Bloggers' Forum "Arabat Spit 2016"

To Henichesk I travelled by suburban electric train from Dnipropetrovsk, without stopping at every railway platform, which is very important for a quick arrival of holidaymakers from the industrial regions. And I reached Strilkove by taxi, having learned from the driver a good deal of useful information about a unique wonder of nature — the Arabat Spit.

Having arrived a little late, I missed the opening words. For accommodation I, like the other participants, was given a comfortable room in the splendid "Sokil" guesthouse, where everything was new and beautiful.

I only just made it to lunch; the hospitable hostess of the "Agrus-Azov" eco-farmstead fed everyone with tasty fish soup, fish cutlets, mashed potatoes and a vegetable salad.

Having refreshed ourselves, our whole group set off to get acquainted with the notable sights and natural riches of the Arabat Spit.

After a swim in the pool of thermal water, our participants felt a surge of vigour. The iodine-bromine water, at a temperature of up to 60 degrees, gushes in a jet under a pressure of 7 atmospheres from a depth of 1,600 m.

We visited the recently laid-out Park of Cossack Glory, where memorial signs have been set up in honour of the Heroes of Ukraine and the victims of the Chornobyl disaster. Plane trees and roses have been planted. The initiators and driving force behind the building of the chapel of St Sergius of Radonezh are Yu. B. Pudelkin and Ye. V. Kuleshov. The enthusiasts plan to finish the construction of a swimming pool with thermal water and to open a promenade with attractions.

At the "Blakytne Polumia" (Blue Flame) health complex we were shown the refurbished guest rooms and the well-kept grounds with a mini-zoo. The beach here is simply wonderful.

But the skate park deserves special attention — competitions of the highest level are held there.

Windsurfing tournaments, meanwhile, are held near the "Chaika" base. One of Ukraine's best sportsmen gave us a detailed briefing on handling a sail, and some of the braver ones were already ploughing the boundless expanses of the sea at the very first lesson. The rest swam in the sea and sunbathed.

The second day turned out just as sunny and productive. After breakfast we came down to the sea, where we got acquainted with, and took a selfie with, the most famous mayor in Ukraine. Fishing on the open sea with the mayor of Henichesk, O. V. Tulupov, and the head of the district council, A. O. Yevstratov, became not only an unforgettable event but also bore its fruits — that is, the gifts of the sea. We were given life jackets, and on a motorboat we headed out to sea, quite a long way from the shore.

It turned out that the leaders of the town and district do not only sit in their offices — they can readily go fishing along with everyone else. To begin with, Oleksandr Vasyliovych gave a master class in this absorbing pursuit. And who should give it, if not the leading figure of a seaside town where fishermen live? We fished with a bottom rig, and used a chicken gizzard as bait.

Everyone peered into the depths of the sea and waited for a bite. Katia was the first to cry out with joy — it was her debut in fishing.

The second to smile happily was Vladyslav.

The third goby took a liking to Rusfet's hook.

One after another, all our bloggers were pulling out toothy fish.

The mayor, too, contributed to the total catch.

The second part of the sea trip was far more extreme. We raced along the Arabat Spit right up to the oil platforms at top speed, skimming over the watery element now on one edge, now on the other. The captain showed his skill in handling the craft, heeling it in turn to both sides.

The mayor, meanwhile, told us about the town's day-to-day life.

On the shore a guide was waiting for us, with whom we set off to Henichesk. Oksana told us about the geographical location of the spit and the town, the history of the region, its notable sights and its heroes.

The Henichesk Museum of Local Lore holds rich collections on a variety of themes. We looked over the exhibits and heard the account of the museum curator, Inna. I wrote a review on behalf of the whole group in the guest book.

A walk through the town together with the mayor and his secretary, Olha Vadymivna, was not only interesting but also meaningful. We were shown the future Promenade, which was under reconstruction but will soon become the town's calling card.

Then we strolled along the Alley of Fairy Tales, on which there were many townsfolk relaxing, and they smiled at us warmly. We had lunch right there at a fast-food place; everyone liked it.

We received a great deal of information that day. The conclusion is that the town lives with a prospect of development, and its new team of leaders is doing everything for that. In the evening the bloggers gave talks in the conference hall. Vladyslav Hladkyi shared his experience and what was weighing on him. Andrii Zhnivin told us about setting up a media school in Kherson. For me, the information in Rusfet Kadyrov's talk was useful. It is a great pity that in all the time we did not manage to hear the talk of the experienced blogger, marketer and traveller Ihor Bihdan.

On the third day we visited a safari park, from which there was simply no driving our bloggers out, not even with a stick. Everyone was feeding the animals and having their photo taken with them.

But a real safari we saw on Biryuchyi Island in the Azov-Syvash National Park. For about an hour we sailed to the island by motorboat. The tour was led by an employee of the reserve, with whom we drove around the territory in an open car and saw deer, hares, roe deer, various birds and other inhabitants of the steppe.

Accompanying us always and everywhere was Denys Stetsenko, to whom go the enormous thanks of our whole team.

After having lunch in a pizzeria, some of the participants began to disperse to their home towns. The rest set off for the press conference on the results of the forum, in the broadcasting studio of the district council. The bloggers shared their impressions of their stay on the Arabat Spit and in the town, and put forward their suggestions and remarks.

As a parting gift, our team presented O. V. Tulupov with a "#mayorofHenichesk" magnet.

After summing up and friendly handshakes, everyone had their photo taken and said goodbye to the host side.

In the evening there was a wonderful farewell barbecue made to Andrii's recipe. We did not want to part; we exchanged addresses and business cards. Thank you to Vladyslav Hladkyi for the organisation within our team, for his patience. I wish all the participants good luck in the not-easy field of blogging.

Sadly, everything comes to an end, but everyone enjoyed the forum's programme and the way it was run. We are grateful for their hospitality to the mayor of Henichesk, O. V. Tulupov, the head of the district council, A. O. Yevstratov, the director of the "Sokil" guesthouse, V. P. Zhytskyi, one of the organisers, Denys Stetsenko, and everyone who met us, helped us, drove us, told us stories and treated us. I have no doubt that everyone who comes to rest in this blessed region will have just such wonderful impressions, and I am sharing mine with you.