No taste, my ass

The super friendly, incredibly fast-talking waiter at the fish restaurant was really pushing the Baikal vodka, but ordering a second carafe of it was almost entirely my idea. Shudder. We sort of had to have at least one vodka night, though, and my hangover could be a lot worse. The hot hilly bus/crowded van ride back to Irkutsk was rough, though.

Anyway, Irkutsk has some nice churches (including a Catholic one) and some hideous Soviet buildings and a lot of wooden houses that were probably once very nice but now look like the big bad wolf could easily huff and puff and blow them down. It also has some strange graffiti and 350-year anniversary signs with a drawing of what looks like a cat holding in its mouth what looks like a dead squirrel. And, a lot of dudes in mesh shirts. Also, about half the cars here have the steering wheel on the right side -- I guess because Japan is relatively close. Also, it is hot as hell here. I'm trying to remain calm, but I'm really sweaty and did not pack the right clothes for 90+ degrees. I guess that's what I get for basing my expectations of summer Siberian weather on winter Siberian weather plus a book I once read about Rasputin.