Category Archives: Russia

Russia day 19 – Trans-Siberian, Ulan Ude

Posted on Wednesday, 17 Sep 2008 by Hattie

Today is another lovely day – blue skies and sunshine.  Our guide, Andrei, picks us up for our second  day trip which involves an hour’s drive to see Ivolginsky Datsan which  is the centre of Buddhism in Russia.  This Lamestary … Continue reading →

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Russia day 18 – Trans-Siberian, Ulan Ude

Posted on Tuesday, 16 Sep 2008 by Hattie

Arrived in Ulan Uday at 6.15am – it is dark and very cold!  Ulan Uday is the capital of Buryatia which is a semi-autonomous region of Siberia.  It’s main claim to fame is an  enormous Lenin’s head in the central … Continue reading →

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Russia day 17 – Trans-Siberian, Listvianka to Ulan Ude

Posted on Monday, 15 Sep 2008 by Hattie

Glorious day, blue skies and sunshine.  So clear that we can, for the first time, see the snow-covered mountains across the lake.  Today we transfer from Listvianka to Irkutsk at 10 am and spend the day there before catching the … Continue reading →

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Russia day 16 – Trans-Siberian, Listvianka Lake Baikal

Posted on Sunday, 14 Sep 2008 by Hattie

It rained all night and was still raining this morning when we got up for breakfast at 10am.  How nice to have a lie in for a change!  Today we have a free day – nothing to do but please … Continue reading →

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Russia day 15 – Listvianka, Lake Baikal

Posted on Saturday, 13 Sep 2008 by Hattie

We wake up to rain and mist – a very unpromising start for our all-day hike in the forest.  We debate whether we should go, but after breakfast the weather is brightening up and we meet our guide, Sacha and … Continue reading →

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Russia day 14 – Trans-Siberian to Irkutsk

Posted on Friday, 12 Sep 2008 by Hattie

Weather is sunny and warm.  Arrived in Irkutsk at 9.10am with an immediate transfer by mini bus to Listvianka on Lake Baikal.  The station is extremely busy bordering on the chaotic and it is here that you realise just how … Continue reading →

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Russia day 13 – Trans-Siberian to Irkutsk

Posted on Thursday, 11 Sep 2008 by Hattie

Second full day on the train. Slept really well, woke up at 8.30am (10.30 local time) having gone through two time zones during the night. The weather started grey and raining, but by afternoon we had sunshine- hooray!!  It is … Continue reading →

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Russia day 12 – Trans-Siberian Yekaterinburg to Irkutz

Posted on Wednesday, 10 Sep 2008 by Hattie

Left for Irkutz on the 04:30 train.  We are sharing with a Dutch couple, Lynn and Daan.  This will be our home for the next two days and nights.  The train is not quite as modern as the last one … Continue reading →

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Russia day 11 – Trans-Siberian, Siberian village

Posted on Tuesday, 09 Sep 2008 by Hattie

Weather overcast and cool.  Today we went to visit a typical Siberian village about two hours drive north-east of Yekaterinburg.  We went with our own personal driver and guide, both of whom spoke good English and were happy to talk … Continue reading →

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Russia day 10 – Trans-Siberian, Yekaterinburg

Posted on Monday, 08 Sep 2008 by Hattie

Weather cloudy and mild with heavy  rain in the early evening.  Spent the morning walking around the sights of Yekaterinburg with our personal guide Anna, a 20 year-old undergraduate who is doing a 5-year degree in tourism.  Not many sights … Continue reading →

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