Gorgeous hot sunny day in Irkutsk. Our first impressions of the city were not high as it is dusty and dirty but they improved today. We walked 8 miles along the Angara river past the Alexander III statue across the river from the train station and down streets past cute wooden houses although most look pretty rotten! We saw the Moscow arch, Lenin statue and walked through some lovely open spaces. We will shortly be climbing aboard the Trans-Siberian express for a...

Breakfast at our hotel followed by a walk along the lake before a bus back to Irkutsk. We cannot believe how the lake has moved over night. The smooth white surface has broken and the ice pushed towards the shore. I can also confirm the Omul was delicious (raw and salted not smoked). Back at Irkutsk we walked the shopping streets for more snacks. We are saving exploring until tomorrow as our train is not until nine twenty. FYI pants are doing me proud and easily ...

We have arrived in Irkutsk after three solid days aboard the Trans-Siberian express. It has been an amazing journey watching this vast country go by. We have passed partly frozen lakes, forests and mountains. We have been fortunate to share our kupe with some great people and have shared some amazing picnics, drank too much vodka/cognac and laughed till we cried. That said it was amazing to get to our hotel and shower. I have a feeling we will sleep well tonight!