Outside of Maidan, things are back to normal. Inside the square, it’s safe but visually and viscerally transformed.

Several of my attempted flights there have been canceled this week and there’s a good chance your train will be searched at the Crimean border by soldiers not wearing insignia. Have your papers and documents with you but whether or not you’ll be let in is right now uncertain.

Several Turkish journalists I know have been turned away as recently as yesterday. Best of luck if you decide to go and hope you’ll keep in touch. I’ll make concrete plans tonight.

Hi Anil, thanks for your reply!

Yes, the timing could be better! We have train tickets for Saturday evening, so we will arrive right when the referendum takes place…

We bought the tickets before all of this started. So far, we still plan to go there, but I have also heard rumors that they check passports and baggage at the train station in Simferopol (where we will arrive.

When will you go there? Or will you wait for the results of the referendum and then decide?

Hi Chris,

Are you planning a trip to Crimea this coming weekend? It’s along my current route as well but with the referendum coming up on the 16th, I would recommend against a trip as the situation is highly volatile. I know that entry has been denied to some and it is changing constantly. After the vote it might be difficult to move around depending on what takes place.