By Woody Paul Grey
I am sitting at one of the tables of a sun terrace outside McDonalds fast food Inn lazing around and eating a tasty ice cream, enjoying the delicious coolness of the light fresh- breeze and the absolutely gorgeous sighting in front of me.
Leftwards, firmly moored to the tremendous jetty, overshadowing the big and small boats, ships and yachts floating about, one can view the luxury cruise liner Avalon brightly glittering in the light of the blazing hot sun. A huge black chimney on the top of the giant ship is slightly smoking - a true sign that the enormous ocean going vessel is getting ready for the start of an around the world voyage.
Next to it is the narrow strip of the turquoise sea leading my keen eye to the hardly visible Swallow Nest, a fabulous castle with a lounge bar inside, perched high up on the cliff top.
Then comes an ancient galley, the Golden Fleece , recently built on one of the piers with an up-to-date restaurant on its board, graciously welcoming the foreign and domestic tourists to visit the exotic spot, taste the nouvelle cuisine and enjoy an excellent sea sight around.
After that one can see a few hi-tech buildings constructed in recent years sharply contrasting with the soviet time ramshackle architecture a chaotic scattering of the big and small, new and old houses on the nearby town hills.
In the center, stretching up into the blue sky is a breathtaking panorama of a fabulous Iy-Petry, with a modern cable car skillfully attached to it, an incredible ending of the long Crimean Mountain Chain spreading like a cobweb over the southern part of the peninsula. Next to it is the mountain Mogabe vastly covered with the evergreen trees and bushes. In fact, the mountains safely protect our town from the severe northern winds, heavy storms, rains and snow showers. Thats the reason why in Yalta summer is the longest season, the sun shines extremely brightly, the fine weathers spell is pretty long - running and the overwhelming warmth and freshness of the air is so evident. Oftentimes its even baking hot, and without the shingle beaches magnificently sited all over the extraordinary long coast line you would have gone stark raving mad. Particularly there one can find a saving shade and keep cool even on the hottest summer day.
And on the right-hand side of me is the non-official downtown area normally overwhelmed with the desperate tourists hanging sluggishly around alongside with the local residents, as usual, rushing to and fro. Actually, I am on my way back home after the habitual jogging session to the hugely popular Massandra beach where I swim, train and sunbathe a lot.
According to my friends Im a fairly tall, handsome man in good shape for a man of my age, long grey - haired, lately wearing it loose, sporting a short cut, thick beard, or, on the contrary cleanly shaven, dressed in a dark or white T-shirt, jogging shorts, wearing special running sneakers and certainly a rather heavy backpack over my shoulder.
Strange as it may seem, but one can see me looking the same way and jogging all the time the whole year round and it seems the townies still cant get used to my weird appearance, not to mention the strangers, especially during the wintertime when snow and ice keeps the majority of us indoors, except for me, of course.
You know, Im a private teacher of English and German, as the second language, working hard with my students and pupils individually according to my own authorial method of teaching foreign tongues. I like being my own boss and Ive been practicing within the recent 35 years enjoying every minute of it.
-Sorry? Do you speak English? a male voice somewhere from behind me abruptly interrupts my peace and solitude. Frankly speaking, in moments like this one? I hate to be bothered and favor to stay alone? as long as possible, because particularly then? I really exercise an indescribable feeling of happiness and delight. But Im a human being, a teacher, after all. So, I do have to talk to other people even if sometimes I dont intend to.
- I do reply I instantly turning back to see who dared to interrupt me. It appears to be a man of my age, or maybe, a little bit older: rather thick, slender, bald-headed, dressed in sportswear, accompanied by a young beautiful lady in her early thirties.
-What country are you from? asks the talkative elderly man coming up closer. Strangely enough, but he takes me for a foreigner. Never mind. As for me he looks like a Yalta resident, though rather sport minded. Nevertheless, I aint going to say what I think about the way he looks on the outside. He might find it offensive and I dont want to be considered rude towards the new arrivals at the very beginning of our conversation.
-In fact? Im from Ukraine answer I still enjoying the cool dessert trying to guess where they are from. I dont know why, but, as a rule, when the foreigners talk perfect English I take them for the Americans. This man speaks English quite fluently so, I do believe, hes either an Englishman or an American. Lets see whether Ill be right this time.
-Do you live in Yalta? proceeds the stranger still doubting that the Ukrainian citizens can talk foreign languages like in Europe. Folks are lucky to meet me, a foreign philology tutor. Otherwise they could easily come across people who do study the basic European tongues but, actually, dont have enough skills to talk to strangers.
-Definitely! - respond I realizing that the newcomers arent going to leave me for long. Only now I recognize the difference in age between them. Though, they might be just an interpreter and an Englishman. And in this case it doesnt matter, as one can imagine.
-May we join you? asks politely the elderly man. It looks like? hes already aware, Im the guy, who wouldnt mind to prattle away in a foreign language. Well, hes perfectly right. Sometimes I really adore babbling on with my students or their parents, especially when it concerns the English study. But not this time! On the other hand, I do have to be polite!
-Sure thing! Be my guest! reply I courteously and move the chair closer so, the man could sit right next to me. The stranger looks quite confident and is staring at me since the very minute they both recognized my humble person. Whats so unusual about me, Id like to know? It has to be pointed out, the guys arent the only ones, who at first sight start gazing at me. But I am not a sportsman, a movie star or a celebrity to get nuts of my appearance.
- Im wondering, how do you manage to keep yourself in such a good shape? queries the curious old man and I notice an envious look in his eyes. Sometimes Im amazed at the variety of questions people ask me of this kind instead of taking my lead. And its so easy, doesnt take much of your money, a lot of free time, extraordinary skills or personal abilities. You just have to make the first step, add a bit of your will, think about the future prospective, feel your renewed body, fresh breathing and shortly afterwards you, simply wont help doing it.
-Basically, Ive been jogging since the age of 14, swimming in the Black Sea within the recent 15 years, training, as long as, I can remember myself alongside with keeping to the vegetarian diet for the last dozen of years. The man looks like a meticulous journalist aiming to get the complete information about your obedient servant.
-Miraculous! exclaims the stunned man not taking his eyes of me. I wouldnt say hes annoying, but too much attention doesnt make me happy. Though, on the other hand, I feel more important than I, actually, am indeed.
-By the way, my names Volodymyr. Whats yours? now I am ready to keep on talking? practicing my speaking skills. For the first time, I feel quite comfortable while talking English to the strangers. Whats the reason, I wonder? Exaggerated relaxation or the abruptness of the meeting? I presume both.
-My names John. And this is my wife Natasha. Shes from Siberia, Russia. they are nicely and friendly smiling. He might be not a penniless man marrying such a baby. Why do men like he pick up so young ladies? Dont they understand the latter are dreaming about young strong men with healthy bodies and mutual understanding of the current reality. It is as simple as that. Different generations have different views and very seldom they coincide.
-And where are you from, John? I put the next question trying to make a conversation. As to me, he doesnt look like anybody else except for a Yankee.
-Well, Im from Lebanon, but weve got a house in Yevpatoria, the Crimea. So, we visit your town every single summer answers the man gazing lovingly at his wife. Alas, Im wrong again. Notwithstanding the fact, I still cant accept the reality. I still consider that the man might be of American origin just having the Lebanon citizenship.
-Do you like Yalta, the Crimea? ask I feeling mutual understanding that in some inexplicable way grew up between us, total strangers just half an hour ago.
-Yalta is an incredible spot, a real paradise, to a certain extent. answers the man wholeheartedly. And I absolutely agree with him. This is why he, a foreigner, bought a cottage in our area. On the other hand, if he were, as rich as I think, he would easily purchase a real estate in Yalta, but not somewhere else, though even on the Crimean peninsula. So, most likely hes just a middle class. Never mind! Thats none of my business!
-We adore the Black Sea coast, the awesomely beautiful Crimean Mountains, fabulous nature around, mild subtropical climate, outstanding historic places and, of course, the people so polite, kind and generous. a young lady, after all, joins the conversation. Shes really pretty, but on the other hand the lady isnt the type of long- legged dolls hunting for real oligarchs. The better for them both!
-Frankly speaking Im originally from Ivano-Frankivs, Western Ukraine. I moved here specifically to swim in the sea, no matter, what the season is. I remember my first days, weeks and months spent in the sunny town. Shortly speaking, I enjoyed every minute of staying here. Sometimes I couldnt believe my eyes.
-Wow! Im the Yalta resident! continue I proudly.
-Do you mean to say, you are jogging and swimming in the sea in winter as well? asks an absolutely amazed man. He simply couldnt even imagine how warm winters usually are in Yalta. For example, the temperature of minus ten degrees below zero- 10 C is something unbelievable, as for my town. The sea never gets frozen and the waters temperature in February is seldom lower than three or four degrees above zero+3/4 C.
-Precisely! Moreover, unlike other healthy minded people in Yalta who do swim in the sea in freezing weather, but prefer to wear warm clothes, Im sporting the same dresses, as you can see now. And I should tell you that in February sometimes its pretty cold in here. So, I have to run very, very quickly not to turn into an icicle answering the question I feel quite confident and can talk for hours now about the ways to keep the doctor away.
-And what about you? You look very sporty as well. the man really looks great as for his age. Well, I think he must be jogging, swimming and maybe playing tennis and keeping on some healthy diet. Im not even talking about his gorgeous wife. As for her, she doesnt need any kind of sport, at least for some 20-30 years.
-In fact I played tennis a lot, until I injured my knee. So, currently Ive decided to quit just for a while. Hopefully, very soon, Ill keep on doing sport. At least, your incredible example will encourage me to do so. Sorry for my question in quotes. Whats your age? asks the keen man trying to guess the answer.
-Well, Im 55. answer I trying to feel his reaction. Obviously, hes amazed by the answer. I presume, he hoped were of the same age. As for me, I look older than am indeed. This is partly, because of my grey beard and fairy long hair.
- And you? I always fail to tell the persons exact age, but this time I know for sure that the man is 65. Hes just much alike my friend whos exactly of this age. Of course, I wont tell him about it.
-Im older. replies my partner, tactfully willing to suppress the real age gap between us in front of his extremely young spouse. Good for me that I didnt try to disclose his secret.
-Pardon me, but I need to hurry up. Ive got English classes soon. Bye! Have a nice day! Nice meeting you! I finally end the conversation in order not to be late for my work.
-Its a pleasure! Hope to see you again next year! it looks as though the couple really enjoyed the dialogue. So, I did. Concerning relaxation, I can do it any given day.
-Bye! Have a great fun, John and Natasha! reply I energetically getting up to my feet. They are still staring at me and it doesnt bother me, anymore. Moreover, I even enjoy it to a certain extent.
-Take care, Volodya! See you around! the newly acquired friends wave me farewell before I escape. I start jogging with the first step made. Actually, I cant act otherwise! Thats my choice!
-See you! I wave good bye in reply and dash away heading forwards. It feels so good running across the crowd turning left or right being very cautious not to hurt someone.
Soon after, I left the place and was jogging along the town embankment, while the ocean liner beeped noisily three times, gracefully left the sea-port, and sometime later vanished out of sight beyond the faraway horizon.
YALTA UKRAINE JANUARY 10/01/2010/
