Train Travel

Travelling to Siberia

After boarding the Trans-Siberian Railway the first town we disembark at is Irkutsk. On arrival we book in to the Academical Hotel which is frequented by academics. Once rested we set off to explore the house of Maria Volkonsky. This is a beautiful two storey timbered house which is now a museum. The house looks impressive as you approach because there are hand painted decorations around the front door and windows. We were lucky to be able to enjoy a concert at Trubetskoy House which is close by. The music played was that of the early nineteenth century and, it was a strange feeling to realise that this music would have once been listened to and enjoyed by the Decembrists.

To bring us back to the present day we visited the Ministry of Extreme Situations which sits on the banks of Lake Baikal. It is here that men and women, from all countries of the world, are trained how to manage disasters.( diving accidents, earthquakes, fires and mountaineering accidents.) After the training they have to reach a high level of expertise in all types of rescue before they are allowed to specialise.

At the Buryatiya border it is necessary to perform a Buryat ceremony. This entails scattering milk to the four main compass points. We then caught the ferry that would transport us to Olkhon Island, in the middle of Lake Baikal. This island is 72kms long and 15kms at its widest point.

Once on the island our accomodation was a wooden cabin with three beds and the most stunning views across the lake, sand dunes and pine trees. If you fancy swimming in the lake be warned the water is freezing! Take a picnic to the northern tip and study the rocks, most of them have legends told about them.

On the eastern side of the lake is Ulan-Ude, this town was founded in 1666 and is the capital of Buryatiya. Here, in the main square, you will find a statue of Lenin's head, which contradicts the towns links to the Buddhists. We spent time exploring the Buddhist temples, monasteries and the museums. There are so many artefacts to see, the most amazing is model of the Dalai Lama.

Travelling to the south of Ulan-Ude, just on the border with Monglia, is the town of Khyata. It used to be a main trading town, where luxury goods from all around the world were traded. Now the town is dowdy but it does have museum that is vey interesting.

The next town on the itinary is Petrovsky-Zabaikalsky, this is very shabby and run down. Our guides told us this is named 'criminal town' because this is where the Decembrists were imprisoned for the final time. We were welcomed, in the town of Bolshoy Kunaley, by the Semeisky Old Believers and were treated to lunch with them. This was the best meal of the trip and all the food we ate was home grown. We were also able to experience dinner in a yurt, learning archery and listening to a Russian throat singer.

A very different journey but one that offers a whole new insight in to the history of the Balkans.