While you make up your mind, let me tell you a little about this city. Odessa (also spelled Odesa or Odeca) is a Ukrainian city on the Black Sea and has been for decades one of the most important trading sites in Eastern Europe. In Odessa you will find a very cosmopolitan environment: you will see Bulgarian, Albanian, Armenian, Russian, Greek, Jewish, Italian, French, and German visitors. The multi-cultural mix of people has given Odessa both a sophisticated atmosphere and an exciting environment due to its high commercial activity.

Odessa women are beautiful and they have not lost their traditions despite the passage of time and the International influences. Odessites are warm-hearted, hospitable, and also have a pretty wicked sense of humor (maybe that's why people don't quarrel much here... they may have to face some consequences if they did). Women in Odessa are attracted to men who have chivalrous manners such as opening a door for her or offering her a seat when there not another available. So if you date a lady here, don't be shy about offering to take her coat or help her with her packages. Actually, she will expect that from you.

When at home, things are very different than in the streets. In an Ukrainian house, as a guest, you will receive red-carpet treatment. Just keep some things in mind to avoid misunderstandings. If a woman in Odessa asks you over, it is a tradition to bring a gift (a bottle of wine, for example) with you for the meeting and small gifts for small children, if you know of any at home. You may also be asked to wear a pair of slippers to help keeping the house clean. Correct, this doesn't happen only in a pagoda. If invited to dinner, get ready to accept everything you are offered because it is rude to reject what you are offered in Ukrainian houses. In general, these are the most important traditions. So, as a tip, if you are full, I recommend you to leave a little food on your dish to avoid being offered more food.

Two extra tips: never take an even number of flowers to a Ukrainian house because it considered bad luck. Be also careful with the way you use your compliments in a house in Odessa. If you compliment the hosts' belongings, the ornaments, for example, they may offer them to you and —again— it may be considered rude not wanting to accept them as gifts.

Back to Odessa women, I think you have already noticed they are gorgeous, but there is more... Odessa women are kind, tender, positive, very feminine and they are proud of having a very good sense of humor. Besides that, Odessa women, as part of the romanticism they were brought up with, like to dress up for every occasion and to behave like the ladies they are. This does not mean they are spoiled grown-up Daddy's girls. On the contrary, they are usually passionate, sincere, and family-oriented fully-grown women who, like you, are looking forward to finding someone to share the rest of their lives with.

What would they like to find in a man? As far as I'm concerned, women in Odessa are fond of well-balanced, friendly, honest, responsible, reliable, and kind-hearted men with good character, a touch of patience, and a dash of romanticism. A good sense of humor is a plus, of course, especially if you take into account that one of the most important days in Odessa's calendar is April 1st, Yumorina or Humor Day. Then, besides playing jokes, there is an outdoor festival in which parachutists, dancers, and singers joyfully entertain the crowds.

Odessa was officially founded in 1794 and its first governor was a French man called Duc de Richelieu. He was responsible of the development of the city and decided he wanted Odessa be as beautiful as Paris, so he made the layout of the city to achieve this.

Thus, among the places you may want to visit while in Ukraine, we can mention neoclassical buildings such as the City Hall, the Opera House, and the Archaeological Museum. During the day, you can also visit the port, Deribasovskaya Street with its cafés, terraces and sculptures, and Frantsuzsky and Primorsky Boulevards, from where you can see the harbor and its daily works. Also, take a look at the monument to the Duke of Richelieu or get a ride on the streetcar. If the weather is appropriate, you can also consider visiting Arcadia beach to get a good suntan.

At night Odessa gets wild, so get ready to have some fun. Besides, it is not an expensive city. Cover charges at the discos can be as cheap as US$ 3, so it's no use staying at the hotel to watch TV, especially since the nightlife in Odessa usually starts at 10 or 11 PM. and finishes after the sun rises.