Foto: The Russky Bridge (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Russia - The traffic on the way to Vladivostok gets busier and busier. Fortunately, the road also improves. The final stretch is even a four-lane highway. We enter the city via a long bridge. Vladivostok is much larger than I had imagined. In the city center, we park the vehicles. We’re probably in a taxi parking spot, but we can't find anything better at the moment. We go in search of coffee and an internet connection, because we have a little issue with the hotel. Hotels in Vladivostok are either limited in availability or relatively expensive. We had booked a hotel in advance, but it turns out this hotel is located in the Vladivostok province—still 180 kilometers outside the city. Oops. Strange, as we thought the description made it sound like all the sights were nearby. It was probably a different hotel we were thinking of. From the café, we search for a better alternative. Since that doesn't really work out, we decide to drive to a hotel nearby. This hotel, Sunrise Apartments, turns out to be a great spot for the next two nights. Even in the evening, Vladivostok is a lively city. The bronze statue of a soldier with a flag on the central square is illuminated. Neon lights are everywhere. Along the waterfront, navy ships are docked. Just beside the large Russky Bridge, in a small park, stands an old submarine. During the day, the vessel can be visited as a museum.
Saint Petersburg
Russia - Crossing the bridge, we arrive at the Ivan Gate, which gives access to the fortress. It was here in 1703 that Peter the Great gave the order to build the city of Saint Petersburg. Over the years, the bastion also served to imprison and torture numerous ...
The Altai Mountains
Russia - We return to the hotel a little too late for checkout, but it turns out to be no problem. We say goodbye to the owner and drive out of Gorno-Altaisk into the Altai Mountains. As soon as we hit the road, it starts to rain. A pity for the view with those ...
The Hermitage
Russia - Today is the first Thursday of the month, which means all museums in Russia are free. That includes the Hermitage. At the entrance, it’s clear many people are aware of this—we join a long line in the inner courtyard. The ticket counters are about ...
The Kremlin and Red Square
Russia - The Kremlin in Moscow is the geographical and historical heart of the Russian capital. The name Kremlin comes from the Russian word кремль (kreml), meaning fortified city center. While in Dutch the term usually refers to the Moscow Kremlin, other ...