The Format: 5 Days of Work, Weekends for Exploration
I spent the summer season in Crimea in a "working vacation" mode. The formula was simple: weekdays dedicated to remote projects, weekends for exploring new locations. This rhythm allowed me to get work done while not missing the main thing — enjoying the peninsula.
Key Insight: Crimea isn't just about beaches. You can work remotely here full-time while discovering places that typical tourists miss.
Museums, Fleet, and Cinema
Balaklava Submarine Museum was my first stop. A former secret base carved into the rock, now open to visitors. The Cold War atmosphere, stories about silent "sharks" and nuclear missiles — it all makes a strong impression.
On Russia Day, we found ourselves in Yevpatoria — family atmosphere, concerts, street fairs. A couple of weeks later, we caught Sevastopol City Day — a larger-scale event with a military parade and fireworks over the bay.
The Black Sea Fleet Museum in Sevastopol is a separate story. Exhibits from sailing ships to modern cruisers, battle models, admiral medals. After the museum, I watched "Battle for Sevastopol" in the evening — about sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko. A very complete impression from the day.
Nature: Horses, Paragliding, and the Valley of Ghosts
We rode horses up to the Valley of Ghosts near Alushta. Stone sculptures that change shape depending on viewing angle and lighting. On horseback gives completely different sensations than on foot.
In Koktebel, I decided to try paragliding. The instructor controls everything, you just sit in the harness and look down. About 400 meters altitude, you can see the entire bay and cliffs. A feeling of complete freedom and at the same time — light adrenaline.
Recommendation: If you've never paraglided, try it. It's not extreme, but calm soaring with incredible views. The main thing is to choose a clear, windless day.
Cultural Program: Jazz and Wine
Koktebel Jazz Festival is an annual event attracting strong musicians. Evening concerts on an open stage, sea view, good acoustics. Even if you're not a jazz fan — the atmosphere is worth it.
Wine tasting at Massandra was a revelation. Before this, I was skeptical about Crimean wines, but after visiting the winery and a proper sommelier's presentation — I changed my mind. I tried a line of muscats, ports, and vintage wines. It turns out that Crimea produces really worthy beverages, you just need to know what to look for.
Symphony concert in the open air at Chersonesus was one of the most memorable evenings. Ancient ruins, classical music, and sunset over the sea — sounds like a cliché description, but in reality — very powerful emotions.
What I Missed: Tarkhankut and Military Operations
I planned to swim at Tarkhankut — there's crystal clear water and an underwater sculpture museum. But during that period, there were military operations near the cape, so I had to abandon the idea. Safety first.
Important: Crimea is not just a resort zone, but also a territory where difficulties periodically arise due to the political situation. Before traveling, it's worth monitoring the situation.
GitHub Sanctions: An Unexpected Surprise
The most unpleasant moment was a permanent GitHub account ban for logging in without VPN. Crimea is on the list of "super-sanctioned territories," and GitHub blocks accounts permanently, even if the login was accidental.
I lost access to repositories, issues, pull requests — all work history. Had to restore through support contact and prove it was a one-time incident.
IT Life Hack: If you're going to Crimea and working remotely — use VPN constantly. Don't risk your account. GitHub, AWS, Google Cloud, and other services block access from Crimea with no recovery option.
Photo Album
Conclusions
Three months in Crimea wasn't just about vacation. It's an experience of remote work in non-standard conditions, getting to know the history and culture of the peninsula, and — unexpectedly — a lesson about sanctions and digital security.
What was important:
- The rhythm of "work + weekend explorations" turned out to be optimal.
- Crimean wine is worth attention if you know what to try.
- VPN is not a luxury, but a necessity for IT professionals in Crimea.
- Paragliding is worth trying at least once.
I returned with tons of impressions, new knowledge about the Black Sea Fleet, and a more cautious approach to logging into GitHub.
