| To many world-wide travelers seeking adventure, | | | | because of its'beautiful location, but also for its' very |
| the Russian | | | | rich history: |
| Far East is a very desirable place to visit, and of | | | | There are quite a few historical buildings and |
| courseif you are going to visit this region, you do not | | | | monuments still standing that hold the memories of |
| want to miss seeing the famous sea port, | | | | many events from the 1860, when this city was |
| Vladivostok. | | | | founded, to present day. |
| Vladivostok, meaning the "Lord of the East" in | | | | These historical buildings remember the times when |
| Russian, islocated just across the Sea of Japan but a | | | | Vladivostok was given a free trade status with the |
| very distant | | | | purpose of encouraging foreign trade in 1878. |
| 6,200 miles east of Moscow. | | | | There are still building standing that, if they could |
| Interestingly, this beautiful sea port city was so far | | | | speak, could tell you about the times of the |
| fromthe center of communist rule, when Russia was | | | | Russian-Japanese war, when a squadron of Japanese |
| better knownas the Soviet Union, that it was not | | | | warships attacked the city firing over a hundred |
| until 1954 that a leader of the USSR visited this city. | | | | shots. |
| I am talking about Nikita Khrushchev, a man who | | | | Vladivostok's hills saw the Japanese, British, and |
| became famous, worldwide, for his eccentric | | | | American cruisers entered the Golden Horn Bay in |
| statements and actions. He was the first one to call | | | | 1917, and the supporters of the Bolsheviks |
| Vladivostok the "Russian San-Francisco" which in | | | | conducted a partisan struggle in the city. |
| many ways is a fairly accurate comparison. | | | | From 1917 to 1922 Vladivostok became a cultural |
| Like San Francisco, the city of Vladivostok is located | | | | bastion. |
| on ahilly region surrounded by a bay, in this case the | | | | During the ensuing years, beginning in 1917, |
| Gold Horn Bay | | | | Vladivostok became a haven for many Russians |
| Visitors who arrive to this city enjoy the spectacular | | | | trying to escape from the clutches of the new |
| view,which is surprisingly similar to San Francisco. | | | | Soviet regime, settling in the port city while retreating |
| Vladivostok is also the home port of the Russian | | | | to the east together with the White Army. |
| Navy's pacific fleet, and there are hundreds of | | | | Among them were many Russians, the creative |
| military ships and submarines located in the Gold Horn | | | | intelligentsia from Moscow and St Petersburg. They |
| Bay. As a result of this, the city of Vladivostok was | | | | established conservatories, theaters, symphony |
| a closed region for more than 70 years. | | | | orchestras and art centers in Vladivostok before |
| Vladivostok was city for a military installation, and | | | | escaping to countries such as Australia, China, the |
| even Russian citizens wanting to visit relatives, were | | | | USA, and other lands after the Bolsheviks, in 1922, |
| forbidden to travel to this city without special permits | | | | achieved victory in the Far East. |
| and passes. It was not until the year of 1992 that | | | | This city can still remember the 1930s when the |
| Vladivostok was officially opened for foreign visitors | | | | Stalinist repressions began and the transit camps |
| as well as the rest of the Russian population. | | | | were constructed housing political prisoners from the |
| Today thousands of tourists from all over the world | | | | Western regions of Russia to Kolyma, and to the |
| travel to Vladivostok. Some take the wonderful 7 | | | | new camp in Vladivostok. |
| day journey from Moscow on the Trans Siberian | | | | This city remembers when it was Russia's biggest |
| Railway, while others prefer to travel to Japan or | | | | military port during the cold war and the beginningof |
| China, and finally finishing their adventure by arriving | | | | "Perestroika." |
| at the Russian "Lord of the East". | | | | Now, Vladivostok is filled with businesses from all |
| Many travelers make the exciting journey by the | | | | over the world coming to take advantage of the |
| ship, going to every worlds' major sea port including | | | | city's position as the gate to modern Russia, Japan, |
| Vladivostok. | | | | China, and Korea. |
| Vladivostok attracts many tourists' attention not only | | | | |