Come along with us as we sail from Tokyo to Cape Town aboard the Ocean Princess.

Welcome aboard! Dennis & Merlena



Thursday, March 11, 2010

Vladivostok March 12




Today we visited Vladivostok Russia. We arrived very early in the morning, navigating through the ice clogged harbor to our pier directly across from the city railway station, which is the Eastern terminus of the Trans Siberian Railway. The walk from the pier to the main downtown area takes us only about 10 minutes over the railroad tracks and up one snow and ice covered street. There were numerous souvenier stalls set up near the pier selling most of the usual Russian type items like the stacking dolls, fur military hats, etc. I told Merlena I was going to buy one of the fur hats, and a bottle of good Russian vodka and spend the rest of the day on our balcony like a good Russian soldier on the Siberian front, but decided to wait until our return from town.

Vladivostok is actually more interesting than I’d expected. The City was an important Soviet naval port for many years, and only opened to foreigners in 1992. There are still a number of Russian naval vessels in the harbor, and the port area houses an old WWII Russian Sub, which serves as a Submarine museum. We toured the Submarine museum, and found it interesting to crawl through the hatches to the various ship compartments. The tight quarters made me glad I served on a carrier, rather than a sub.

Early in the afternoon, it begin to snow, so we made our way back to the ship, stopping to take photos of one of the Russian Orthodox onion dome churches, the statue of Lenin, which we were suprised to see still on exhibit, and the Monument to the Fighters for Soviet Power in the East. I did get my fur hat, and my bottle of Russian vodka, so now’s the time to sit on the balcony and enjoy.

6 comments:

  1. Hmmmmm, this shot of Dennis looks strangely like some others of him but with a Tommy Bahama hat on and some palm trees and beaches in the background. Rock on DK!!! love, Cyn

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  2. Hello Comrade! You look very natural in that hat and of course with a drink in your hand! Cheers! Love, Susan

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  3. great pic dad. Russia looks cool.

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  5. Ahoy, Dennis & Merlena. Hope that Russia does not have any nuclear WWII subs, would hate to have you guys come back glowing in the dark after your museum tour:>)
    Had dinner with DT and Susan at Shari Mackin's house last Thursday, your trip was hot topic of conversation. Am looking forward to your next blog entry. Scott O.

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