Ashore in Vladivostok

Vladivostok Russia marks the end of the line for the Trans-Siberian Railroad. That was our venture ashore yesterday. The ship was docked right in the middle of the city so it was an easy walk to all the sites. The city only gets 2 cruise ships a year - this repositioning and then the return next winter. The city generally has not learned to take advantage of the tourist who want to spend their money buying local items.
Our first stop was at the train station which finally came out of the fog. Ornate outside plain inside. Around the street corner was the large square dedicated to the protectors of the East. May 9Th is May day with a large parade to commemorate V Day of World War 2. The Admiral of the Pacific Fleet is the inspecting officer and they were doing a practice. There were many units on parade as well as the missiles on trucks (I suspected they were the tactical nuclear weapons); as well as the short range missiles as well as the armoured personal carriers and hospital trucks and various other trucks. We shot video of the parade and will see what we have when we get back.

Russians on Parade

We also toured the WW2 submarine with "10" sinking during the war as well as the wall of remembrance (Vietnam like memorial) for those who died in the war. After that we walked a long way up the main street looking for the local market. The markets are usually places of interest. We did come across a restored(?) Russian Orthodox church and a chapel in a nice mid city urban park. We wandered some more and finally found the market which was nothing but a meat and vegetable place. Not much of interest. We wandered back looking for a local pub but never recognized one. That ended our 5 hours ashore. As we prepared to get moving as the fog rolled in an American Cruiser (a cruise missile ship) came into port for the celebrations.
They did have a Russian group on the ship for a performance. It was very poorly done. They insisted that they use their our microphones which did not work. They walked off stage. The ship fitted them with head mikes which they did not like; then stand up ones which they did not like. Off stage again. Finally they sang without them. You can imaging a 1000 seat hall without amplification. They did not bring any Russian dancers with them. All in all it was poorly done from their point of view.
Today we are again at sea. We finished Japanese immigration and they have promised that the "thermal screening" will only take 2 and a half hours tomorrow instead of the 5 that it did the last time in Japan. The bands will be playing, free hop on and off, drum ceremony at the end of the visit. They know what a good reception will mean if dollars today and in the future. Seafood buffet for lunch today. Cheers.
P.S. For those that need glasses, get them! For our good friend, happy birthday to you. Mike please print this out.