Russia Week 4: Lake Baikal in Pictures

This week in Russia was full of various adventures, but the recurring theme was the setting: Lake Baikal.

LISTVIANKA

The first time I visited Lake Baikal was last Sunday. A few of my friends and I took a marshrutka (a 15-seater van that has routes like a bus) to Listvianka, a small village on the shore of Lake Baikal about an hour away from Irkutsk. It was cold and windy, but we had the time of our lives. We walked around on the frozen lake, browsed the local market, and walked through the town. The only damper to our journey was trying to catch a marshrutka back to Irkutsk. In typical Russian fashion, when a marshrutka comes, you just push your way onto the van—regardless of how long anyone else has been waiting. We missed our first marshrutka because we were pushed out of the way, and had to wait 20 minutes or so for the next one to arrive. Once we got on that marshrutka, though, it felt like we were had won this particularly Russian game.

Here are some pictures of our trip to Listvianka:


(From left to right, top to bottom: My friends Nick and Martijn stroll with ease; My roommate Hannah steps carefully; The Lake; The frozen shipyard)

TALTSY

The second time I visited Lake Baikal was last Wednesday. This past week was Russian “Maslenitsa,” which is like Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras, but lasts for an entire week. Our university hosted a trip to Taltsy, where the Maslenitsa celebration happens all week on the grounds of the museum of wooden architecture. I went with a few of my friends from my classes, and we had a blast. We ate bliny, walked around, had a snowball fight, and played several traditional Russian games.

Pictures from Taltsy:


(From left to right, top to bottom: A wooden house on the edge of the Lake; Me at the shore; My friends Ashley and Martijn play a traditional Russian (violent) game Boys playing soccer on the Lake)

BAIKALSK

The third time I visited Lake Baikal was this weekend, Friday through Sunday. My roommate’s boyfriend invited us to go skiing at Baikalsk, about a 3-hour drive south west of Irkutsk. We drove out on Friday and rented an apartment for the weekend. On Saturday, I went skiing for the first time in my life. Unfortunately, I went with three experienced skiers/snowboarders, who didn’t necessarily think I needed to go slowly. My first experience skiing was—by mistake—on the second hardest run. I, literally, flew down the mountain—with a couple tumbles. I felt fine until my last fall, near the bottom of the run. My legs flew out from under me—my left leg went forward and my right leg went behind me—and I heard my hip pop. I was so scared that I had broken something, but fortunately, I was fine. I gathered up my gear and decided to walk down the rest, completely discouraged. I had no intention of ever going skiing again, cursing the Swiss (the Swiss invented skiing, right?), before I realized that there was a beginner’s slope. Why I wasn’t told to start on this, I will never understand! So I watched the beginning snowboarders and skiers for a little while before gathering up the courage to go up the slope. I am so glad that I did! My first few times down I only fell at the bottom, and then I consistently had a few times where I didn’t fall at all. My friends went on the big slope one more time, and asked if I wanted to go with them—I promptly said “no.” Once was enough for this beginner—I don’t have a death wish. My roommate and I decided to stop for the day (four hours was plenty), so we walked to Lake Baikal. We walked out onto to frozen water and got perspective on our mountainous ski slopes. I have no regrets, and while I’d love to go skiing again, I know that I’ll be sticking to the beginner’s slope next time. We were all dead tired Saturday night, but enjoyed each other’s company with food and lively conversation before getting some sleep for the night. We came back today, Sunday, and my roommate and I are nursing our sore and bruised bodies by staying in for the rest of the night.

Baikalsk pictures:


(From left to right, top to bottom: The view of the Lake from the beginner's slope; The tail end of the second hardest run; The Russian ski lift; Standing on Lake Baikal - view of the mountain)

That wraps up my fourth week in Russia. I still can’t believe that I am even here—much less that I have been here for a month. Until next time, enjoy the pictures—and try not to break a leg skiing!