August 27, 1996

Today's notes are really sketchy and illegible to boot.

Pacific Institute of Geography

We visited Dr. Shulkin (Vladimir) in his lab at the Pacific Institute of Geography. I was surprised at how dilapidated the lab looks. Like everything else in Vladivostok it is undergoing renovations.

Valdimir is in the geochemistry department, which encompasses:

Institute of Marine Biology

Grand building with a great view!

Met Dr. Kristoforov (sp? - i have no idea if i've even come close to her name here - a) I can't read my writing and b) I don't think I knew how to spell it to begin with) who is organizing a conference for September on pollution and remediation in Amursky Bay.

Cool giant starfish in the conference room.

Note: I guess I need to to some Natalie Goldberg style writing practice to retrieve the memories of this day.

GUM Department Store

Late in the afternoon, after the lab visits, Marge and I hopped on the tram to the GUM department store. The only really big store in town. It seemed almost like a museum of consumer goods. Most stuff was in cases and behind counters. No self service. The building was of architectural interest - built at the end of the 19th century.

A Gray and White Kitten

I was having breakfast in the hotel restaurant when white cat with gray spots, very dirty, walked in. The babushka who was washing the floor started talking to it in a soothing tone like you would to a child, and tried to convince it to leave. It headed for the kitchen. She tried to reason with it. It got to the kitchen door and she scooped it up , put it outside, and went back to her floor washing. Later I told Marge about it. She had seen the same kitten outside. It probably lives off the garbage mountain 'cause it looks well-fed enough. Just dirty.
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