Irkutsk is a small town to stopover along the Trans Siberian train journey. We were glad to get a hot shower and a good night’s sleep on a stationary bed after two days on the train. (Little did we know how four days on the train could be).
Like Moscow, Irkutsk is made up of buildings with special architecture of a smaller scale. During our time there, we visited a Russian Orthodox church, which was our first contact with churches in Russia, and it was very, very different. There’s also a river bank that you must head to, the Angara River which flows into the grand Lake Baikal.
Irkutsk is much colder than in Moscow. Temperatures go down to -7 degrees when we were there in early October and it snowed. But the winds are not as strong as it can be in Moscow, so you will be fine with a thick coat, gloves and hat. That being said, it can be quite a dampener when it comes to sight-seeing. We wanted to see more views of Lake Baikal from different locations, but after getting frostbitten under such temperatures, one trip to Listvanya was enough.
It’s definitely a place to get some rest for the onward league of the Trans Siberian (it’s 4 days non-stop if you’re going to Moscow) and like a catapult, you will find yourself by the fringes of Lake Baikal in a blink of an eye. (I’m exaggerating, but you WILL definitely go to Lake Baikal when you are in Irkutsk).
I figured it’s some thing like this Ee – a – cool – sk: Ee (The ee of eerie) – a – cool- sk (the sk of tsk). For Mandarin speakers, the Chinese name would be 伊尔库茨克.
Grand Buildings that line the streets – looks like a shopping place to meIt’s heart warming to come across a familiar brand – MangoIt’s snowing! It was -2 degrees outside, and it’s only October. An autumn in Russia.Interesting street art – Soviet StyleIt snowed the night before – it’s freezing cold the next day.Gardens covered with snowSome Soviet rockets on display across the street. So random!There are still tanks!That’s Subway, and Sony for you!That’s a statue that looks very tired. I felt like that when I had to walk in the coooldd…This is quite a classic photo. A painting of snow, covered by snow.It snowed, and all the other paintings got covered in snow tooFinally seeing blue skies in Irkutsk on our last day. It had been gloomy the past two days.Someone tried to sit on that bench and his pants got wet by the snow. 😉 hahah! Anw we kept seeing imprints of this Moses guy everywhere in Russia
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Raising of the Cross Church – Sedova Street
We took shelter in a coffee house due to the -11deg temperatures. My ears felt like they were falling off and my hands were in pain. Russian churches are quite different from European churches, and much less compared to the Singapore ones.
Raising of the Cross ChurchLove these white long windows with sunlight streaming inDonations upon entry.Candles alight in worshipJesus on the crossThe garden of the churchBeggars outside the church. These were the only beggars we came across in Irkutsk.
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A Convenience store in Russia – Most stores are like that. They have a small hole and you have got to tell the shop keeper what you want. Unlike 7’11.The awe-inspiring statue of LeninBest cover I have seen of a building in construction. Singaporean companies should use that instead of those unsightly green mosquito nets.Not sure who this is, but it’s quite cool!
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Angara River Bank, a straight walk from the Lenin Statue
Most beautiful place in Irkutsk
Statue of a TsarThe banks of the Angara River – feel like I can stay here all dayBuildings glittering in the sunBridge over untroubled watersLockets of keys on the bridgeThe waters are so clear! Reminds me of TaiwanColourful playground surrounded by autumn treesIn Seoul, I was hunting for golden trees. In Russia, it’s everywhere : )Cool clouds
