Amazing in Irkutsk!

There it is! The best hostel in the world! Great bedrooms, a bed with privacy by the window, clean toilets, trendy common areas, a kitchen with top-notch equipment, nice and funny staff, all for a ridiculous 8 euros. Interested? Then come to Irkutsk! 😉

I'm happy to have landed here! A complete contrast to the last Trans-Siberian section! And English-speaking people! 😊

I'm staying in an 8-women dormitory. After the long-awaited shower, I go back to the room and talk to my roommate and ask her where she's from. She says "Germany" and rolls the "R".

Her name is Marina and she's from Bamberch and works as a mechanic at Bosch. She's taking the Trans-Siberian route from China to Russia with her good friend. We immediately start talking and she enthusiastically tells me about Mongolia. Over several Spaten (Munich beer) at the pub next to the hostel, we exchange tips. Her friend is coming later. He's finishing a hiking tour at Lake Baikal and then coming to Irkutsk.

The evening is very entertaining, funny, and I'm happy to have found a cool person to exchange with over beer. Back in the luxury hostel, I fall into bed. It's 2 am.

In the morning, I wake up with a slight hangover. Definitely one too many Spaten. I make breakfast and want peace and quiet, but one of the Russians tells me about himself, he's a photographer and he keeps talking and talking. And talking. I escape at 11:30 am.

I walk 15 km and discover some interesting buildings. Irkutsk is called the Paris of Siberia. Did you know? There are many old wooden houses here, some of them really run down. But still beautiful!

I walk to the Kazanskaya Church - beautiful!

Later, I prepare a few things for my next stops and meet Marina again, this time with Martin, her boyfriend. We go out to eat together, have cocktails and beer. In the middle of the conversation, Martin tells me that it's noticeable that I have been getting by without English and German for the past few days: I emphasize everything with gestures 😂.

By coincidence, they are also going to Olkhon Island tomorrow and we will be traveling together for a while. I'm excited!