so i just spent a few days in this random siberian city and wow, it’s not exactly what you’d expect. the weather? brutal. like, -16.25°c kind of brutal. i checked and it’s -16.25°c there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. but hey, the locals are tough as nails and the vibe is... oddly charming.

walking around felt like stepping into a soviet-era movie set. everything’s grey, but there’s this weird warmth in the air-probably from the vodka. i heard someone say the best borscht in town is at this tiny place called *stolovaya no. 7. apparently, it’s been serving the same recipe since 1972. i didn’t try it, but a drunk guy at the bar swore it’s life-changing.

if you get bored, irkutsk and krasnoyarsk are just a short drive away. not that you’d want to leave-this place has a certain... grit. like, you know when you’re in a city and you can feel the history in the walls? yeah, that.

i also stumbled upon this weird underground art scene. some guy named misha was selling these insane matryoshka dolls with punk rock designs. i bought one because, why not? it’s now sitting on my desk, judging me.

oh, and the local market? wild. i saw a guy selling frozen fish the size of my leg. no idea what you’d do with that, but it was impressive.

anyway, here’s a map so you don’t get lost like i did:

and because i’m feeling generous, here are some pics i found online:

a ferris wheel with four colored wheels on a clear day

a bunch of lights that are hanging from a ceiling

do i recommend it? honestly, it’s not for everyone. but if you’re into weird soviet vibes and freezing your butt off, this is your spot. just bring layers. and maybe a flask.

p.s. if you’re into siberian history*, check out this local museum. apparently, it’s got some cool artifacts.

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About the author: Sofia Lane

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