A Gift From Odesa In Ukraine Belongs In An Art Museum And History Museum. Its Destiny To Forever Remain Unopened.
The M1 Club Hotel on the shores of the Black Sea in Odesa, Ukraine, has in “normal” times held its place as a premier location for those seeking to relax, enjoy terrific cuisine and cocktails, attend an event, and awaken to the sounds of the salt water impacting the rocks and seawall below.
In “not normal” times, the M1 Club Hotel is known for its location adjacent to the Port of Odesa.
March 2025 is not March 2024 or March 2023 or March 2022. Walk along Suvorivska Alley, the pathway along the ridge above the Port of Odesa in 2022, 2023, and 2024, a passerby encountered detours away from the ridge- and those detours were enforced by teams of heavily-armed military personnel. One purpose was to prevent photographers and prevent observation of port-related activities.
Today, the military personnel are gone. The detours are gone. Not uncommon for five ships to idle off of the coast awaiting to load their cargo and unload their cargo.
Are those absences signs of confidence, complacency, lack of resources- personnel required elsewhere in Ukraine?
What remains in March 2025 are activities of the armed forces of the Russian Federation launching drones, missiles, and rockets into the city of Odesa and surrounding areas… and that happens multiple times per day- in daylight and often throughout the hours of darkness when the skies are visible and audible battlegrounds between offense and defense.
One evening at the M1 Club Hotel, a telephone call from Reception Desk. Might a delivery be made to the room? Soon after, a a bottle of Artwine 1880 Brut Rose appears. Along with a beautifully presented bar of chocolate.
From Artwinery: “These wines were saved from Artwinery, the world’s deepest sparkling winery, 236 feet beneath Bakhmut, Ukraine, a city that endured a brutal siege and destruction. These bottles of Artwine are the last of their kind, carrying an exceptional experience and a powerful story of resilience and craftsmanship in every sip.”
The appearance of the bottle destines it for an art museum.
The history of the bottle destines it for a history museum.
The bottle will not be opened. It will remain intact. It will remain pure. It will remain a survivor. It will remain a winner.
