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Guided travellers !

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Well the reports were right - Ulan Ude is a very nice city. So nice we decide to take a two day break here 

To look around the city we use a guide ( no - not one with a flag !). And one just for the two of us 

We perambulate thru the centre of the city. We come across a staue of one Mr Chekov who was apparently looking for cherry orchards somewhere near here. I know because I read some of his book on cherry orchards whilst in the 6th form at school 

Mr. Chekov- 




Then we come across :





A seven metre high head only statue of Lenin. 

I suddenly have a horrible  thought. What if President Trump was to see this? He would just love one of these of himself I am sure - but probably at least a metre bigger and perhaps with a slight orange/ yellow  rather  than bronze  Just imagine it right in the middle of the Washington  mall - or even plonked right in front of the Lincoln statue! Enough of that ! 

There is a nice cathedral 



And lots of happy people 





We carry on thru the centre of town. We come to a sobering memorial to the “ victims of political repression “ 



W visit a big Bhuddist monestry on a hill overlooking the town. Ulan Ude is a mixture of Bhuddism and Russian Orthodox religions with some other religions ( including Jewish ) thrown in as well. And all living in apparent harmony 



Day two in Ulan Ude dawns. We are off to the famous Lake Baikel as a there and back day trip. It is a sparkling sunny day -




Thus lake holds 20 per cent of the worlds supply of non frozen water 




The water is very cold and the lake is very thickly frozen in winter. However some brave souls are sort of swimming at the moment 




The lake even has a lighthouse 




We have a very interesting guide called Tatiana for the day and she is a real gem and a mine of information about all matters Russian. It is like a full on history lesson all in one day. Most fascinating and particularly in relation to the pre and post glasnost era 
 

Now we are back in Ulan Ude and it is off to Mongolia tomorrow. I feel a song coming on - 

                                                               “ Pack up your (t)roubles in your old kit ( Ortlieb ) bag 
                                                                 And ride, ride ,ride .............” 

On that note the  Mongolian border awaits us tomorrow 




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