VLADIVOSTOK, RUSSIA

Because I read this was a port you could do on your own, I did not plan an organized tour.  Rather, we went off in search of having a relaxed morning.  It did not take us long to get ourselves turned around.

We docked very close to downtown and planned to disembark with Joe, Gretchen and new friends, Meredith and Tom.  So the six of us, with maps in hand, set off to find Main Street. As soon as we left the port gates, we apparently made the wrong turn and we found ourselves in an alley.  This lady came up to us to help.  She was dark haired, and in a belted trench coat with her collar turned to the “cold and damp”– very spy-like!  It did seem somewhat strange that we were following her down this alley, into a back door and up some steps. Very “Mata Hari-ish”.  But we survived and as far as I know, we are not wanted for being International spies.

We passed over the railroad tracks and in front of the very old train station.  At one of the town squares we found a meeting of black-leather jacketed motorcyclists.  They looked a little incongruous in this blue-collar shipbuilding city. It was a great gathering place and time for a lot of photos.

We were in search of the department store “GUM” looking for Russian souvenirs.  We thought we would get a better price away from the dock area.  The 3 “girls” each wanted one of the onion-domed music boxes and thought the store would give us a better price for 3.  Upon arriving we were sadly mistaken and found they would not come down 1 Ruble.  So no music box.  :(

GUM building - old and a lot of character

Carlos in front of GUM.  Man in middle just stopped to give information.

We next headed to the submarine museum.  Vladivostok was a major submarine town for the Russian Navy.  They have one on display, C-56, and a wall similar to the Vietnam Memorial near the museum.  The war honors the thousands who died during WWII. 

We came across another park with a small onion-domed church.  It was noon and the bells were being rung.  We did go inside – it was small and lovely.

Structure near church

Bell ringers at church at noon.

Isn't this baby just beautiful?  She was in a stroller in front of church with her parents.

We headed back to the ship for lunch, having been warned not to eat or drink ashore.  The six of us agreed that Vladivostok turned out to be that fun kind of port since we all went into it with open minds.  I was so glad with did it on our own at our own pace and did what we wanted to do, not what someone said we should do.

Before the ship sailed, we were treated to a show of Russian dancers.  It was a marvelous way to end the day.

The intrepid tourist - L to R: Joe, Gretchen, Carlos, Kathleen, Bob, Meredith and Chris who sits at our dinner table.