I believe it was October of last year – Breeah and I had just finalized our Australia plans for the following March. My father and I had a conversation about the final qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup, of which I had no intention of actually attending. Visiting Russia couldn’t have been further from …
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- Victory Square in downtown Kaliningrad during the World Cup
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- Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Victory Square
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- Back of the Amber Museum/Rosgarten Gate. An original part of Konigsberg’s city walls
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- An ornate ship made mostly of amber. This and many other incredible designs are housed in Kaliningrad’s Amber Museum
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- McDonalds, a relatively new phenomenon in Kaliningrad
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- Kaliningrad was definitely abuzz in the days leading up to the game. A lot of popular restaurants dot this particular street, which if walked in the direction the photo is facing, will eventually lead you to the FIFA Fan Fest by the House of the Soviets.
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- The remaining ruins of the Konigsberg Castle
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- The House of the Soviets, which dominates the area just south of Victory Square
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- Murals under the bridge. One seems to depict the success of the 1972 Soviet basketball team – which is still a huge point of controversy in the eyes of Americans
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- The submarine we boarded at the Museum of the World Ocean
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- Looking straight down a torpedo cannon of a Soviet sub…
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- The historic Konigsberg Cathedral, perhaps the most famous structure in modern day Kaliningrad
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- Russian boats anchored along the Pregoyla River
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- My new friends from the U.S. (left and right) and Moscow (middle)
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- The fishing village in Kaliningrad, as viewed from the river
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- I made it!
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- A lot of fan fare before the match began
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- Game on!
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- My new friend Zach and I after the match – yes, we both happen to be Capitals fans.
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- The train getting off at Zelenogradsk
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- The Zelenogradsk station was jam-packed that day
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- A very colorful menu
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- Catching a few rays on the Baltic coast of Russia
