What to do after 9 months of Irkutsk?

[BrandX]

Anybody know of good English speaking foreign restaurants, French, Thai, Indian or something like that?
What do other Expats get up to here? I’m bored out of my mind!

[FatAndy]

Well, for me it was no need to speak English there, but I heard Eng conversation between client and waiter in Listvyanka, 70 km from Irkutsk, Baikal West coast, restaurant of Mayak hotel (biggest hotel there). The same was in touristic bureau, just opposite of the hotel. Some foreign touristic groups had lunch in my hotel, Krestovaya Pad' (also in Listvyanka).
Also, you can look around and find some foreigners at KBZhD excursion shuttle train departure at Irkutsk railway station, see schedule here:
http://www.krugobaikalka.ru/price/express.php

[BrandX]

Yes I know the Mayak Hotel, very good restaurant..
problem is I have no transport. So it's a bit difficult getting there. I was thinking of places in Irkutsk that don't serve everything with huge lumps of meat in it!

[FatAndy]

There are buses and marshrutki going there from Irkutsk, as same as taxi.
http://www.listvyankacity.ru/catalog...7354listvynka/ - marshrutki go 8:00 to 20:00, 150 rub, no schedule, just fill seats and go.

http://www.listvyankacity.ru/catalog...6767316tvynka/ - buses on schedule, 100 rub
Taxi will cost around 1000 rub I think.

Siberia is meat place. If you want more seafood, proceed to Vladivostok.
Vegetarian cuisine in Irkutsk exists though:
http://vkusno.e-irkutsk.ru/rest/kitchen/22

[alouette]

Anybody know of good English speaking foreign restaurants, French, Thai, Indian or something like that?
What do other Expats get up to here? I’m bored out of my mind!

Why (in the first place) you need 'good English speaking' restaurant? If cuisine is good, why bother about linguistics?
French, Thai or Indian? No preference?

[robertmf]

Why (in the first place) you need 'good English speaking' restaurant? If cuisine is good, why bother about linguistics?
French, Thai or Indian? No preference?

I've stayed in the Mayak (before renamed) and didn't hear any English spoken; but then, "English" got to be somewhat problematic once you crossed over the Urals obelisk.
http://welcome-ural.ru/tours/129/

For me, Irkutsk/Baikal is the best region in Russia.

[alouette]

[COLOR="DarkR
I've stayed in the Mayak (before renamed) and didn't hear any English spoken; but then, "English" got to be somewhat problematic once you crossed over the Urals obelisk.

Sounds very authentic. And appealing

For me, Irkutsk/Baikal is the best region in Russia.
[/QUOTE]

The Baikal is awesome!

[robertmf]

Sounds very authentic. And appealing

For me, Irkutsk/Baikal is the best region in Russia.


The Baikal is awesome!

Yea !! Very beautiful & scenic.

Did you go swimming i did 4°C very briefly lol