White Snow Black Sea

Sochi’s Countdown Clock

Only 652 days, 20 hours and 44 minutes until the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi!

via: Instagram

Sochi’s Ordzhonikidze Sanatorium

One of Sochi’s famous rest houses: the Ordzhonikidze Sanatorium is located along the Black Sea coast in an evergreen park.

via: Instagram

Summer in Sochi

The peculiar charm of the “Russian Riviera” attracts sunbathers to the rocky beaches along the shoreline of the Black Sea.

via: Instagram

Sochi: Vacation at the Sanatorium

Back in the Soviet era, Sochi was known for the elaborate sanatorium that promised the nation’s best workers health and relaxation by the shores of the Black Sea — like this one named after Grigory Ordzhonikidze.

via: Instagram

The Happy Mascots of Olympic Sochi

As a general partner of the 2014 Olympic Games, Aeroflot is maxing out the endorsement value of Sochi’s Olympic mascots.

via: English Russia

The View from Inside Sochi’s Olympic Stadium

Another view of Sochi’s Olympic Stadium bowl - this time you can imagine the opening and closing ceremonies taking place in February 2014.

via: Populous

Sochi’s Olympic Stadium

If you thought Beijing’s stadium was impressive, wait until you see Sochi’s: Here’s an artist’s rending of the main entrance to Sochi’s 2014 Olympic Stadium

via: Populous

Sochi’s Winter Olympic Tradition

A sign in Sochi’s Riviera Park highlights some of the cities that have hosted the Winter Olympic Games - Chamonix (1924), Lake Placid (1932, 1980), Oslo (1952), Cortina d’Ampezzo (1956), Grenoble (1968) and Sapporo (1972). In 2014, Sochi will join these cities as Russia’s first-ever Winter Olympic host city.

via: Instagram

Sochi’s Exotic Cultural Mix

In nearby Anapa on the Black Sea coast, dancers perform at the Kuban’s Museum Festival

via: Live Kuban

The Black Sea

Two solitary figures in the distance create a moody view of the Black Sea

via: Instagram