Ulan Ude

June 20, Thursday. Our field trip for today was a visit to Ulan Ude, Russia, not too far from the Russo-Mongolian border. As a result, this town boasts a population that is at least one third Mongolian.

This is the railroad station from the bridge across the parking lot.
Not pretty, but the stations all along the Trans-Siberian route are all big.

And this is looking the opposite way.

Ulan Ude is a small city with a beautiful "musical" fountain that dances to the tune of classical music. The day was warm/cool and sunny, and we walked the length of the city center enjoying the crowds as well as the sights. The latter included a giant head of Lenin, a sculpture of a pair of ballet dancers, ponies and carts for the children to ride, and plenty of Russians enjoying the day.

The town square, with government buildings in the background and a huge open parade ground,
complete with bricks laid in a way to help marching bands and military units keep their lines straight.

A government building, probably from the Stalin era

Another one flying the blue, white and red Russian flag as well as the flag of this region

This gigantic head of Lenin is the largest in the world.
You don't see many monuments to Communist heroes in Russia in these post-Glasnost days,
but Lenin is still revered for his role in lifting the yoke of serfdom from the Russian people.

This square seems to be dedicated to the arts

The beautiful musical fountain on Ulan Ude.  Classical music plays
while the waters dance in time. I could have stayed here all day.

The Red Star tops this building with its clock tower

Monuments and statues are everywhere in Russia.  This is atop the Opera House.

The Opera House

Dancers frozen in time outside the Opera House

Here they are with the city's triumphal arch in the background

 

Through the arch looking the other way, the Opera House is on the left and the clock tower is
centered under the arch.  Fountain Square lies between them.

A monument on the pedestrianized street not far away

The same monument with the clock tower and the arch in the background

A small monument and fountain

The monument at the far end of the pedestrianized street.
You see these little motorized kid cars everywhere, waiting for mom and dad
to let their kids have a ride...

...but there is always a pony cart to ride instead...

...or just a pony to ride

Little girls in pink--a worldwide phenomenon

It's a happy day when you can play with a TV favorite

Sometimes you get to take your dad for a ride.

This is a REAL fire truck, which passed us with sirens blaring as we headed for our bus

The local Russian Orthodox Cathedral

Closer

  Of course it snows here in the winter.  It also "snows" in the summer.  

If you look closely, you can see this cottonwood tree (one of many) is LOADED...

...providing plenty of "snow" all through the area

 These gingerbready wooden houses probably once belonged to wealthy merchants.

This one is now a museum and is located on the pedestrianized street we walked along.

This is on a side street near the cathedral.  Oh, all that wooden "lace"!  I love it!

Back on the bus and back to the train, we continued our journey through the countryside. Houses are even more colorful the further south we go, and the landscape has become more open, mountainous, rocky, and arid. 

KBAC is Kvass, a uniquely Russian summertime drink made of slightly fermented rye bread.  Russians love this stuff, and you see these small vendors everywhere.  Our tour manager, Tatiana, bought some and took it to the bar car so we could all try it.  I think I could get used to it--in time.  LOL.

Southern Russia, as we approached Mongolia

Overnight, we crossed the border into Mongolia, which involved new forms and times when we were confined to our compartment waiting for border control to pick up or return passports. Some of this took place during the night, so we were periodically awakened by tapping on our door followed by silently handing over required documents. On cruise ships this passport work is done by the ship's crew behind the scenes, usually as you sleep.  Here that is not the case. No matter what the hour, we are required to participate in person--even though we do not have to get out of bed to do so. Quirky but not scary.