At the last early evening stop, Mette (the other Danish tourist) and I stop for a strange-looking fruit icee.
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Caviar and smoked fish begin to be more common in the towns closer to the Sea of Japan.
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As dusk moves to night, the train will pass perilously close to the Chinese border. The train is scheduled to pass this route at night to prevent unnecessary observation across the Chinese border (though there isn't a lot to see anyway).
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The next morning, I awake after 70 hours on the train across three time zones. I actually experience "train-lag" for the first time in my life.
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Day 7 of the #1/2 Rossiya train trip ends in Vladivostok, with its beautiful harbor and attractive landscape. During Soviet times, Vladivostok was a closed city because it was (and still is) the home of the Russian Pacific Fleet.
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Surely, this is post-Perestroika graffiti.
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After 9288 kilometers...
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...the train pulls into the legendary station of Vladivostok, which translates as "Lord of the East." (A pretty bad ass name for a city!)
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The station itself is a palace.
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The double-headed eagle of Russia looks East and West at this Eastern outpost. A family rests by the historic WWII train.
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Inside on the ceiling appears an incredible mural with Moscow (notice Red Square) and Vladivostok (notice the ships and train station).
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People in the waiting room don't seem impressed by the opulence of the station.
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I have survived almost 10,000 km of train travel across the vast Russian landscape. Here I am in front of the beautiful and famous Vladivostok station.
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Guess who greets you at the station? Lenin points Eastward across the sea toward rival Japan.
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Perhaps it is fitting that the last Lenin statue I see on my trip has a bird pooping on its head.
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Again, I make arrangements to sleep in a homestay. This is a very typical block housing unit in the city.
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As usual, the entrance leaves something to be desired. It also smells like cat piss!
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But inside, the home is quite friendly and nice...
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...with great views of the bay.
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City life in Vladivostok is more chic than the interior.
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Graffiti artists display their talent.
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But buildings in disrepair remain prevalent (and beautiful in their decay).
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The Monument to the Fighters for Soviet Power in the Far East dominates Revolution Square.
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People don't seem to pay any attention to the regalia of Soviet times. They're more interested in the market!
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On offer are wonderful fruits and berries, which are (not surprisingly) much nicer than anything I saw on the Trans-Siberian.
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Of course, the selection of fish on the Sea of Japan is quite impressive.
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Considering the basic loss (and maybe even sense of shame) regarding the catastrophe of the Soviet Union, it still surprises me how much Soviet regalia remains... though locals hardly seem to notice it.
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The White House is the former Communist Party headquarters and now Vladivostok's regional administration building.
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Wandering around reveals the Russian obsession with mini-skirts.
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Girls look into a reverse mirror doing some basic primping.
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A serious fashion casualty!
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Apparently, camouflage is all the rage in Russia these days!
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Later, I take the Funicular to the highest hill in Vladivostok...
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...where I meet my friend Tina from the Trans-Siberian.
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The views are tremendous, and feel a bit Pacific Northwest (Seattle, San Francisco) to me.
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This recently constructed monument to Kiril resides at the top. Kiril developed the Cyrillic script used everywhere in Russia.
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Wandering further, we run across more WWII memorials.
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I still think the Constructivist style remains stark (when executed in moderation).
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Like everything in Soviet times, the "worker" is the benchmark of all good.
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A goofy shot for sure. Ready for take off!
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