Omsk. I took a walk around the city centre enjoying again well known places. They just finished the renovation the best preserved street in the Old Omsk. The name of the street is still… Lenin Street. Old brigh, stylish buidings houses now Subway and many elegant shops. Western brand names are very common. Funny monument of Liubochka – daughter of the rich merchant from the past has Irish Pub in the background.
Rechnoy Vokzal (River Passenger Terminal) do not exist any more. I recognized that the only ship cruising Irtysh and Ob – 50-years old “Rodina” is departing now from the distant jetty on the outskirts of the city. There should be a free bus from the former Rechnoy Vokzal to this place 3 hours before sailing but it did not arrive. With the other passengers we shared the taxi to be on time at the jetty.
I was filming the ship departing at 6 pm local time (in the timetables they use Moscow time, which is very confusing).
Why I did not boarded the ship? Well, living out of Russia it is not easy to buy the ticket for “Rodina” Online sale does not exist. You have to be in Omsk a month before sailing when they open the ship for ticket sale. Or you must have Russian friend to do it for you. I did not find friends in Omsk, people from Couchsurfing simply refused to help me. But I was lucky anyway to have the friend in Tobolsk, which is the next port on “Rodina”‘s route. I will follow the ship by train to board it in Tobolsk.
