Category: 2018 09 US Russia

We had set the alarm clock at 05:15 o'clock and were at the shaman rock before sunrise. It is a double-part rock of limestone and mamor, which is considered a sacred site of the Buryats.It is only 1 km from the centre of Khuzhir and the early getting up was definitely worth it.Magnificent view, great colors, mystical mood.

After breakfast we spontaneously decided to take a walk to Cape Kharantsi (Mys Kharalday) 9.5 km away! It was a very nice hike, along the beach and through the forest, with wonderful views!

Silke

Today we started directly from the train towards Olchon! The island on Lake Baikal is about 300 km from Irkutsk and can be reached by minibus. Right in front of the passenger station we were pressured by several taxi drivers to drive with them. The trip to Khuzhir would have cost 25,000 rubles. Luckily we found another taxi driver who drove us for 400 rubles to the bus station 5 km away. From there, the trip cost 2,500 rubles for 2 people and 2 bags!

The departure was at 13:00. Fast is not an expression of the driving style, only flying would have been nicer! The highway to the ferry is well developed but one was still quite shaken. Since there are hardly fenced meadows and pastures, cows and horses often ran around on the road, so that the driver had to brake!

The car ferry then takes us in calm water at about 17:30 o'clock. Unfortunately, the driving style probably did not do the engine any good. Reiner, the driver and a few more men have been diagnosed with a defective cylinder head seal. While we were waiting for a replacement bus, we had a nice sunset. The replacement bus drove us directly to the hotel. Arrival about 7:30 p.m.

On the bus we met Jonas, a student from Heidelberg. He spontaneously changed his travel plans and started directly from the ferry pier to the trekking tour to Khuzhir.

Silke

Although we had to wait for our train in the middle of the night in Novosibirsk, we felt safe! The station is clean and every entrance is checked. A drunken man was escorted out of the waiting room by security staff. In Moscow and Ekaterinburg, the luggage was pushed through an X-ray lock to get into the interior and the tracks. However, bottles or liquids may be taken in and with you on the train.

Security is always present in the small stations. Not all doors are opened, no one is left on the train without a ticket!Regained the lead at Carcassonne tonight – 100 points wiese! We play the online version on the IPad!

Silke

Dear Ones,

since so many enquiries come to my knee, here is a small intermediate.

The wound has been sewn with a long thread. The seam is about 4 cm long and runs directly under the kneecap with a kind of loop at each end.

Reiner thinks it looks quite good again. But a… Continue reading “Knee intermediate!”

Today we wanted to see the old town of Kolywan about 50 km away. Novosibirsk is very large! Unfortunately, we failed on public transport, although a supernice Novosibirskerin accompanied us to our transfer point. She drove around with us for about 1 hour, invited us on the first bus ride and then waited with us even though she still had to go to work. Thank you Irina!!! That illuminated the day! After a few attempts it worked quite well to have a small conversation with the translation app "Google Translator".

Unfortunately, several minibuses of line 326 passed by at the Stanislavskogo Square stop without stopping. Since it was very stormy we decided to cancel the trip, have a coffee and take the bus to the hotel. That worked out wonderfully! In the buses, by the way, there is always a conductor who comes around after departure and collects. For the trip with the trolleybus 24 we paid 18 rubles (approx. 0.25 €) each.

In the evening we were again very good food in the restaurant Baranzhar!

Silke

Today at noon we arrived in Novosibirsk in rainy weather. In the evening we were in the city in the restaurant "Puppen Haus"! Very sweet and imaginatively furnished like a large doll's house. Reiner had shrimp skewers on mushrooms with fried vegetables and I had a corn cream soup and baked potatoes with salad!There was also tapped beer and homemade cranberry juice. Everything very tasty and nicely prepared!To find good restaurants, we often follow TripAdvisor's recommendations. It has been worth it a few times.

Silke

Today we continue with the Transsib overnight to Novosibirsk. This time we have the two lower beds! I just lost to Reiner at The Carcassonne! At the moment 4 Russians are playing cards on Reiner's side!

Silke

On the night of 16. – 17. 7.1918, that is, 100 years ago, the last Russian tsar was shot by the Bolsheviks together with his wife and children in Yekaterinburg.

Exactly where the house stood where the execution of the Tsar's family took place, the Russian Orthodox "Cathedral on the Blood" was built in 2002/03.

Yekaterinburg is located east of the Ural Mountains and is thus the border town of Europe to Asia. The time difference to Achim near Bremen is three hours more and the temperature today 9 degrees less. At 13 degrees daytime high and 5 degrees at night we are happy about our thick jackets.

Old and new mix here colorfully mixed up. Tram drivers decorate their cabs with curtains and teddy bears!

Silke