The day before we reached Busan, we received the news that one couple from our group was going to have to fly home because of a medical emergency with their mom. When we awoke next morning, we were completely socked in with fog and the port had been closed. We were sitting just outside blowing the foghorn and our friends were seriously worried that we weren’t going to make the port and all the expense of the last minute flights would be wasted. But at about 1 PM, the pilot finally allowed us to proceed into the port. Our friends’ flight wasn’t until 5:00, so they were still able to make it on time.
We finally were docked but the one shore excursion that we were really looking forward to had to be canceled since it was an all day trip to see a UNESCO Heritage ancient Korean village. Instead, we waited for half an hour to let the pushy crowds get off the ship but discovered that they had only moved into a line for the shuttle into the city from the port. We waited in line for almost an hour in a freezing wind, but as we waited the fog did burn off even more.
We got dropped off at a spot in the city adjacent to the little lanes of a huge market. The street we entered into was a movie themed street with shops that sold everything you can imagine, from hardware to rugs, clothing, souvenirs, glasses, jewelry, etc. Our table mates were each able to have an eye exam and buy a pair of glasses. As usual, we had to dodge motorbikes down the narrow lanes.
Movie Themed Street
Head Carrying on Narrow Lane
Fish Stall
We wandered the market, found a few Korean souvenirs and then went back to the meeting place for the shuttle through all the food stalls. The stalls had all kinds of food set out for the motorbikes to spew their exhaust on but it didn’t seem to slow the customers down any. Friends had gone across the street to the Fish Market but Bill’s feet were already very tired from standing in that line for an hour before we ever got started so we decided to head back to the ship instead. They later reported that a woman was shopping at a stand that had fresh octopus. The proprietor waited while she chose the one she wanted and then twisted the head until it squeezed off and then wrapped up the rest. We didn’t mind not seeing that one.
Noodle Shop
Korean BBQ
Fish Market
VLADIVOSTOK
Red Symbol
A few days later, our arrival in Vladivostok was accompanied by overcast skies and gusty winds. The forecast was for a high in the mid-40s, so I broke out my full-length down coat, gloves, and scarf. Bill wore his down jacket but didn’t bring his gloves or ear warmers. It was only sprinkling when we got off the ship but the wind was freezing. As we got to the train station right beside the pier the rain began to get heavier.
Vladivostok Train Station
We managed to get to an ATM to get some rubles before the downpour started but only managed a few blocks before Bill was ready to get back on the ship. I had my scarf to protect my head but his baseball cap was soon soaked and he ended up using my umbrella. But that didn’t do much good because the wind kept turning it inside out. I walked back to the ship with him and met CC friends Sandy & Ira who were just setting out and I got just about to the same place where Bill turned around and then they turned around and went back. This time I kept going though, because even though my jeans were getting wet, I was still relatively warm and really had wanted to see the city. I had gotten directions to the GUM department store and I thought I could warm up there and maybe buy something with my credit card. I found out that the 100 rubles I had gotten from the ATM machine was only worth about $3, so that wasn’t going to go far.
Between the time Bill and I started out and I went off on my own, I was passed by 4 walking tours in the pouring rain. I thought that at least I wasn’t paying money to be cold and wet. One of the reviews I had read online had said that Vladivostok was what you expected Siberia to be like, cold, dreary and grim. That turned out to be a pretty apt description.
Graffiti
Rainy Vladivostok Street
After wandering for about an hour, I took refuge in a passage way between 2 streets that also functioned as a flower market. While there, I ran into David and Pauline, our tablemates and we set about finding a coffee shop. On the way, we went into a shop where Pauline looked at a ceramic figurine that the salesgirl said was from Italy that had England (where they are originally from) printed on the base. We also looked at a memory chip for David’s new Singapore camera but he decided to pass. But since he didn’t have any rubles, we went into a bank to change money and I was very relieved to find that they had a nice dry bathroom I could use. They had portable stalls out on the street with the ladies sitting in them ready to collect rental money. I assume that they would give up their seat and stand in the rain if they had customers. I was sure glad I didn’t have to resort to one of those.
Flower Passageway
While Pauline stood dripping in a clothing shop, David had gone ahead and found our coffee shop. It was nice and dry and between us we had enough rubles to get 3 cups of latte. There were 30 rubles left and David tipped the girl 10 of them. She gave him a dirty look for his 30 or 40 cent tip. He thought he might need the extra 20 rubles for something else.
David & Pauline in the Coffee Shop
Outside, the rain and wind that hadn’t let up a bit, so we ducked downstairs into the passage to cross the main street and took shelter in the lobby of what seemed to be a courthouse. From there we could see the statues of the city’s main square but from our vantage point the square looked like a giant parking lot.
Main Square Statues
When we got back to the ship, the biggest puddle we had seen all day was like a lake right where we had to walk on the pier to get to the gangplank. They were collecting passports as we checked onto the ship and mine was soaked all around the edges as were most of those coming on board. There were rows of them on a table standing up to dry. I left the gangplank area and squished all the way to the cabin leaving a trail of water behind me. When I stripped off my clothes, everything clear down to my underwear was all sopping wet. I think I must have stood in the hot shower for 40 minutes before I felt warm enough to come out.
Later that afternoon, a troop of Russian singers and dancers came on board to do a show for us. It was very entertaining and at least we left seeing a tiny bit of Russian culture.
Russian Singers
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