Tomsk is one of the oldest cities in Siberia. It was formerly the capital city of the area but the Trans-Siberian Railway passed it by and development became concentrated in Novosibirsk. Tomsk is an educational centre of Siberia with a number of universities and institutes of higher education.
You might be wondering why we took a detour off the main Trans-Siberian line to visit Tomsk. There are two reasons; firstly, Jakov, of Tomsk Polytechnic University, is a friend, and secondly, because Tomsk is the name of one of The Wombles. As Wombles fans we couldn't just pass by.
Tomsk is a surprisingly pretty little town, at least during the summer, during the Siberian winter things might be a little different.
Jakov met us off the bus and made sure that we were settled in and ready for our sight-seeing.
Henry and Jakov on Resurrection Hill, the site of the original Cossack fortress of Tomsk.
The bell tower of the Voznesenskaya church.
Tomsk is over 400 years old.
Jakov and family took us to visit a reconstructed historical settlement on the outskirts of the city - a most enjoyable trip.
The chapel at the centre of the settlement.
A wooden statue.
Our host explaining some of the ideas of the Old Believers.
Jaroslavl practising his archery.
Our host preparing tea.
While visiting the settlement we naturally rang the bell, which we were told means that we have to return.
The plan for the late afternoon was to have a picnic by the river but the weather had other thoughts.
In Siberia, everything is big - the vistas, the rivers, and even the storms.
Siberian thunderstorm with leaping locals (Irina, Jaroslavl, Jakov and Peter).
Storm clouds overhead.
Bolt of lightning.
Tomsk is famous for its wooden architecture with ornately decorated window trimming being a particular hallmark. An example is given below, but unfortunately not many of the houses have been fully renovated and many of them are in a state of disrepair.
Example of Tomsk wooden architecture.
On a slightly more serious note, we found time to visit the Museum for the History of Political Repression Tomsk NKVD.
A symbolic exhibit in the NKVD museum.
Tomsk, like all the Russian cities we visited on our route, has its fair share of statues and monuments. Although, as yet there is no statue of Tomsk Womble - a hint, should anyone from the Tomsk city administration read this.
A child arriving into the world in a cabbage.
In the west, the stork delives babies but in Russia they arrive in a cabbage patch, which might explain Russians' fondness for cabbage soup.
A statue of Chekhov as seen from the perspective of a drunk.
Chekhov did not enjoy his stay in Tomsk; he felt that the town was dull and dirty, the men drunk and the women ugly.
Chekhov with a couple of visitor who are definitely sober.
As in all the Russian cities we visited, Tomsk has a large war memorial. The extent of Russian casualties in World War Two or from the Russian perspective the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45 is unimaginable. The brutality of military conflict is something that political leaders should dwell upon before sowing seeds of animosity and discontent.
Tomsk War Memorial.
Henry and Peter near the eternal flame of the war memorial.
View of the River Tom from the Lagerny Sad war memorial garden.
A few street views of Tomsk.
An administration building.
Street scene with minibuses ('marshrutka') powered by gas.
Lenin Square with the Epiphany Cathedral.
Lenin, as usual, has his hand up, probably asking for another beer. On the subject of which...
Peter and Henry enjoying a 'business lunch'.
Before anyone gets too upset, Henry is not drinking beer but the Russian drink 'kvas'.
I don't know what was troubling Chekhov, but we had a great time in Tomsk.
All too soon it was time to get back on the train and head off to our next destination, Irkutsk.
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