Yalta

Yalta was founded on the site of a minor ancient Greek colony and rose to prominence during the 14th century as one of a chain of trading ports built by the Genoese. It belonged to the Crimean KHanate, part of the Ottoman Empire, until the Russians conquered it in 1783.

Here I am sitting on a lion bench at Livadia Palace. The gentleman with me makes and repairs pipe organs when he isn't traveling - he says he makes three or four trips a year.