Wednesday Afternoon, August 22. Frying hot!
After our lunch we had 1 1/4 hour free time before we started touring again.I simply cannot remember what we did for the first bit. Oh yes, a Church!
It was a Russian Orthodox Cathedral that was painted white inside and out during the Stalin era and used as a bakery. After Stalin was dead it was given back to the church who restored it to its wonderful condition as it stands today.
We then went to visit a Museum, a wooden building going back over 15 years where it was the home of a Russian Nobleman who was exiled to Siberia for being one of 119 army officers who were exiled for being supportive of an attempted overthrow of the Czar.
This man's wife maintained this house and was instrumental in keeping the morale up of the other families that followed their husbands into exile. Our guide, Svetlana lives here in Irkutsk and is an ardent student of that part of Russian history and makes it feel personal.
Next we went to a classical short musical concert in the same building. Short and sweet and enlightening.
Finally we all went to dinner at a local lady who hosts lunches and dinners in her apartment on the fourth floor of a very old apartment building. The apartment is a relic from the Soviet Days, sort of a time capsule of an era long gone.
It was rather crowded but it was a unique peek into a commoner's life in a city in Siberia. The food was basic but good, the drink was a modest amount of vodka for those who dared.
A very long and busy day but it sure was a good one.
That big King Size bed beckons…
Flowers for our Hostess tonight.
Our guide, translating prior to dinner. Our hostess is 71.
Beet, onion, cabbage salad with a garlic, mayo and egg spread.
Cukes of course.
Cabbage rolls stuffed with chicken. Nice.
Our group, minus me.
Her father's medals from WW II.
The entry to her apartment was similar and next door to this one.
Fellette with her new friend, a bear at the entry to our Five Star Marriott Hotel.
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