Marking a Decade of Black Sea Circuit: A Journey Through a Region Forever Changed

A decade ago, adventurers the Raven Brothers set out on an ambitious quest to explore the Black Sea’s storied shores. Their book, Black Sea Circuit, documented a journey rich with culture, history, and human connection — a vibrant portrait of a region shaped by centuries of trade, myth, and resilience.

Yet in the years since, that world has changed profoundly. As war and conflict have swept across parts of the Black Sea, the Raven Brothers’ journey has taken on new significance, their book now serving not only as a travel memoir but as a haunting snapshot of a fragile peace that once was.

Published in 2015, Black Sea Circuit documented the Raven Brothers’ circuitous route around the Black Sea, weaving through Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, and Turkey. It was a journey filled with unexpected encounters, from the lively streets of Odessa to the sunlit shores of Crimea, where daily life seemed to unfold in calm defiance of geopolitical tensions brewing just beneath the surface.

In Mariupol, the brothers found a proud industrial city, a place where cafés bustled with locals, and a resilient spirit filled the air. “It felt like a working city with a big heart,” Simon recalls. “People welcomed us with warmth, humour, and a sense of pride.”

Today, Mariupol’s transformation stands as one of the most tragic chapters in Russia’s war on Ukraine. Once vibrant and full of life, the city now lies in ruins, a stark reminder of war’s brutal toll.

“Looking back at that journey now feels deeply emotional,” Simon reflects. “We met wonderful people, Ukrainians, Russians, Georgians, who welcomed us without hesitation. It’s heartbreaking to know that so many of those communities are now facing unimaginable hardship.”

When Black Sea Circuit was first published, it stood as a celebration of a diverse and culturally rich region, a place where Ottoman ruins met Soviet relics, and where stories of myth and migration shaped everyday life. Readers are transported to a time when seaside cafés in Sevastopol hummed with conversation, and Mariupol’s skyline framed a city still full of movement and industry.

But now, the book reads differently. In hindsight, the Raven Brothers unknowingly documented a fragile peace, a world on the brink of upheaval.

“That sense of normality we captured was already beginning to fray,” Simon says. “We visited Crimea just months before Russia’s annexation, and there were signs, small tensions, unspoken anxieties, that hinted at what was to come. At the time, we never imagined how rapidly things would change.”

Despite the grim reality that parts of their route have since been ravaged by conflict, Black Sea Circuit remains a powerful testament to the resilience of the region’s people. The shepherds, traders, and families they met along the way had weathered centuries of hardship, and their enduring spirit still echoes through the pages.

As war continues to reshape the region, Black Sea Circuit reminds readers of what once was and what, with time, may yet be rebuilt. The Raven Brothers’ work has long been celebrated for its blend of humour, curiosity, and heartfelt storytelling. From Driving the Trans-Siberian to Carnival Express, their adventures have offered readers a window into the world’s less-explored corners. Yet Black Sea Circuit now carries an added weight, a reminder that travel can do more than reveal landscapes; it can capture fleeting moments in history before they vanish forever.

Available on Amazon and in all good bookstores worldwide.

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