Flower lady at Odessa market

Flower lady at Odessa market, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

We were missing our friend the most when it came to looking for a place to sit down and have a nice coffee and a bite to eat. There did not seem to be any nice places to sit outside and have a drink, which is strange seeing as the weaher is usually so good and there is plenty of shade given by the impressive plane trees which line most of the avenues.

So we wandered off to the station area, the tram station and bus station and then to the great market, full of babushkas selling flowers and fruit and vegetables. It was muddy and every so often a bit smelly and it reminded ud do much of a market in Africa. Fred was hungry and irritatted which restricted photo opportunities. We finally found a tea slon selling coffees and fancy cakes but it was already three o'clock!

After that we stumbled across the impressive green and white mosque (or arab church, as they seem to be known in Russian), before visiting a green and white orthodox church.

We returned to The Steakhouse for a delcious meal (I had the tastiest Bistecca alla Fiorentina ever, Fred a large cut of succulent lamb) served by a charming young man who put on a real performance when serving Fred's sambuca, invloving flames, straws and tissues...