Grand Hotel Polyana

The Longest City in Europe

by Pablos_new

Sochi is not only the most expensive city in Russia (in summer time), but is the most long lasted city in Europe - it lasts alond Black Sea cost for 145 km!

On the map you can see only central and southern part of it - from state border with Abkhazia (independant region of Georgia) to Dagomys. To the north from Dagomys there are more districts - Loo, Lazarevskoe, etc.

Krasnaya Polyana (bottom right) - is a winter mountain ski resort.

Remembering those who fell, even here

by Pavlik_NL

Though Sochi did not get a share of the violence, Sochi became one huge field hospital in the great patriotic war (second world war). All Sanatoria were modestly changed into hospitals to try to save as many wounded soldiers from the front. The front came until about 80 kilometers of Sochi and then was pushed back. Stalingrad needed the full attention of the Germans, where they saw their most awful defeat in the whole world war.

Monument for doctors and nurses of "Sanatorii"

by Pavlik_NL

Near the West entrance of Park Riviera rises a large concrete bow up in the sky. At it's base one finds statues of doctors and nurses helping patients, taking an image out of one of the Sanatorii that are along Sochi's coast. These health institutes started out to be more hospital then hotel and slowly became the Sanatorii of today (some more hotel then hospital, others holding the balance on equal importance. In the second world war (great patriotic war) so many wounded came to these institutes that medicine and material ran out. Doctors however were inventive enough to start all kinds of natural materials from the direct vicinity of Sochi, in which - for example - even strong pinetree needles could be used for injections!

Sochi.Not discovered yet.

by whiteritter

"Sochi is a popular resort in Russia"

Sochi city was Number One resort for Soviet people in the past with warm Black Sea,palms and beautiful mountains.Today Sochi is very expensive like Moscow and Russians prefer Turkey,Thailand,Egypt and other countries without stupid visa restrictions for them.They spend good amounts of money in these countries if service and the facilities are OK.
Here you can see the building of Sochi port in old Soviet style.

"Seaside in Sochi looks like a shopping mall"

Strange Sochi retailers have decided that Sochi beach is a shopping mall.Now is very difficult to take a look at the sea if you are here.Retailers are everywhere.The quality of goods they are selling is poor enough.
It's better to stay in so called Big(or Greater) Sochi which is located around Sochi City- a number of small settlements located in 10-60 km away with beautiful beaches and rich subtropical nature.

"Big Sochi.Lazarevskoye beach"

Big Sochi is marvelous place.Sea water is warm enough.

33 Waterfalls (Private Ethnographic Museum)

by Pablos_new

Looking through this page do not forget to switch on "Play sounds" option in your browser!

Chebureki!

Chebureki is original Caucasian cuisine - with meat or with cheese. We had an opportunity not only to eat it, but to see the whole process of cooking - no longer than a minute. Real natural fast-food! LOL!

"Private Ethnographic Museum"

On you way back to bus GAZ-66 trucks will stop at a small destination not marked on maps - local private (!) Ethnographic Museum. Museum shows the life of Adyg tribes in XIX...XX cc.

This is a Watermill inside...

... and underneath.

Ascetic interior of Kunaks' house.

Adn here are villagers by themselves! LOL!

This is smithy, where highlanders made their knifes and tools.

This is a smokehouse at work. You can buy here original very tasteful smoked cheese - Adygs' Cheese. Do not afraid to buy more, smoked cheese could be kept easily w/o a refrigerator for rather long time - 1..2 weeks. I have taken only 2 pieces and regreted later.