Kaliningrad

 

The whole purpose of this cruise was to see Kaliningrad, which we saw today. Kaliningrad is part of Russia but it’s not connected to Russia...it’s nestled between Lithuania, Poland, and Belarus. It gives Russia a warm water port on the Baltic and as such it’s a great naval center. It’s also Russia, so we needed to go through a lot of security to get in and out of the place. 

 

 

We were greeted this morning by 3 tug boats pushing the Prinsendam into the dock in Baltyisk (that’s pronounced Bal-teesk). 

 

After breakfast we went from ship to tour bus without stopping to look at any scenery. The next thing we did was  surrender our passports to the border patrol officers for stamping. I never like to give my passport to anyone...a few minutes later they were returned to us in a pile. Our tour guide then tried to read our names and return the passports to their rightful owners.

 

 

The drive from Baltyisk to the city of Kaliningrad took about an hour through heavily wooded countryside interspersed with military bases. There were few houses, some of which were unfinished, others were new.

 

 

As we approached Kaliningrad the housing changed to the old Soviet style. Lots of block apartments, which are now owned by their residents  instead of by the state. Nevertheless, you cannot mistake the look of Soviet-era housing, as it’s pretty plain. There does not seem to be much that can be done to it to make it more attractive. Some people have added porches/verandas but even that does not do much.

 

 

Kaliningrad is a relatively new port of call, so the tourist industry has not been highly developed. It has been decided that 2 things are ready for the “typical” tourist..the Amber Museum and a magnificent organ located in a restored Catholic Cathedral from the German era of the country. We heard the organ, and it was an amazing instrument.

 

 

We followed the same road back to Baltyisk. I tried to take pictures of street scenes. I was interested in prams, buildings, people and language. 

 

 

 

The language really tells you you are not home. In Russia, I am illiterate and that’s a strange feeling of powerlessness. I have to rely on others for assistance and of course I don’t speak their language and they do not speak mine. We did have guides and that makes the experience possible and interesting. 

 

 

There is a sense of whimsy in Kaliningrad too. We were told to look out for statues or carvings that tell a little story. We only saw one...a tiny gnome sitting on a bridge railing smiling at all who passed by.

 

 

 

A good day in Kaliningrad. Tomorrow we are in Lithuania;