Vladimir, Art Centre and some restaurants

The statuette depicting lives of the Russians of 19th century.

The Museum of Local History in Vladimir.

It is as much sad as it is funny.

There were some questions about paintings and art in Arbat street in Moscow. People ask whether it's worth going there.  Although I am not a professional, I think that on average level I can tell the difference between interesting and boring using my intuition.

The impression I got from what I saw in Arbat a month ago is that most paintings were boring. Themes, techniques seem to be what it takes to make money quickly, without much thinking, feeling, working. That is my personal opinion. Moscow is a city of whirlwind money making so ALL people here target at making money, but NOT all of them at rendering services and producing products of excellent quality.

And on the contrary, some paintings I've seen in Vladimir's Oblast' Art Centre were interesting, emotionally involving. The centre is in Bolshaya Moskovskaya street, the door is quite usual, so don't miss it. All the pictures are being sold. Average prices range from 300 dollars to 2000 dollars.

 This picture is something from my childhood, a lot of love for a Russian village. So tender, penetrating with love and  children's security of staying at your granny's and feeling all her care.

The Museum of Local Art - go there with somebody who knows English and

you'll find out lots of interesting facts about Vladimir, and the way it developed.

The upper floor of the museum is a terrace with a view of the city.

 Some exhibits: a health book of a prostitute.

Prostitution was legal before the Revolution of 1917.

 The representatives in the City Counsil (Duma):

merchants prevailed -49, officials - 18, clergymen-2.

 The extracts from the Annual Vladimir Journal are hilarious

 with mild sarcasm in every remark on Vladimir residents' lifestyle.

Restaurants are really good in the city. I wouldn't recommend some on the outskirts, though. You'll eat cheaply at any on Bolshaya Moscovskaya street. What I especially like is that all waiters are Russian young boys and girls, quick on the uptake. NOT a Kazakh, Uzbek, or Tajik who would serve you in Moscow cafes (and even restaurants)  who live in the same apartment in dozens without proper hygiene.

Our favourite is Double Coffee Cafe: clean, cheap, stylish. By the way, they offer
nice breakfasts at low prices. The dishes are simple and tasty.

Below are the prices for a second course.

Just opposite is Soho restaurants specialised in meat cooking: very stylish, and the food is very tasty and I may say, "Nor ordinary". Certainly, a more expensive place than Double Cafe.

The interior of Soho

The restaurant of the hotel The Golden Gate (Zolotyie Vorota) called in the same way Zolotyie Vorota served simple, good food, but nothing special with the prices above average in Vladimir. However, the design of Zolotyie Vorota is really good, similar to the style of 19th century.