Blogs from Listvyanka, Siberia, Russia, Europe

Ok, this is going to be a long one. I apologise for neglecting this blog for the past week. In my defence... nah, I just kept putting off. Sorry! 17th October. It wasn't the best weather when we (I picked up two Germans at the hostel) headed to Listvyanka, a small town on the shore of Lake Baikal. It was foggy and rainy. We got the tram to the bus station and then got on a marshroutka (like a minibus that follows a certain route) their were only five of us on the bus when we set off, but we only went as far as the marshroutka station round the back of the market and we moved onto another minibus filled with people. The bus took a little over an hour (and set off about forty ... read more

Ok that's it! Trepidation has returned. I did try – I promise. As those who know me will attest, extreme sports and I do not exactly have a happy relationship. Walking, fine; although I did draw the line at walking over the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. 'You should challenge yourself', said an ex-brother-law. Remaining firm to other statements of equally subtle persuasion my resolve remained firm. I managed to steer away from extreme sports of any persuasion. Dog sledding. Now how dangerous could that be, I pondered? Visions of Lara, wrapped in furs, shushing softly through the frozen landscape led me to say, yes, that would be fun. Two surly Siberians and one slightly more genial youngster gestured at us to put on camouflage jumpsuits, jackets and pressed felt boots. Feeling ever more like Michelin men ... read more