Lake Baikal - Russia

 

 

We get the first hint of Lake Baikal through the fir trees before the train runs along the shore for 200 kms of tunnels and cliff sides. Irkutsk was once known as the Paris of Siberia. It is a very European city even though it is on same longitude as Bangkok. In the afternoon wandered to the lake side for a swim but the water feels just above freezing point!