Arriving in Irkutsk off the trans siberian train, as always it’s nice to be greeted by someone as you get off the train. I really appreciate the initial help in a new city. This time the guide came complete with a map of the city, as usual getting settled into the hotel with a few basic tips. The hotel is well placed as it is close to the shops , supermarkets, museums with a park across the road as well.
Once settled and the required registration(in russia you have to be registered within three days of your arrival in the city) taken care of it was out to see the sights.
It happened to be Russia’s Easter sunday, so I walked down to the local churches. I have never seen an easter sunday like it. The orthodox churches themselves beautifully painted, both walls and ceilings, my first time in an orthodox church.
The delight was seeing tables laden with painted eggs, iced cakes, bottles of what looked like wine, there was all manner of goodies on the tables. Many with sticks of incense burning. Of course it was packed with people , the look on the childrens faces wonderful. In the background a group of worshippers were singing, while others took the mass from a priest who wouldn’t have been out of place in a hippie compound, with his hair and dress.
A very moving day,I’m sure for everyone , It was with regret that I was not allowed to film it, but it is a sight that I’ll never forget anyway.Wandering on through what I think was a memorial park of some kind there were some young russians in army uniform doing the goose step as they marched and paraded. They all had white frills on the hair or caps I assume there was an easter touch with the white. It was interesting to watch for a short while, before going down to the Angara river to admire the boats and the views.
Shouted myself a laundry by the hotel instead of hand washing as the heavier stuff need doing. It was back in under three hours, I was amazed at the speed.
Nearing lunchtime it was time to return to the hotel for noodles before heading out to see the central markets. What an interesting walk, I was very grateful for the map but even that didn’t save me from wrong turns .Again I was blown away by the size and all the different elements of the markets. Displays of generously sized womens bras on market stalls had never occurred to me.
I discovered the buses to go to Listvyanka tomorrow. I do hope the weather stays dry. It has been a lovely day today, but because of the holiday the city roads appeared quiet so I felt it was probbly best to do that. It is so nice being in a european city again, the drivers polite allowing pedestrians to cross was very pleasant, after the death defying runs across the asian streets
Knackered by the days exercise, but with not having an adaptor for russia,Elena at reception offered to go with me and see if we could get one. She had already rung a couple of places that were close by so I wandered out to see if they did have them despite being very tired. I am so pleased I did , I had to walk past a place called the circus, and in front of it in a pedestrian mall,there were horses of all shapes and sizes and a camel with two humps!
They were giving the kids rides, some of the miniature ponies were quite cute.
There were also kids cars for them to drive, which they did in an unsafe manner!! Along with these was a horse and coach.
On to the shop for the adaptor, but no joy there so back to the hotel where Elena decided we would both go to another place, this time by bus.At 12 roubles each very cheap, best of all the place we went to had an adaptor, so now everything is charged. I would have been lost without her help. Nice lass learning languages at uni, will make an excellent translator if she chooses to do so. There are not many english speaking russians at this point.
Went down to the restaurant to have dinner, but couldn’t read a thing so ended up having noodles and yogurt for tea from the supermarket next door.