Buryats – Ulan Ude & Chita

Ulan Ude (That is one big Lenin head)
I loved Ulan Ude but maybe because I got off the 3rd class train from Moscow happy to feel the ground again. My former English student helped me at the hotel. I was splurging after the long train ride (I stayed at hostels all the rest of the my month-long trip). 1200 rubles. No way, I told my friend, tell her 900. I went to the travel agency in the lobby to ask about cheaper quarters. She said 1000, my friend told me. I must have taken too long because it went up to 1100 when I got back to the front desk. Okay, I said, since my friend was trying to pay the 100. I wanted to stay a second day so I went to the desk. Tell the lady I won't stay unless I get a reduced rate. The woman (a different one) said "What about no phone - no TV?" "That's fine," I said. 700. Okay! They made a big deal about moving me to a different room which was exactly the same with a phone and TV in the room. It made no sense but came out to 900 a night. I slept well.