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1997
Route in China (SIBERIA - Irkutsk)
Bec2004-09-19 16:34:45
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Irkutsk
Soviet days were over but getting a Russian visa was just as difficult and expensive as it was during the cold war. I was lucky to avoid the greedy clutches of Intourist by purchasing, via the internet, a visa support invitation from an independent agency here in Irkutsk. Youri Nemirovsky picked us up at the station and brought us to our respective homestays. The next day I went sightseeing and visited Andrew Savchuck, a computer engineer I had met on the internet.
This building on ploshchad (square) Kirova which was previously the Communist Party Headquarters now houses the Government of the Irkutsk Oblast (administrative region)
Irkutsk was founded in 1651 as a Cossack outpost to pacify the indigenous Buriat, Evenk and Yakut tribes and to develop the fur trade with them. It soon became prosperous and attracted adventurers, missionaries and scientists. This "Church of the Saviour" was built next to ploshchad Kirova in 1709. It is now used as a museum showing stuffed animals and early traditional clothing.
Irkutsk became a very active cultural center in the 19th century, especially after the arrival of the noble decembrist exiles. Its great Annunciation Cathedral was destroyed in the 30's to build the Party Headquarters shown above. The Orthodox Church was then very powerful and the city had many churches some of which have survived to this day. The Epiphany Church shown here was built in 1723 across the street from the Saviour Church. It is now an icon museum.
Irkutsk also has a good museum, a monastery and some fine 19th century houses but I had only one day for tomorrow we are going to Lake Baikal which is the real reason why people come here. On that eve, here I am, guzzling beer in the Theater Cafe with Elizabeth Hurst, Paul van Granberg, my internet friend Andrew Savchuck, Andre Coffa, Robert Archland and Nicola Barton.
Listvianka
The
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See photographs from:
Russia Gallery
,
China Gallery
