27 May
Still a misty drizzle this morning, which blew away before we ventured out after a leisurely breakfast. A bracing wind, but warm sunshine greeted us as we strolled down ulitsa Smolina toward the centre of town.
Whilst walking, we observed an Interesting method for removing waste from a building site – drop it in bags from 20th floor balcony,
At the top of town, there is a very grand square. In pride of place, the massive Opera and Ballet Theatre, replete with preserved Soviet iconography to the bronze dances out front. Just across the street, Lenin’s noggin stands guard in Ploschad Sovetov. School groups are gathering under Vladimir Illyich’s stony gaze for photo opportunities.
Downhill, through a ceremonial arch we walk on to the ulitza Lenina pedestrian mall Public sculpture lines in the mall, which is uncrowded and bright. Chekov statue, seated, near Ulan Ude City Museum
Got money from ATM, and Russian SIM cards for phone (Yota brand, 250 roubles each for 300 mins each)
The architecture of Siberia is, in the traditional for, an architecture of wooden building. Many houses with elaborately carved and painted windows and doors on many wooden houses throughout the city. We see some nice examples as we walk down to Odigitria Cathedral, whitewashed and blue domes and golden cupolas. Alms are paid to the 3 babushkas at the gate
Hungry – tried EthnoCafe for lunch, but could not read the menu – no pictures. Problem. Same at a couple of other places we tried.
Eventually had one dumpling and coffee for me, and small salad and tea for Minuk at a café, for 119 roubles ($3) at a café. Staff a little perplexed that I only wanted one dumpling.
Had to return to phone shop as SIM cards not working – needed to find out numbers – problem solved by techsavvy staff.
Back to apartment after, stopping at a café to buy cakes and a beef pastry. Had late afternoon tea in apartment since lunch was so light on.
Ordered pizza at ‘I (heart) Italia’. Had picture menu – yay. Cost 370 roubles ($9), took 40 mins to prepare. They called, I collected. Not great, not terrible. They put mayonnaise on pizzas!
Preliminary packing, text to Maxim in Irkutsk and so to bed