May 6- Vladivostok, Russia

Today Jessie and I tried to wake up early but this was a difficult task because the clocks went forward and Jessie was up all night, so we were quite tired.  By the time we got off the ship, it was already 10:30am but we decided to begin our Vladivostok touring despite our sleepiness. 

As we departed the ship, Russian officials were standing by to inspect our passports and ensure we followed regulations.  I couldn’t believe how stern and serious these people were.  They definitely didn’t give a first impression of friendliness and warmth. 

Jessie and I decided to head for the sports park first.  This was a park that was located right on the water and was supposed to be quite beautiful.   On our way there, we came across the Trans-Siberian Railway which is quite a historical landmark.  The railway stretches over 9,200km.  Jessie and I wandered inside the station and observed the beautiful artwork on the ceilings and the stunning architecture.  It was quite magnificent. 

Carrying on after the railway, Jessie and I headed down the same street with the expectation that it would lead us to where we wanted to go.  We walked for about another half hour when I finally asked a young soldier if we were headed in the right direction.  The answer was no.  We were in the opposite direction of where we wanted to go, so we turned around and headed back to point A. 

Once we got on the correct path, we made it in about an hour to the waterfront park.  The park wasn’t exactly what we had expected, but it was quite charming.  There was a long walkway along the waterfront and in the background there was a small carnival with a Ferris wheel. 

Jessie and I walked around for a short while.  There were little vendors selling various souvenirs.  At one point, Jessie was leaning over to touch a very large stuffed crab.  I walked up behind her and scared her as she attempted to touch the crab.  She screamed and we got yelled at by the crabby Russian owner.

We got a bit lost again on the way back but soon realized where we were.  Jessie and I decided to take a quick break and grab some lunch.  Since we were in Russia, we thought it would be appropriate to eat local cuisine and Jessie’s favorite soup is Borscht.  We soon found a little café that served food and drinks.  Jessie and I found a seat in the corner and sat in big, plush armchairs.  We ordered one (fairly expensive) bowl of Borscht and shared it with a great deal of delight.  Although it wasn’t as good as what our mom can make, it definitely tasted like home style cooking. 

After our snack, Jessie and I headed back to the ship for a quick rest and to fill up our bellies with all-inclusive cruise food.  We met with Dick and Renate and shared a nice lunch and then went down to our stateroom for a quick 20 minute nap.  This was necessary because I was exhausted since Jessie kept me up all night; unable to contain her excitement about arriving in Russia.

We emerged from the boat a little while later and went on our way to do some more sightseeing.  As we walked down the small streets, we couldn’t help but notice how colonial the buildings all looked.  It almost felt like we were back in Europe.   Jessie and I soon arrived at the Submarine Monument where a former submarine had been preserved and a portion of the hull was turned into a museum.  We didn’t go into the museum, but enjoyed the walk around the submarine. 

There was also an Orthodox church located nearby and it was absolutely stunning.  The architecture was intricate and it was so finely decorated.   We were lucky enough to witness a Russian wedding that was happening too. 

On our way back to the ship, we found a bunch of vendors selling beautiful Russian souvenirs.  Contrary to the on-board travel guide, these vendors did not negotiate their prices and they were not overly friendly.  Jessie and I couldn’t resist the beautiful products so we bought a charming little music box that is in the shape of a Russian cathedral. 

As we came back on board, we went to the theater and were treated to a Russian cultural show with the local talent.  For over an hour, about a dozen Russian singers and dancers kept us entertained and educated the crowd on different aspects of Russian culture.  It was fantastic.