http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Russia , Siberia , Irkutsk en-us Thu, 23 May 2013 11:50:39 +0000 Thu, 23 May 2013 11:50:39 +0000 Irkutsk on the eve of its 350th anniversary I was fortunate to visit Irkutsk on business in February of 2010. The city was going to celebrate the 350th anniversary since it had been established. Irkutsk is one of the largest cities in Siberia. This place was first found in 1652 by Ivan Pokhabov when he built winter quarters near the site of Irkutsk for gold trading and for the collection of fur ta http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-776991.html After arriving back in Irkutsk from Olkhon another 7 hour crosscountry rally we headed for our hostelguest house only to find noone was there to let us in Errr a number pinned to the door but since we didnt know how to ring it from a uk phone wed to set off back into town with our backpacks in search of a pay phone or internet caf none of which exist in Irkutsk This was turning int http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-749573.html We got a marshrutka from Lake Baikal to Irkutsk which dropped us near the bus station.this is a common form of transport in Russiathey are minibuses that use fixed routes and are relatively cheap.We knew our hotel wasn39t far but not sure of the actual location and with two heavy rucksacks we negotiated a price with a taxi driver who drove us the short 5 minutes to the hotel Viktoria.We we http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-748072.html We loaded up with instant noodles baby wipes and beer and headed to Moscow train station for our longest leg on the TransSiberian railway railroad for all our new USA friends not quite knowing what the next 75 hours held in store. We shared our cabin with two Russians a guy called Timos who spoke no English at all and a girl called Shaska who spoke some English... first http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-746543.html The transfer back to Irkutsk was a little scary with the driver deciding to wait for the solid white line and the No overtaking sign to overtake in such safe places as blind turns and on the brow of a hill. This would have been bad enough but just to add another element while of excitement the car had it39s steering wheel on the right as in the UK but they also drive on right. It turns http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-732677.html The guy who drove us to the station was the same one who picked us up when we arrived from St Petersburg still as grumpy as before so it wasn39t down to the early start as I39d assumed. Still although he didn39t speak a word of English he was able to get the message across about which train we should catch which platform it would leave from and what time we could board most of which http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-731691.html These photos should have accompanied the Trans Siberian blog but there are a few technical issues with the pc I hasten to add and not the writers http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-730028.html While travelling from Moscow to Vladivostok by Transsiberian train you will be crossing the deepest 1642 meters and affluentest lake in the world Baikal. The lake is marvelous during all four seasons and its wild nature attracts tourists all year round.An interesting fact that on Baikal39s bank you can meet the oldest trees in the world 500 years old ceder and 750 years old larch are gr http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-713902.html Trekking across the frozen surface of Lake Baikal class http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-708333.html 55 hour train journey enough said http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-708332.html This one has been a long time in coming. Obviously there was no internet connection on our train and once we arrived at our hostel in Irkutsk the manager asked if we would mind moving on to Lake Baikal earlier as there was a few people that wanted to stay an extra night in Irkutsk. We obliged at a discount obviously and moved on to Baikal. Unfortunately our ecohostel that we were staying in http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-705872.html As we stood on platform 9 of Beijing Railway Station awaiting the departure of the first train of our trip from Beijing to Moscow by the China Mongolian and Russian Railways we couldnt help feeling exited at the prospect of the longest overland journey of our lives. A distance of 7500km stood ahead of us.The first leg of the trip was from Beijing to Ulan Bataar the capital of Mongolia. With http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-689689.html Hello My name is Alex I looking for anybody who goes to Russia and need helping and information about a country from a native resident. I provide information about the country from tickets booking to how to live in your country after russian advantures. Read my blog follow me on facebook by httpwww.facebook.comgroups150610221720440and enjoy http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-682945.html So we travelled another 45h to get to Irkutsk and we happened to take exactly the same train as Cyril the guy we met in Novosibirsk. What are the odds Train ride was fun this time in the 3rd class and we really enjoyed it. First we met some Ukrainian guys 60 of them all together who were going to Irkutsk for 6 months work contract. Why travel so far and leave the families behind T http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-664744.html Hi EverybodyWe are halfway to our quest of making it around the world.FYI This is my 100th Blog We got off the train on Sunday in Irkutsk and were happy to be met by our guidedriver Ivan. He took us for breakfast and then for a nice tour of the city. In 1920 Stalin closed all churches in Russia. People were not allowed to legally worship again until the fall of Communism. Stalin ble http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-654423.html Gracias por seguirme la pista brosVoy a seguir contando mi andadura por esta isla del Lago Baikal okEn la entrada anterior creo que me qued en que llegbamos al pueblo principal de la isla en la furgo y nos metamos en el hostel Nikita. Pues eso ah empez lo tpico el chekin la explicacin de las normas del albergue los horarios de las comidas y la llave para las habitaciones http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-653691.html http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-653507.html Hola holaVoy a seguir escribiendo entradas en Word para que no se me olvide luego qu es lo que hago cada da y luego cuando tenga tiempo ir colgando las entradas en el blog.Yo soy el que ms ganas tiene de contaos todo lo que me est pasando pero es que la seal aqu es muy dbil y no me queda otra que esperar a mejores conexiones.Os dej la entrada anterior dentro del tren http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-653503.html I had contacts right left up and down in Irkutsk. My host Tatiana Teddy the conductor from the train Vaselina the hot girl from my coupe and then I run into an AustrianRomanian couple from the train on the city39s most prestigous hotel where I was using the internet section.I agreed with the couple to meet up later when we got settled Tatiana would meet later Teddy only had time the nex http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/Bratsk/blog-647205.html After 3 nights on the train I finally arrived in Irkutsk by around 9am. I had made it to Siberia Although the train ride had been long and uncomfortable it was still an interesting experience. Like all Russian cities before it Irkutsk initially scared me and it took a day or two for me to find my feet work out the public transport system and warm to the place. Luckily I had found a CouchSurfer http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Russia/Siberia/Irkutsk/blog-638177.html