It was painfull saying goodbye to my sowjet style room in hotel Passage, you get attached to the 60’s decoration and smokey smells. But I packed up and left since a ferry to Istanbul was waiting for me! The ferry is a nice adventure in itself, so I’ll provide a few highlights:
-The Ukrainian Border police is very unfriendly. Expect to wait a few hours while they fix the door and the luggage scanner before letting you out of their country. Do not expect an announcement about this delay.
-Be prepared to have rather ridiculous conversation in half-english half-ukrainain about the amount of cash you are carrying and wether you are bringing any historical artifacts. I can understand them being concerned about loosing the few artifacts they posses but it seems like overkill.
-The cabin was a pleasant surprise, nice, clean, shower and toilet ensuite. And the dinners were decent. For entertainment we were provided with a bar, casino, music room, disco and tax free shopping. All slightly boring since everythin is in ukrainian and only 50 people were on board.
-The experience of going through the Bosporus is defenitely recommended. Several old fortresses, small towns and then Istanbul in the evening sun
-The weather is so much nicer here! Almost 10 degrees warmer defenitely makes a difference…
-The ferry is a great place for reading and listening to audiobooks. I have fiished the last book i brought and have listened to both Robinson Crusoe and The Invisible Man.