Day 4/ TUESDAY 15th DECEMBER 2009

<---The logo of the Novosibirsk Zoo
I awoke late due to my lack of sleep; the wagon next to ours was full of young Russians and foreigners who had drunk vodka, danced and chanted the whole night through. I was still very “train-lagged”; I had awoken at 10 (Moscow time) and it was actually 1p.m for the region I was in arriving in Novosibirsk. I was particularly hungry and went to eat at the restaurant on the train. I ate Beef Stroganoff, strips of beef with onions, mushrooms and sour cream and beet salad. My stomach full, it was time to leave. I gathered my luggage that consisted of a medium sized suitcase. I finished my book and said goodbye to Aleksei, Ingrid, Torkel and my compartment. The train slowed down and stopped as I hopped off into the glacial temperatures of Novosibirsk: -17 °C. Novosibirsk is the third largest city and metropolis in the whole of the Siberia region. Not knowing what to do next, I bought a tourist guide and headed to the Novosibirsk Zoo (and its 11 000 animals!) using the metro. This zoo is amongst the biggest zoos in the whole of Russia. I met there a young French/American woman like me who had seen at the Academic opera and Ballet theatre of novosibirsk, a beautiful ballet. I went there and bought tickets for Boyarynya Morozova a musical and theatrical play later on in the evening. It was now 5p.m Moscow time and 8p.m Novosibirsk time. I decided to walk around and did for 20 minutes but then decided it was better for my health to go somewhere warm. I entered a bar where I ordered Sbitten -one of the most popular hot drinks in Russia- to warm me up. I did not understand all of the explanations of the barman whose English was poor but here is what I got; the drink is based on honey, it is flavored with various spices and herbs such as laurel leaves, ginger, cinnamon and mint. A few drops of wine can be added. I then went to buy some Matryoshka dolls also known as Russian nested dolls, a typical gift from russia and Ikon, a renowned Russian brand of Vodka. At 8;30 Novosibirsk time, I headed to the theatre to watch one of the most amazing shows of my life. The colors of the costumes and scenery were beautiful, the ballet also. I loved it and left the Theatre with a wide grin even though I had not understood a word of the play. I went to the hotel Ingrid had recommended me; Vostok Hotel and spent the night there missing the sound of the traintracks.
Here is a picture of my Matryoshka dolls;
Two advertisements of the russian brand of vodka Ikon;