Ted Talks: Checkmate on a Black Sea Cruise

Ted Talks: Checkmate on a Black Sea Cruise

Checkmate on a Black Sea Cruise

by Ted Scull.

Back in my college days, I signed up for a year of Russian and on the first day of class, the professor gave us our assignment — learn the Cyrillic alphabet overnight or don’t bother to come to class tomorrow. So, a friend and I stayed up well past midnight and were ready for the challenge the next day.

Checkmate on a Black Sea Cruise

Soviet riverboat AMUR sailing the Danube. * Photo: Ted Scull

Not too long after, I wanted to use my Russian and planned a trip to the then USSR. A friend and I booked a Soviet riverboat leaving Vienna, sailed down the Danube bound for the Black Sea and Yalta in the Crimea. The group aboard was mostly European, including Russians, and no other Americans.

Checkmate on a Black Sea Cruise

Bulgaria & the Black Sea

Changing Ships

A week later we arrived at the Bulgarian port of Ismail located near the mouth of the Danube. Here we left the riverboat and boarded a small Soviet ship for Yalta.

We followed a twisting channel through the marshy delta, and around a bend, suddenly there was the Black Sea ahead of us. The ship began to rise and fall in the light swell.

Walking to the stern to look back at the coast line, we encountered a group of people sitting at chess tables and speaking Russian. They turned towards us and asked in Russian if we played chess, a word I recognized, and I said, “Da” (Yes). They asked where we came from and seemed pleased with the response. Two seats were vacated, one facing a youngish fellow across the chess board. The group mostly stood around us.

The Match

My opponent made his moves very quickly, and that was not the way I played. After a bit, I realized the need to speed up a bit and concentrated hard.

There was complete silence, and in about 15 minutes, I surprised myself by being able to say “mat” for checkmate.

The Russians cheered, my opponent smiled and shook my hand, and beers were ordered. The conversation that followed was a bit hit and miss, and soon we were called for dinner.

To this day, I do not know if I was meant to win, though my opponent did not make any obvious errors that I could determine. But in the era of the Cold War, my first Russian encounter could not have been more hospitable.

Checkmate on a Black Sea Cruise

Ted Scull at the fantail. * Photo: a fellow passenger

Don’t miss a post, subscribe to QuirkyCruise.com for monthly updates!  

© This article is protected by copyright, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the author. All Rights Reserved. QuirkyCruise.com.

About The Author

QuirkyCruise

Ted & Heidi are long-time travel writers with a penchant for small ship cruising. Between them they've traveled all over the world aboard hundreds and hundreds of small cruise ships of all kinds, from river boats to expedition vessels and sailing ships.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Write A Review

CruiseCompete

CruiseCompete ad for QuirkyCruise

UnCruise BF Ad

UnCruise Ad Jan 2024

SLCL BF Ad

SLCL Black Friday offers Nov 24 2023

2023 SATW Lowell Thomas QC Win

SATW Lowell Thomas Award winner

2023 SATW Lowell Thomas QC Win 2

2023 SATW Lowell Thomas QC Win for Heidi

SC & PK’s YT Channel

PK YouTube Sea Cloud

Adsense

Sign Up box

QC Sign Up Ad Sept 22

bird

Travel Without the Crowds

SATW Proud member

Adsense

About Us


Heidi and Ted HEIDI SARNA

I'm up to 78 countries and 110+ cruises worldwide, and it's the small ship journeys that I love writing about most. And so QuirkyCruise.com was born, an excellent research tool for planning your own unforgettable small ship trip.

THEODORE W. SCULL

I have traveled between all continents by sea and cruised along three dozen rivers. Ships and travel are in my blood, and so is writing. My journeys have translated into many books and many hundreds of articles.

More...

Our Small Ship Cruise Reviews & Articles

If you can imagine it, we’ve cruised it! With reviews, articles and destination overviews, we’ve got you covered.

9 Of The Best French Barge Cruises You Should Know About

9 Of The Best French Barge Cruises You Should Know About

Best French Barge Cruises By Heidi Sarna I've enjoyed small-ship cruises of all kinds all over the world, but I'm particularly partial to barge cruises along the canals of France. Everything I truly desire when traveling is offered on a barge cruise: Delicious healthy...

American Queen Voyages Shut Down Operations

American Queen Voyages Shut Down Operations

American Queen Voyages Shut Down Operations by Ted Scull, Karl Zimmermann, Anne Kalosh & Heidi Sarna Update March 22, 2024 — Bids close March 25 for American Queen Voyages' vessels. More details from Anne Kalosh's Seatrade Cruise News reporting HERE. A deep-felt...

  • Subscribe

    Sign up for our monthly newsletter to get insider reviews, tips & deals on unusual & small-ship cruises.

  • * I would like to subscribe to the QuirkyCruise newsletters. QuirkyCruise.com will not sell your email. See PRIVACY POLICY

vegasgg

gas138

bimabet

megahoki88

kdslots777

jakartacash

coin303

caspo777

big77

max77

autospin88

gopek178

monsterbola

wajik777

vegashoki88

dolar138

bigdewa.epizy.com

dunia777.epizy.com

kencana88.epizy.com

koko138.epizy.com

harmonibet.epizy.com

bolagg.epizy.com

mayora88.epizy.com

ligagaruda.epizy.com

babe138.epizy.com

money138.epizy.com

dog69.epizy.com

situs toto

www.linkpragmaticdemo.com

www.livecasinoonline.games

nusa365

www.judibolaparlay.id

www.roletonline.org

www.slot88rtp.net

batman138

situs toto

dphokathmandu.gov.np

www.luxury333slot.com

https://www.megawin77.id/

https://www.prada88gacor.com/

https://www.asiabetslot.com/

https://www.angkasa138.id/

https://www.vip303.co/

https://www.judicuanslot.org/

https://www.fit88.co/

https://www.pragmatic77slot.com/

https://www.slot99jackpot.com/

https://www.agen388.id/

https://www.hoki303slot.org/

https://www.dewa99.id/

https://www.garuda99slot.com/