Vladivostok

Vladivostok ("Lord of the East" in Russian) is located less than 60 miles east of the Chinese border, and just across the Sea of Japan from the main Japanese island of Honshu. Home base of the Russian Pacific Fleet, the city was closed to all non-Soviets from 1958 until 1991. The population of Vladivostok is between 600,000 and 700,000.
It is located in the Southern extremity of Muravyov-Amursky peninsula, which is about 30 km long and approximately 12 km wide. It is the capital of Primorsky Kray (Maritime Territory). There are over 200 monuments in the city.
Modern Vladivostok has been compared to the American West during the Gold Rush years. Businesses from all over the world have flooded in to take advantage of the city's position as a crossroads of Northeast Asia. Vladivostok's crime rate and cost of living are among the highest in Russia, and the city is reported to be a hotbed of mafia activity.
Source: FocalPoint f/8 and Wikipedia

This is where I came in, the Vladivostok Train Station	Flowers were still in bloom in a park near the station

The design on the building in the left photo depicts some of the things Vladivostok is noted for. There are ships, both military and commercial on the right, and the center tringular section represents Primorsky, I believe. On the left and lower center are buildings represented. The square with script is a quote by Lenin. I've no idea, what it reads. After meeting with my friend, Helga, we went to some parks. The whale fountain was in one of them.
And so was this sculpture of a Russian family	This is like a flea market for hats

When I asked what the peach colored building was, I was told, It's a house for a rich Russian. The photo on the right is part of the port of Vladivostok, which is Golden Horn Bay.

This hospital ship served in the Vietnam War. My guess is that it wasn't on our side. The right photo is part of the city's skyline as it climbs up the mountain, which is only about 1000 feet above sea level.

The city administration building	A monument to the Revolution

I don't know who these people are, but they look like something out of Doctor Zhivago.

These photos (front and back) are of an old retired Russian submarine. It's now a maritime museum. Below are some photos of the interior.
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Fire in the hole!	The Captain's quarters


This is Vladivostok's main tribute to those who fought in the Great Patriotic War (WWII). There was a statue in the center of a Russian war hero. Some time ago, he was found to be in disfavor, and his statue was removed. Helga said, he was fired.

On the left is the other end of the monument. In another park (there are many in the city) is this fountain. I'm not sure what it's supposed to represent, but there's Neptune or Poseidin in the rear keeping an eye on things. He missed the grafitti artist though.
This is a shrine in the same park	And every Russian city has a bell

This building is now a market, it was built as a train station around 1880. Then we went to the Museum of Natural History.
Sponges and coral	A giant clam


Some Chinese (?) vases
A chinese teapot	Sculpture of two guys resting
More coral	"Do you think it's still alive?"
A model sailing ship.	The Amerika paddle wheeler
A life ring from the Amerika	The Flower Room with attendent
Hunter's dress	See below
We went to a small store to get some tea and pepsi, and I noticed that the clerk added up the bill on this abacus. I hadn't seen one since grade school, but they are still in use in some places.