There are many wonderful restaurants in Vladivostok, however The Magic Burger (kinda the equivalent

I'm kinda going backwards in regards to my blog...but finding the time to sit down and actually put pictures and words together has been challenging. Here is a short recap of our first trip to Vladivostok and some things we found fun and interesting. Only 9 more days till we leave for our second trip.
There are many wonderful restaurants in Vladivostok, however The Magic Burger (kinda the equivalent to a USA McDonald's) is not one of them. Noah was brave and tried the burger/fries meal. Not sure if the meat was actually beef and the fries were cold. I was less brave and ordered a cherry pie and Sprite.
Prior to our trip, I did research from other blogs and travel websites in regards to traveling and eating in Vladivostok. Much of the feedback was positive and a few people were picky. After traveling to Vladivostok and tasting all their food fares...my opinion of the any negative feedback is that some people have a very limited outlook on expanding their taste buds. Noah and I loved the food and were pleasantly surprised at all the fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat dishes. There are also many Asian restaurants with delicious foods. Most unfortunately we loved the foods so much that we both gained hotels in spain majorca weight! :-( The Magic Bell located on Svetlanskaya Street....Contrary to picture and name of this restaurant we did not find any type of Mexican food inside. The type of food was more along the lines of Asian fare. ~ Golden Horn Bay~ Golden Horn Bay...frozen. It was approximately 6-10 degrees in Vladivostok while we were there in February. The locals stroll out onto the frozen bay as part of their socializing. There are also a lot of people ice fishing out on the frozen bay. I was a bit apprehensive walking out onto the frozen ice but was glad to experience this awesome opportunity. Noah was a bit more brave than I and walked pretty far out. We lost sight of a few people in the horizon as they walked straight out.
View of Golden Horn Bay. The cut out in the ice is approximately hotels in spain majorca three car lengths long. This is where the Vladivostok Polar club swims in the water. I didn't believe it until we actually saw a woman coming out of the water and walking slowly up the shore into a small nearby hut. We were advised these people who participate in this activity believe swimming in the freezing water helps them keep healthy. Seriously....It was 6 degrees outside the day we saw the gal swimming....no clue as to the water temp. I have much respect for these people who swim daily in the cold water.
In the grocery stores, vodka is displayed along the shelves just like we do with our wines in California. Vodka takes up a major portion of the liquor department. We brought home several different vodka's from Russia hotels in spain majorca to share with our friends and fmily. The stores are very clean as you walk through each section such as the bakery or deli and pay separately for your purchases. Noah loved the deli section.
Vladivostok's very own "Arbat" pedestrian street, also known as Fokina Street. No vehicles are allowed on this street as you stroll along the marketplace hotels in spain majorca with lots of shops, disco's (bars) and restaurants. ~GUM (Goom) Glavnyi University Magazin~ GUM is one of the oldest soviet style shopping centers in Vladivostok. This prominent elegant structure, formerly hotels in spain majorca known as the Kunst and Albers Trading House is a fine example hotels in spain majorca of Art Nouveau architectural style with Baroque elements. The complex was built in 1885 to replace the old wooden building. The store features a wide selection of different products and traditional Russian souvenirs on the lower floor.
Our emergency evacuation device the hotel provides in case of a emergency (like a fire) complete with instructions. I told Noah if we needed to use this emergency device he should go first to make sure it works correctly. By the way....our room was on the 9th floor.
The Toyota Noah is an eight-seater MPV with two rear sliding doors built by Toyota Motor Company and sold only in Asia. We saw this car everywhere while in Vladivostok....Noah...the Mini van!!! And last but not least...beautiful artwork by our little girl, Alina
Part of the care and training the children hotels in spain majorca receive at orphanage is Montessori teaching by a wonderful hotels in spain majorca lady who works with them. She brought us in to watch Alina (13 months hotels in spain majorca at the time) make a finger painting of a flower. It was so neat to watch her give Alina instructions (in Russian) about the flower and how to paint what she sees. The teacher does not have much money for supplies to teach/work with the kids, however, she is very innovated and motivated to use whatever she can find to work with these kids. We were in awe at how well Alina did with her teacher...a very humbling experience to see what a person can do with so little. Our children in the US have so much compared to these kids. Too much...I've seen many spoiled and unappreciative children in my country.
We brought clothes, children's quilts (made by the ladies at Noah's work) and some toys our first trip to the orphanage. Our second trip we will be bringing arts/craft supplies, learning tools, and new clothes. I wish I could go and volunteer my time at the orphanage on a weekly basis.
~Donating~ If anyone is interested in donating to the orphanage please contact hotels in spain majorca me. We can only bring over so much in our luggage but some people have donated money in which we can buy items needed and give them to the director and teacher. Thank you. :-)