A day in Irkutsk

We departed from Lake Baikal, after breakfast to drive to Irkutsk. On the way we visited the Volinski mansion. This is the mansion that  Tsar Nicholas I built when he was exiled to Siberia.

In the early 19th century, many Russian artists, officers and nobles were sent into exile to Siberia for their part in the Decembrist revolt against Tsar Nicholas I. 

Irkutsk became the major centre of intellectual and social life for these exiles, and much of the city cultural heritage comes from them. 

Many of the wooden houses, are adorned with ornate, hand carved decorations and survive today in stark contrast with the standard soviet appartment blocks surrounding them.

 We booked into hotel to store our bags and then did the city tour with some free time. We were all to meet for dinner and celebrate Zoe's 26th birthday in the evening before we board our train for an overnight trip to Ulan-Ude.

Volinksy mansion.

Volinksy mansion.

Furniture for sewing and intricate bead embroidery 

Bead embroidery

More stunning bead embroidery

Such intricate bead work, oh to possess this work.

Fashion of the times

Wonderful sewing tables, I just drooled!!!

Bear rug

 

Eternal flame, memorial to WW2

Peter and Paul church.

Inside

Inside

Peter and Paul

Walk along the Unger River

Founder of the city.

More gorgeous painted ceilings.

Statues in the people's park in the pedestrian street.

More statues, opposite each other.

Great architecture.

Native Buriyat people, a mix of Native American and South American, great music.

Local people's market.

Delicious deli goods.

Arch

Yes it did rain, this is the area we will have dinner.

Great mosiac works on side of building.

What a great use of old tapes

I had brawn for dinner, missed the vinegar, it is served with horseradish and a very hot mustard in Siberia.

Happy 26th birthday Zoe.

Babe is an ancient local name for tiger. In 1686, Irkutsk received the status of city and at the same time it was honoured with a coat of arms and stamp. The Babar was depicted with a sable in his mouth.

We are officially in the heart of Siberia, in the evening after dinner we board our train for an overnight ride to Ulan-Ude.

More from Ulan-due, the home of the Buriyat people.

Irkutsk and Lake Baikal

We decamped from our train after our two night journey in Irkutsk, to freezing cold temperatures, boarded our bus to drive the 1 1/2 hours to Lake Baikal. We will spend two nights here.

The largest fresh water lake in the world.

It extends 653 kms and is 1637 metres deep, and has the most amazing Eco system.

We have travelled 5,185 kms of our trans-Siberian journey.

On arrival to our family owned hotel, everyone rushed to the showers and to get dressed into warm clothing. Temperature was 4 degrees.

Sign markers near our hotel.

Our hotel is made up of very nice cabins, it was so cold we stored our milk, yogurt and beer outside, at 4 degrees, just the right temperature.

We then all gathered to walk to the local market for some lunch and shopping. After this, we were all going to the museum, to learn more about Lake Baikal. 

On our freezing cold walk we passed a lot of metal art, made by a local man, I am told that you can vist his house, now on my list of things to do.

Great food at the local market.

Lake Baikal, has a population of 9,000, of course this number swells in the summer season.

Yes even the locals are cold.

Lake Baikal

Interesting facts.

We looked at the Eco life with microscopes.

Some of the interesting marine life.

An aerial view of Lake Baikal.

These fish were so funny, we were looking at them and they were looking at us.

We ran into some Aussies at this museum.

We were supposed to do a boat ride this afternoon, but due to the inclement weather, not safe, will attempt tomorrow.

In the morning after breakfast we braved our boat ride, still quite cold, off we set, we had sleet.

Just before we were to board.

Yes it was too cold to stay up top, my fingers were freezing.

The lake was a bit choppy as well.

After the boat ride, lunch and DH and I went to find the retro yard with metal works of art.

After a few wrong turns we stumbled upon the yard.

Great collection of junk, made in metal characters.

On return it started to sleet again and in a few hours we had snowfall.

We would have liked the weather to be a bit better, but it did not dampen our two days in Lake Baikal, which is famous for water sports, hiking and many other activities.

Tomorrow we explore Irkutsk and again board our train in the evening for an overnight to Ulan-Ude.