Day Eight:

Last day in Vladivostok.

I sat down on a park bench to way my lunch (cheap supermarket cheese and crackers, of course). After a few moments, three old ladies sat beside me. Two of them, continued the conversation they were having while walking in the park, and the third sat on the end of the bench and sang. She just sat and sang a quiet song. Neat.

I took a stroll along the city waterfront today. That made for a few pleasant hours. So many of the men here are tough looking: shaved heads and leather jackets (black and shiny and cheap). The women (young) all wear leather boots and very tight jeans and too much makeup. They all look like they are living in 1992. But they are all really pretty, regardless!

Snapped a few nice pictures, wrote some postcards, and did some internet stuff at the central post office. Today has been all about killing time. But also: I lightened my load! I abandoned a couple of t-shirts and my sweater and my Korean lonely planet and a few odds and ends. I think I've got the backpack about where I want it to be for the rest of this journey.

Perhaps I will remember this city as the city of crusty bread and processed cheese slices. Everywhere, one can buy bread. And it comes by the piece, rather than the loaf. I haven't even SEEN a loaf of bread... I think that all the bread is baked in big Soviet-era factory ovens in 100 foot loaves, and then sliced up for delivery to canteens across the country. In any case, 30 roubles is enough to buy four hunks of bread, two slices of cheese and a cup of horrible coffee. Good times!

Vladivostok, 5:30 pm