana and I in front of a portrait of the last Czar Nicholas and his family in Lividia Palace

Our final stop was Yalta, where we toured the summer home of Russian playwright Anton Chekhov before we strolled along the windy pedestrian harbor front where we saw trendy shops, kids skating, and families enjoying their day. We continued to a main square where a statue of Lenin was graced with flowers from those observing his birthday (April 22nd!).

                                       Standing at Checkhov's Back Door. Anyone home?

Birthday flowers for Lenin in Yalta

I'm exhausted now but looking forward to tomorrow's day at the school. Dana and I will be sharing information about our schools and this is when I'll give the students the cards the Language students made and the 11th grade presentation.

Question:  How did the Yalta Conference change Europe? What happened to Czar Nicholas and his family after the Russian Revolution? What is the most famous Chekhov play? If any of my students can answer these questions - extra credit points might come your way!