Baikal II. - Port Baikal, Slyudyanka, Ulan Ude

 

Finally we managed to take 'matanya' local train from Slyudyanka to Port Baikal. There are only 4 train pairs per week, and 2 tourist trains (where the excursion price is around 3000 ruble). We took the local train. It was around 140 and counting all the transportation costs to Irkutsk would be still less than half price of the tourist train. (Even though we are not going back to Irkutsk any more, I hope :))

The train ride took about 5 hours, the distance is 89 km. So high speed :)) But as it goes next to the lake, we had plenty of time to wonder on the mountains, rain, rainbow, etc. Today it was quite hot day (i.e. 23 degree), but still many times was rainy. During the first 3-4 hours the train was full with locals, who just did their weekly (monthly?!) shopping in the town and were heading back home. It was interesting to see that quite many people live in that area which is accessible only by railway and water transportation.

One thing I wanted to mention earlier, that I can understand more and more why many Russian drink heavily. Taking these extra long rides, or living in the middle of nowhere, it can't be easy most of the time.

The other thing, I'm not sure if I mentioned, but the Russian railway operates in Moscow time. It means that the stations show Moscow time, not the local time. And I'm still unused to it! So interesting but logical! M laptop and our phones are also stayed in Moscow time, so it took a long while for me to adapt in each city to the local time :))

Now we have to wait till 2am in Port Baikal to take the train back to Slyudyanka and go for a shorter hike to a close 2000m high peak. Let's hope the weather won't be worse than today. After that time to go to Ulan Ude.

What else have happened?

• In Port Baikal two other tourist were waiting for the train – guess which nationality! Hungarians! :D
• The security guard offered (and did) wake us up before our train – it was nice, even though I barely could sleep because of her talking and people walking in and out – but at least Karol had 5 hours of sleep
• In Slyudyanka we left our big backpacks and went hiking finally!
• raining in the beginning – was enough to soak – ticks when it finally got sunny
• found a nice lazurite mineral mine! (the quarry wasn't special just huge!)
• 4 Russian hiker ladies who could and wanted to speak in English :)
• Drying on the sunshine
• the only day at Baikal when we had drunk no beer! :-o
• waiting for the night train at Slyudyanka to Ulan Ude – TV and sofas are at the railway station!!
• Ulan Ude: finally shower after 2 showerless night :)
• More right side steering wheel than left side!
• Extra amount of stray dogs!!
• the city looks more Russian than I expected, almost no wooden buildings– and definitely hotter! :D
  
  

  

   Port Baikal