They say that Vladivostok is the San Francisco of Russia, an incredible comparison to make. San Francisco is one of kind. Usually when this association is invoked, it is to convey similar visual features such as being neatly tucked alongside a body of water on gently rolling hills. However, one detail is typically missing that visually makes San Francisco, well San Francisco, is its iconic bridges.
A city view of Vladivostok
Within my first few minutes of daylight in Vladivostok and I immediately understood the comparison. Indeed, it is nicely situated on gentle hills arranged beside the Pacific, dotted with Russian Naval Ships. However, I turned a corner and suddenly I questioned where I was. A massive bridge came into focus, its suspension cables glimmering in the sunlight, almost as if it was levitating. It immediately cemented the comparison to San Francisco. It is even called the Golden Bridge, named after the bay it traverses: Golden Horn Bay.
Russian Naval Ships
The city has a monument to Lenin that still overlooks the train station to this day. There is also a tribute commemorating the Bolshevik revolution and the successful liberation of the city from the Japanese called the “Monument to the Fighters for Soviet Power.”
Lenin
Monument to the Fighters for Soviet Power
Finally, Vladivostok is also a “City of Military Glory.” This honorary title memorializes the contribution the citizens had “in the fight for freedom and independence of the Motherland.” This obelisk below represents this honor.
// Oliver – Day 92 – Russia