Novosibirsk

N 55š 02š 10 latitude

E 82š 54š 04 longitude

We arrive in the early afternoon - not very rested although we slept for hours. The train station in Novosibirsk is the largest in Russia, and is a famous pre-Revolutionary building with a golden bronze statue of Lenin in the main lobby. He is reported to have stopped here on his way to early banishment in Siberia. We look for Alexei, a friend of Tatianas, who --in broken English over the phone-- promised to meet us. Everyone has warned us of danger, and of the thugs and former prisoners who seek out foreigners to victimize. He isn`t there, so we choose the Hotel Novosibirsk, an official looking concrete skyscraper across the street from the station. Nobody speaks English, but we manage to register, a mysterious process conducted by several women with carefully coiffed 1940`s hairstyles. They make copious carbon copies, transcribe our passport numbers several times into various books, and examine our visas. Finally, we are given passes that allow us to pass a armed guard into the elevator lobby. From our room we have a great view of the central station and it`s busy plaza full of kiosks - but we collapse on our beds and watch a little Russian TV.

The hotel is a privatized former Intourist hotel. The first floor has been converted into a shopping maze. The connecting path is lined with glassed-in kiosks - each with its characteristic little window where the exchange of money for goods takes place. The prices are steep - but the selection of imported products has a wide range, from women`s lingerie, Russian made fur coats and hats, electronics, shoes, Levi`s, and leather jackets.

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INDEX I EMAIL I SIBERIAN DEAL MAINPAGE I GO ON I THE STORY SO FAR PT.1 I THE STORY SO FAR PT.2 I THE STORY SO FAR PT.3I THE STORY SO FAR PT.4