Fortunately it was already light when we got off the train in Vladimir at 4:15am. We crammed our luggage into an old Volga taxi cab and headed for the American Home for some breakfast and showers. I showed my family my workplace/home away from home and made an improvised breakfast of grechka and reconstituted condensed milk (hey, at least there was coffee). We relaxed for a few hours, and then we set off to explore the center of the city and see the historic Assumption and St. Dmitry Cathedrals. Unfortunately, the twelfth-century Assumption Cathedral, the most impressive of the two, was closed for some unexplained reason, but we got to see the other cathedral and walk along the walls of the Vladimir kremlin. Here are some pictures from the first half of our first day in Vladimir:

Side street next to the Golden Gates

Mister Gamburger--Vladimir's answer for a hamburger place. I don't recommend.  

The Assumption Cathedral 

Ancient onion domes

Locks on a fence. People often fasten locks to fences or bridges when they get married. Nothing says "committed for life" quite like a lock on a rusty fence.  

Downtown Vladimir

A church with apartment buildings in the distance 

The St. Dmitry Cathedral. It's famous for its carvings. 

Interior of the St. Dmitry Cathedral

 Looking up at the dome 

Vladimir's train station and our not-very-clean river Klyazma

One of the locals

 It's a rough life in the provinces 

Wall of the Vladimir kremlin (kremlin means "fortress"--most old towns have kremlins) 

Alexander Nevsky was here

A school bus

Sitting at my desk back at the American Home

Making breakfast 

On the rampart next to the Golden Gates

 Looking out toward Murom 

Main street Vladimir

Relaxing on the couch at the American Home