A day to pack and go to the sea!
It all started with a call from a friend who said: "Tomorrow we are going by two cars with families near Odessa ... " To which I remarked a little reproachfully, and why they didn’t tell me, I would also go. "Well, let's go! " Three desires instantly united in my head: to see Odessa, go to the sea by car and take the children to the sea before the new school year. At 16:00 on July 31st. Departure is scheduled for 18.00 August 1.
Quick packing, we put everything we need and not so much into bags, check the technical condition of the car before the trip, fill up a full tank of gasoline and at 18.30 three cars are sent to the border with Ukraine. 200 km to the border are "killed" by the lack of a normal road surface, but the good news is that they promise almost an autobahn further. Dinner on the grass in the company of friends before the border, you can stretch your legs. The border took two hours of time (which is not much), we were lucky.
The polished, red-cheeked customs officer spoiled the mood a little, quickly estimating that if one of the cars was detained for inspection, the entire cortege would stop. We didn’t have anything illegal, but the prospect of spending a few extra hours on the border with half-asleep children did not attract. Those who crossed the border by car know how the issue is resolved, especially since the customs officer almost looked into his wallet. And you involuntarily remember the great film and no less great words: “Abdul, I don’t take bribes! ” And it’s not pleasant to realize that our countries, in which people live with the same mentality and the same history, and such an attitude is in the details. Do not consider this as a stone in the garden of Ukraine, this is "mutual". The Russian customs "milks" cars UA, Ukrainian - cars RUS.
The road after the border and really "for the people. " Several planned stops and many unscheduled (two children in each car) and about 12.
00 we cross the ring: Odessa is to the left, we are on Zatoka to the right. I’ll run ahead a little and say that my friends booked a place for themselves at the Veronika recreation center (near Solnechnaya station) a month before the trip, I was going to the boom. I read about Zatoka that there is clean fine sand, ideal for children. This is what we strive for. We will find a place for ourselves.
And now we are entering Zatoka, on the map we need to get to the bridge, cross it in two directions (back and forth) and then move along the hotels and recreation centers. But not everything is so simple: railway crossing, one track on the road. It is a "rut", because the road is floating from the heat. There is a short way - to the bridge over the railway crossing, but here the "brick" is not made for people. A traffic jam for several kilometers, I envy the owners of off-road vehicles, they shorten the path, bypassing along roadsides and railway embankments. We covered the distance of 3 km to the base "Veronika" along Zatoka ...in 2 hours!
Finally we get to the end point, but disappointment awaits here: "there are no free rooms! " None, even with further relocation. High season. A little upset (I wanted to be all together), we set off in search of housing, the children are already exhausted and patiently waiting.
As a result, we find housing, change clothes and ...the children are already simply pulling us to the sea! The place for children is wonderful: wide beach, shallow sea. We stay for four days. Swimming, sunbathing, exploring the surroundings. But in fact, there is nowhere to walk outside the base: a narrow roadway, which is also a promenade for vacationers, completely packed with stalls and second-rate cafes.
After four days spent at sea, I propose to go to Odessa (especially since this is one of the criteria for this trip) with an overnight stay. We call up friends, but they are going to go to Odessa later, but for now they plan to see the fortress in Belgorod-Dnestrovsky. We collect things, and in the morning we go to Odessa.
On the way we buy a huge watermelon and a couple of melons (the aroma is fantastic! ), of course we buy grapes right from the vineyards, they are almost all the way.
After a short search, we find apartments for 500 UAH/day (one-room apartment with a kitchen, newly renovated, wi-fi, parking included). It was possible to rent a larger apartment for 800 gr, but we decided to save money. The place to stay is excellent in my opinion. To Ekaterinenskaya Square 2 min. , to the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater and the Potemkin Stairs 5-10 min. Near the city park, Deribasovskaya. The feeling was that you live in the heart of Odessa. After spending the day, we decide to stay here for a few days. What was right! We walked around the city at a leisurely pace, looking at the windows of shops and restaurants, made as works of art, had lunch and dinner in numerous cafes and restaurants. We bought wines at the OShV factory and on French Boulevard.
We took the children to the Nemo Dolphinarium, to Lunapark. We wandered along Primorsky Boulevard, met interesting characters. It was especially exciting to listen to Utyosov's song about Odessa. On August 5, my daughter's birthday was celebrated in the Pinocchio cafe in the city park. Many thanks to the employees and the administration of the cafe for the care and emotions received.
In fact, the city gave a boost of energy and a great desire to come here again.
On the evening of August 7, friends called and said that a room at the Veronica base was vacant and offered to join their vacation. Naturally, we took off again and drove back to Zatoka to the sea.
The recreation center "Veronika" pleased with its comfort and infrastructure: a comfortable three-room suite for 4, two swimming pools, a beach with sun loungers, children's animation, animator Natasha, as a nanny with children, was constantly doing something.
On the last evening in the bar "Veronica" ordered a farewell dinner on the beach.
All our huge company, under the sound of the sea, feet in the sand, tasted Ukrainian wines. In my opinion, what else could be more romantic. And if someone was dissatisfied, it was from the lack of her ...romance.
And then there was a way back home, with a giant queue at the border (6 hours), an empty tank of gasoline a few meters from the border (thanks to the kind people filled five liters, and truckers ...they have everything! )
Conclusion: Have a rest? Yes! See what you want? Yes! They showed the children that there is another holiday, not the Turkish-Egyptian-Greek All inc. And the best vacation is spontaneous, with family and friends!
Where they lived: Zatoka - recreation center "Gulfstream" - about nothing.
Odessa - Catherine apartments - 10 points
Zatoka - recreation center "Veronika" - very good.
