What is it that makes Odessa so specific a city? Some say the answer lies in the place's celebrated cosmopolitan mix of nationalities, which has historically seen large Jewish, Greek, Russian, Moldovan and Ukrainian populations mixing freely with any number of sailors and visitors from around the world. Fashions and foreign goods have always been more plentiful in Odessa than elsewhere in the Slavic world, and this has helped foster something of an "Odessite" identity among locals. The very real communal spirit was generated by the fact that almost ninety percent of the adult population have historically been employed in some shape or form at the port, which spreads its tentacles out through Odessa and links Odessites in some way. They even have created their very own distinctive local accent and dialect, something that very few cities in the former Soviet Union could claim! By the way, Odessites always considered themselves Odessites first and Russians, Soviets or Ukrainians second. In the nineteenth century while the rest of the Russian Empire trundled on under a backward and oppressive administration, Odessa always played the role of colorful "window to the world", and the city has maintained an air of freedom about it to this day. Even the town's first governor was a Frenchman, and until the revolution Odessa attracted its fair share of European aristocrats as well as a healthy mix of playboys and international scoundrels... Odessa also went through the same Soviet experience as everyone else, but it seems to have come out far less "damaged" than the rest of Ukraine. Odessites don't have that resigned, apathetic look about them - they seem to always support that memorable line by Oscar Wilde: "We are all lying in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars". No other city in Ukraine can boast of anything like the pulling power of Odessa, the Black Sea port city that dominates the country's embryonic international tourist trade. With a reputation for big city adventure, sunshine, laughter and sophistication, it's no wonder that when it comes to summer city breaks you can't beat Odessa. Luxurious hotels, cozy private apartments, first rate restaurants and clubs, and, certainly, magnificent sunny beaches await you in Odessa! |
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