Video
Dmitry was even crazier in person than in the emails... these two photos sum it up. The first is him holding up a sign with my last name, as he picks us up at the Irkutsk train station, fanny pack and all. He always looked that confused.
This is a little note hanging from the wall in his dacha (sort of like a Russian country house). It speaks for itself.
Below is our
correspondence with Dmitry, whom we found online. He was recommended in
various guidebooks and on some websites as being an excellent host and
tour guide. I've blocked out the email addresses, Dmitry's home addresses
and his phone number. The emails are in chronological order, with the
first email being Dmitry's response to my email inquiring as to whether
or not accomodation was available.
From : dmitry
Sent : Thursday, June 24, 2004 2:23 AM
To : "anna w"
Subject : Re: august accomodation
Hi,
Normally at high-season it's EUR 25 p/p p/d B&B,
I can charge this sum from two of you- if you will take one room (two
beds), and shall take care about meals yourself. Basic food included-
vegetables from our dacha, some berries will ripe in August. But to cook
- it's up to you. All facilities,- microwave, wash nachine, internet too,-
slow, but enough to send and receive your mail.
If not rainy- you'll stay at dacha- in suburb, 25 minutes by bus from
central market and city center. I give you free car ride there. There
is banya, and swimming in our gulf in the morning. Hot water too, but
restroom- outdoors.
Travel over Baikal- can be for all budgets. From EU10-20 for the unguided
walk thru tunnels of Circumbaikal Railway with camping, to EUR1000 per
day if to rent a yacht to Chivirkuisky Bay.
Car ride to Listvyanka and back- EUR60, museums and restaurant meals-
can be E15-20 extra, per person.
I'll give you all advices you need. Do you like biking?
Welcome to Siberia. We'll figure out something.
Dmitry.
that sounds excellent. We'll be arriving Aug 4 at 4:30 on train number 10 and departing on Aug 7 on train number 364 at 15:10. We like camping and hiking and biking and definitely want to see Lake Baikal for as cheap as possible. Also, we are having our train tickets (Irkutsk-UB) delivered to us in Irkutsk. what is the address in dacha?
Thanks
-Anna
From : dmitry
Sent : Saturday, June 26, 2004 12:44 AM
To : "anna w"
Subject : Re: august accomodation
Hi Anna,
Apt address is , 1 km uphill from RW station. Take one tram stop up and
then walk 15-20 minutes ( if with backpacks). Dacha- it's not permanent
living place for people here, even no post-box there, so they will unlikely
deliver tickets to dacha. But you're welcome to come and stay there if
for some emergency i won't come to meet you. Address- "Ershi, Sadovodstvo
Angara (this means- gardening cooperative), Vostochnaya st, . Key of house
- find under bench by the wall of house heading to the gulf. Behind left
stand of bench. Wecome to Siberia.
D.
> hi,
> I sent your address to the travel agent. But she doesn't know which
address
> it is: Chaikovsky st, 1 km uphill from RW station OR
Vostochnaya
> st?
> The travel agent will deliver our tickets (Irkutsk-UB) upon our arrival
in
> Irkutsk.
> Thanks again,
> -Anna Wexler
>
Dear Anna,
tell her to bring tickets to the flat, address: Chaikovsky St, and
if occassionaly you're, or I'm- not at home, than leave tickets to any
neighbours on the floor,- to either flat # 13, or to flat #15. They all
are
nice people and pass tickets to you.
Are you from UK?
I wait for you here.
D.
Hi,
Ok, thank you. I have informed the courier. Which stop do we get off at? I noticed that there is three different Irkutsk stops. The one that just says Irkutsk? We are actually American.
Thanks
-Anna
It's main RW station Irkutsk,
1 km- something uphill. If i occassionally at dacha or somewhere- call
my mobile. Should i meet you at RW station and give a ride to the flat
?
Welcome, D.
Hi,
yes that would be great if you could give us a ride. I think I sent you the train information already. If not, we are leaving Moscow on July 31 on Train #10. You can reach me at this email address at any time. We are two American girls, so that is how you can recognize us.
1) What is your mobile number?
2) And just in case there is an emergency or something, what is the easiest way to find your place? Do we just tell people that we are going to dacha? We don't speak any Russian, so we would just like to know the best way that people will understand where we are trying to go.
Thanks, and see you soon,
-Anna
Dear Anna,
call my mobile () or sometimes ().
About your tavelling here:
My propspsal- The first day in Irkutsk you see city, and than we go to
night-stay at dacha, USD 30 with basic food, morning swimming, and raspberries
in garden.
Then 3 days car tour to Krestovsky Cape of Baikal: 270 km ride one way,
two nights at remote farm- full board, treking to see remnants of ancient
fortress wall and 3000 y.old petroglyphes high over Baikal bank, steamhouse
at night, USD 295 for two of you. Or dacha- after return. That's- seeing
very remote and clean places the lake.
More budget tour- bus ride 100 km and hiking 36 km along baikal coast
to Koty. Total USD 85. Two campings, always see open lake. But if rainy-
it's pretty wet there. See my site "Treking the west coast".
Or USD150 tour "through 40 tunnels", one camping and one full-board
accommodation in a lodge.
Transportation companies sometimes change timetables, so variations possible,
but basic options are like those.
Write your ideas. See you soon.
From : dmitry
Sent : Wednesday, July 21, 2004 12:44 AM
To : "anna w"
Subject : Re: august accomodation
Hi again,
first you come to my flat- Chaikovsky st, to leave staff, have a tea and
take a shover. I'll meet you with poster WEXLER. Car to the site- USD5.
In emergency ... i will be on phone or just at home.
Sincerely,
Dmitry Meleshko,
" Baikal Adventures",
Irkutsk, Russia
www.irkutsk.ru/baikaladventure
Email received 2/9/05, about six months after the tour
Hi dear ladies,
now i know where's origin of your hair mode. Bob Marley- originator of
Regie music, he call such things on head like "dreads".
Hanna or Nadya, IF you can tell something positive about your tour to
Baikal from Irkutsk, could you please, call my partner in Boston, his
name is Artour, he runs "Sokol Tours" agency.
Tell him like those car tours look like.
I keep warm memory of meeting you, and our ride to Krestovsy Bay.
Happy studying peyotls :).
Sincerely,
Dmitry Meleshko, "Baikal Adventures"