Poppy's Grand Adventure: Beijing to Lake Baikal, China (Day 16)

Dave and Sylvia left us today. :( They flew to Tokyo for a couple days and then back home. It was a sad parting last night. Although Dave finally beat Dad at Cribbage so he was happy not to lose EVERY game they played. They didn't seem to want to wake at 2 and bid us goodbye, so we parted after dinner. We are down to 3 until we get to London on July 4th.
We actually did get up at 2 AM. Cassie (another sister) texted us to be sure that we didn't oversleep. I didn't have the heart to tell her I had my phone on mute and didn't hear her text. Sorry Cas, but it was a nice gesture. We got to the airport at 3:10, and it took us an hour to get checked in (no seats were assigned to us--ouch!), get through passport and security, and walk at least a kilometer to the farthest gate in the airport. Siberian Airlines, 3 hour flight, no time change. It was a very comfortable flight.
Irkutsk is the main town here. You're on your own--I can't even spell it phonetically to help you, although I can say it. Actually we're in Siberia. 53*N, 104*E. I think we'll get a few hours of dark, but not sure on that.
From the airport, our guide took us to a very nice restaurant for breakfast. By then it was 9:30 and I was feeling like it must be lunch time--we had been up for 7.5 hours. No chopsticks, although they gave us two knives and I told Dad he could use them together. He didn't take me up on that. Go figure.
We had a one hour drive to Listvyanka, right on Lake Baikal. Now you're about to get some facts. I'm really glad we have this break. It's beautiful. No pollution to notice. Maybe 2 roads in town and one of them is only wide enough for 1 car. So far as we can tell, no one speaks English. Much cooler than China--long pants and jackets. Okay, now for the facts:
Lake Baikal is the:
* longest lake in the world (636 km)
* deepest lake in the world (up to 1200-1600 ft)
* largest fresh water lake in the world
* oldest lake in the world (25 million years) At this Dad asked how they knew. I told him the fresh water seals kept journals and passed them down generation to generation. He wasn't convinced.
* holds 20% of the world's surface fresh water
* is home to 1,700 species of plants and animals--2/3 of which are only found here. Including the only fresh water seals.
* on the UNESCO list since 1976
* 300 rivers flow into Baikal, but only 1 flows out. The Angara River. It's massive. We kept seeing it on the drive and every time Molly asked if it was Baikal.
We are in a great hotel. I was a bit concerned about it when I googled it (months ago) and the photos showed a window, a corner of the ceiling, and some of the floor with part of a bed. Honestly--the room is huge. There are 2 beds in one part, and one in another room, and a huge bathroom. Not fancy, but very roomy. No one speaks English, but mime is working fine! We have a view of the lake, and it's like looking at the ocean--with a line of mountains, complete with snow, on the horizon.
Took a walk back to the town. Found some small markets. Got some smoked fish. It's called oameal. That is not how it's spelled, but it sounds like 'oatmeal' without the 't'.
Enough. I have not watched a drama in over a week. I am treating myself with one episode. But first the fish . . .
amy