This morning we escaped gloomy weather by visiting the Decembrist museum. The museum, located in the former mansion of famed Decembrist Prince Sergei Volkonsky and his wife Maria, is dedicated to the memory of the Russian nobles who took part in the failed uprising of December 1825 against serfdom and autocracy, and were exiled to Siberia for their efforts.
The house was airy and beautiful, furnished in typical nineteenth-century style, with large windows and a lovely garden donated by the current Prince Volkonsky (he lives in France, and has good taste in nasturtiums).
After the tour, we strolled down the historic streets of central Irkutsk to the Tourist Information Center, where we admired a collection of wooden house-shutters in the traditional Siberian style. Irkutsk is famous for these elaborate and symbolic architectural details, which beautify and protect its houses from the encroachment of evil spirits.
In the afternoon we explored Irkutsk's fashion district and then stopped in at a café to enjoy some traditional Buryat food and drinks, including ta-hone say (milk boiled green tea), arsa (fermented mare's milk), and pozy (dumplings). It was rockin yo. Ayyyyy.
We have had a really wonderful time exploring Irkutsk these past couple days. Tomorrow the second part of our adventure begins: Lake Baikal!
Abby and Rosamond
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