2 Travel adventures Russia

From Amsterdam to Tokyo

1 mei 2016 - 8 augustus 2016 (100 days)

Traffic toward Vladivostok gets heavier and heavier. 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. We park in the center, probably in a taxi zone, but we can't find anything better for now. We look for coffee with Wi-Fi, because we have a bit of an issue with the hotel. Hotels in Vladivostok are limited or relatively expensive. We had booked one in advance, but it turns out to be located in the Vladivostok province — still 180 kilometers outside the city. Oops. Strange, because we thought the description made it seem like it was close to all the sights. Probably a different hotel. From the café, we try to find a better option. Since that doesn’t really work out, we decide to drive to a nearby hotel. Sunrise Apartments turns out to be a great place to stay for the next two nights.

Photos Video Travelogue Route

Russia

On the Road

Crossing the fifteenthousandkilometer mark

The Russky Bridge

The Russky Bridge in Vladivostok

Hermitage Courtyard

The reflection of the Hermitage courtyard in a mirrored dish

Abrahams Sacrifice

The painting Abrahams Sacrifice by Rembrandt in the Hermitage is one of the masterpieces

Baltic States

24 juli - 7 augustus 2010 (15 days)

As I enter the cathedral, I’m immediately overwhelmed by its stunning interior. I don’t know where to look first—every direction is worth taking in. The enormous marble columns, the dome topped with a silver dove, and the magnificent stained-glass windows of the iconostasis. Stunning! I can't recall ever having visited such a church. Once outside, we must walk around the church again to climb the tower. Oddly, the ticket office is at the rear, and the entrance on the other side. Via a 210-step spiral staircase, we reach the top of St. Isaac’s Cathedral. A footbridge leads us to the dome’s balustrade. From here, there's a wonderful view of St. Petersburg in all directions.

Photos Video Travelogue