Guides in Ukraine, Bulgaria

How lucky to have read in ITN about two knowledgeable and wonderful guides: Sergey Tsarapora in Yalta, Ukraine (cell phone +3 8 [067] 262-5160, e-mail sergo22yalta@gmail.com or visit http://sergoyalta.at.ua), and Patrick Peneff in Varna, Bulgaria (e-mail bulgariaprivateguide@gmail.com or visit http://bulgariaprivateguide.com).

Eight months before our cruise aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Jade, our group of 35 people arranged for two vehicles and a tour of Yalta with Sergey. On Oct. 4, 2009, Sergey and a colleague of his from Kiev International University met us. Our six-hour tour included Livadia Palace, Alupka Palace, Oreanda church (accessible to smaller vehicles) and, finally, Yusupov Palace, where Sergey works as a historian and which we were able to visit because we had 10 or more people.

Sergey gave us a group discount, so we each paid him €6.56 (near $8.60) per hour plus $22 for admissions and photo permit.

Patrick Peneff took four of us in his vehicle from the dock in Varna to the Palace of the Romanian Queen in Balchik and later on a walking tour of Varna. His service for seven hours cost €10 ($13) per person per hour plus €18 for petrol, admission fees not included.

FRANCES KAKAZU

Colton, CA