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Review of the trip Balaklava - Cape Aya - Laspi March 8-10, 2008
It all started with the fact that I was tired of everything, the desire to disappear burned inside me, and at this very “historical” moment the most brilliant idea came to my mind, as I later managed to appreciate it, to go on a hike. And without thinking twice, using all my skills and intelligence, I found this tourist site, and decided that I would go to the mountains and these mountains would be in Crimea. A festive route - as a gift to yourself on March 8th, Balaklava Bay - Laspi - a worthy gift to your beloved.
Secret Balaclava
So, at the Simferopol station, I first met my companions for the next three days. The weather forecast predicted better weather in Crimea, although everyone was prepared for rain. And looking ahead, I will say that the weather not only favored us, but also pleased us. As the saying goes, “He who doesn’t take risks, doesn’t drink champagne!! We got the champagne." We got into a minibus, which took us to the 5th kilometer, from where we went to the very heart of the once closed city of Balaklava, whose name translated from Turkish means Fish’s Nest (Balyk-lav).
Why closed? - “In the early fifties, Joseph Stalin personally reviewed and personally endorsed the project for the construction of a one-of-a-kind underground submarine repair plant in Balaklava Bay, and in the summer of 1957, miners appeared in this paradise and work began around the clock, in four shifts.” So they built a grandiose base there, in which about 20 submarines and surface boats could simultaneously be housed and repaired; in addition, atomic warheads were produced here, stored and equipped here.
However, in 1994, the last submarine left the base and for a number of reasons the above base lost its significance as a military-strategic facility, after which the city of Balaklava became open, and from a former military-strategic base it turned into a museum complex of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. That's where we started our journey.
Through 2 fortresses to the beach.
Next, we explored the ruins of Chembalo, a Genoese fortress located on the left bank of Balaklava Bay, refreshed ourselves a little like travelers in the Middle Ages with bread and cheese, and then hit the road again. The clear sky pleased with its azure freshness, and the persistent and gentle southern wind brought the aroma of the sea, mountain herbs, and a spring mood. And while we walked along the slope, the clouds approaching from the sea gently embraced us with a soft white light.
Then we climbed long and tiringly, but we reached the notorious “Barrel of Death”, from which during the World War, in order not to waste cartridges, thrifty “Krauts” threw prisoners of war down. It even seemed to me that I saw scratches from nails and marks from rifle butts, with which they hit the hands of our doomed compatriots who were caught on the edge.
And then we reached the place of our first overnight stay, the picturesque corner of Fig, right not far from such alluring, sparkling clear sea waves and huge boulders, sharpened by the wind and time. Our brave men went to fetch water, after which the brave women, that is, we, waited for them for a long time, since the water turned out to be quite far and high.
To the most beautiful place in Crimea.
The next morning, we, brave women, had the opportunity to appreciate the seriousness of their feat, as we walked along the same path to a wonderful spring flowing straight from the rock, the taste of which surprised all my expectations. Then we climbed the picturesque slope of a rocky mountain, had a snack, and went to reach the most beautiful place in my opinion - Mount Kokaya-Kaya.
Moreover, the beauty did not lie in the mountain at all, but in the unimaginable landscape, because the entire sea to the horizon was covered with a soft fluffy carpet of clouds, the sun was slowly setting on the horizon, filling the white clouds with pinkish-scarlet light. And only a piece of the Lost World was visible somewhere at the foot of the mountain, which either appeared or disappeared in the whitish haze of the clouds. The weathered rocks are whitish-yellowish in color, on the steep ledges of which the trees are caught by their roots, keeping the silent mystery of age-old wisdom and silence, and only the noise and smell of the sea, the sea of clouds, can be heard. The wonderful combination shocked my not-so-poor imagination. I actually felt my soul grow and fill with this all-encompassing inspiring beauty.
At night, above our camp, an incredible number of stars, small and large, bright and not so bright, shone on the crystal clear, dark blue velvet dome of the sky. And some were so big that you wanted to hold them in your hand. The silent landscape of natural perfect beauty lit up another star, only this time not in the sky, but behind the earth, on that same cliff with the bizarre name Kokaya Kaya - it was my soul. Now I always know what to answer when asked about my favorite place and favorite activity.