Odesa ...A Grand Melange of Worldly Influences!

Ladies and gentlemen, gather 'round as we unravel the marvelous tapestry of Odesa—a city where the best of Europe and the Mediterranean has come together in a grand, architectural potpourri.

It's a city that doesn't just show off its influences; it wears them with a flourish, like a master thief draped in the finest furs of all the land, an extravaganza of styles and characters that shaped Odesa into the gem it is today.

First, let us pay homage to the industrious Germans. Yes, the very same industrious lot who've given us not just impeccable engineering, but also a taste for precision.

While the Germans might be gone after that nasty bit of business, their influence is etched into the very fabric of the city. Picture grand warehouses and churches, façades boasting that sturdy, no-nonsense charm typical of the German architectural flair. It's as if the Germans decided that Odesa needed a bit of their meticulousness—an architectural sense of order amidst the city's chaos.

The Italians came next. They had an eye for style. When Odesa was being built, it wasn't just about function. It was about form. The Italian architects brought their Renaissance and Baroque touches. Grand arches, sweeping staircases and detailed stonework. Buildings that felt like they came from a Venetian dream. Walk the streets and you'll see it—Italian palaces with their ornate stuccoes and columns. They gave Odesa a touch of the Adriatic.

Then the French came. They knew neoclassical design. Picture Paris, but with a hint of the Black Sea. The French added romance and refinement to Odesa's look. Every cornice and column was crafted to tell a story of elegance and old-world charm. Just be careful walking around some of those old buildings, they've been known to crumble onto passersby below.

The British made their mark, too. Grand public buildings and busy shipping offices. Their influence was practical and clean. It showed Odesa's role as a growing commercial center. As you wander through Odesa, remember this. Each building, each façade, is part of a bigger story. A blend of German precision, Italian romance, French elegance and British practicality. It's a city made of history.

Odesa is a Russian City? (meh, They only speak it).

The number one search result when you type in Google "is Odesa…" is "is odessa in russia or ukraine". The short answer is "no". Ask any local and they will tell you "Odesa is in Odesa" (although the Russian missiles have changed this view a bit). To see why, let me take you through the vibrant history of this jewel of the Black Sea with a bit of flair.

Our tale begins with the Ukrainian Cossacks. On September 14, 1789, Cossack Antin Holovatyi led a daring assault on the fortress of Khadzhibey, which would soon transform into Odesa. Khadzhibey, a quiet outpost at the time, was destined to become the lively port city we admire today. There's an old cossack cemetery in Odesa oblast that testifies that Ukrainians were here before the Muscovy even invaded. Ukrainians have always been a part of Odesa. In most of the villages of the oblast, Ukrainian is the main language and you'll even hear Bulgarian in some!

And Ukrainians have been innovators...

Long before anyone had heard of the Lumière brothers, Ukrainian inventor Joseph Tym­chenko was making waves with the world's first movie camera in 1893. Odesa was also the birthplace of Oleksandr Dovzhenko, who shot his first film right here. A creative hub, indeed.

The Georgian community in Odesa is a result of attacks from the Ottoman Empire. There's Ivane Javakhishvili, the first Georgian to call Odesa home. His legacy lives on with Zhevakhova Mountain named in his honor. Mikheil Saakashvili was the governor of the Odesa Oblast from May 2015 until November 2016. Georgians like N.B. Garsevanishvili and P.I. Ioseliani made notable contributions to the city's historical society back in the day.

The Jewish community's ties to Odesa go back even further, with Jews making up 32% of the population by the early 20th century. The city was home to influential figures like Isaac Babel and the poet Hayim Nahman Bialik.

The Polish also left their mark. In 1876, Stefan Drzewiecki tested his small submarine in Odesa's harbor. Polish architect Leo Vlodek designed the Odesa Passage amongst many buildings and Felix Gonsiorowski crafted the Odesa Archaeological Museum.

Bulgarians established over 60 communities in the region, supporting local poets and scholars at the Richelieu Lyceum. The Germans arrived in 1803, bringing farmers and craftsmen. They set up various industries, from soap factories to agricultural machinery, with Eduard Arps establishing a cork factory. Georgy Fridrikhovich Schell built a large factory complex next to the main train station that made farming equipment and other metal goods, imported parts for American machinery and was a supplier to the military.

Greeks added their influence as well. The secret society Filiki Eterija was formed in Odesa in 1814, aiming to create a Greek state independent of the Turks. Greek mayor Grigory Grigorievich Marazli (Grigorios Maraslis) saw the creation of new public facilities. Greek artist Kyriak Kostandi captured Odesa's beauty in his work. Then Turkish merchants began setting up shops in 1891, adding bakeries and coffee houses. Heinrich Topuz designed many buildings, including the Monument to the Unknown Sailor.

And of course, the French. Count Armand Emmanuel de Richelieu, Odesa's founding father, became mayor in 1803, followed by Count Louis Alexandre Andrault de Langeron. French architect Louis César Othon (Autonne) designed key buildings like the Odesa Literature Museum, and Frantsuz'ky Boulevard pays homage to their influence.

Odesa is a melting pot of cultures and talents, with Russians just one part of it. Stay long enough, and you too could be a part of it!