We were a stone’s throw from Yalta, and as usual, we reached the city cycling downhill. Yalta was a disappointment – a big overpopulated town with squalid tower blocks. However, there were hundreds of beautiful yachts and boats moored at the harbour. Next to it, there was a funfair and a big park, obviously with a memorial statue of Lenin.

A dozen kilometres past Yalta, in Gaspra, one can admire the view of the Swallow’s Nest – the most recognizable architectural monument in Crimea. It is often pictured on map covers and postcards. Today it houses a fancy restaurant. Farther down the road, we started to look for accommodation. We stayed on the city outskirts, at "Ukrainsky Souvenir" guesthouse, bargaining the price down to UAH 120 for a room. There was a bistro close at hand – delicious pancakes with honey. The only drawback was that we had to carry all the luggage upstairs, but with the help of the host’s son, the bikes and the luggage were taken to the room in a blink of an eye. That was a very nice place – quiet, with family atmosphere and a sea view, it also had clean rooms and bathroom. I was writing down our impressions while Igor fell asleep having drunk a one-litre beer. After breakfast we carried out a quick inspection of the bikes and off we went.

Cycling towards Sevastopol, we wanted to reach Balaklava. On our way, we admired the unbelievably beautiful panorama at the edge of Laspinskaya Bay – mountains covered with greenery, gently sliding down to the navy blue sea. Only the whiteness of the beach and buildings (probably luxurious health resorts) stood in sharp contrast with that harmonious image, under the relentless, scorching sun.