JulieVikmanis

Has anyone been to Odessa and seen the 7 kilometers bazaar? I would be interested to learn impressions. Also hungry for good dining recs there. We leave Tuesday (May 21) for cruise of the Black Sea. Thanks for any help you can give.

thursdaysd

I enjoyed Odessa (note: Odesa in Ukrainian, but it's in the Russian-speaking part of Ukraine), but I'm not a shopper and have never heard of the bazaar. If it's anything like the one at 5km outside Simferapol it will be big and noisy. I was in Odessa in 2006, so my recs are probably out of date, but I ate well, including a good meal at Glissar and a couple at my hotel. The red caviar was remarkably cheap. (See http://wilhelmswords.com/eur2006/index.html for my TR)

JulieVikmanis

thanks. I'm looking forward to reading your report. Looks like you really got to a lot of places that don't get much play on this site. I appreciate getting the info. From what I've read, I think the caviar may have risen a bit in price recently. but hey, what the heck, you only live once.

thursdaysd

Will await your report on the caviar with interest. Of course, I should have gone back before (especially to Lviv), but too many places, too little time. Have fun in Ukraine.

See you have Bulgaria on your wish list - click on my name for my Bulgaria TR.

GuideInOdessa

Dear JulieVikmanis,

Odessa 7th km market is huge and noisy if you don't have a map of it and you don't know where to go. Moreover you should have local currency to shop there (I don't advice you to change on a spot though). To enjoy shopping you need at least a private driver who will show you around.
As for prices, well, I wouldn't say that they are extremely cheap in comparison to Europe.

sparkchaser

Hi Helen, this forum does not support private messaging and posting your email address here would be unwise. Using a throw-away email is suggested.

I might be interested in using your services when I visit Odessa. My email is [email protected]

Treesa

Julie, we'll be in Odessa early October. Very interested in your impression of that area. Hope you have a great cruise.

JulieVikmanis

Hi Treesa,
We are back from our trip to Ukraine and Moscow. While we found it interesting, we did not find as much charm as we are used to in more typical European venues. The extreme variation between the very rich and the quite poor with little in between was sad. DH took some very good pictures which I will post on a separate thread on this forum for those who may be interested. We never made it to the 7 km bazaar but did make it to the market hall

rs899

We are Odessa now. Didn't get to the 7km bazaar but spent lots of time and very little money at the Prevost market next to the train station. SWMBO is a native, we are visiting her parents. If you have never been here, try it. Right now you can live like a king here is you buy local as the exchange rate makes it like Europe in the 60s.

No, its not a substitute for Paris....