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Arrived at Perm in the evening and was met by a chap called Michael who was taking us round for the next few days, as it was late we grabbed some food at the supermarket and crashed out.
The next day Michael picked us up early in his 4x4 with an interpreter that would be coming with us for the day as his English was not that good. Our first destination was Kunger ice caves about two hours outside of central perm. The drive to the caves was interesting as the roads were not so good and out interpreter liked a good chat, a retired English teacher, she liked talking about the Queen. On our way to the Caves Michael decicded to stop and show us a local russian orthodox church. We were taken on a tour and went up into the bell tour, we couldnt have timed it better as a bell ringer came up and rang the church bells by hand which was amazing to see.
Back into the car and the ice caves and more talk of the Queen. At arriving at the ice caves they were closed so Michael went and got the guide who opened them up and proceed to guide us through. The enterpreter came along and did what her job suggests, which made like easier as we were not fluent at russian yet. The kunger ice cave is a cave created by the loss of layers of soluble bedrock, each section had different names and as it was winter amazing ice crystal formations covering the walls and also in column coming from the ceiling and floor. We were taken down to some deep underground lakes with amazing clear water, they had also just been used for a holy festival where a priest blesses everyone as they swim about, which is always nice.
After about an hour we had gone on a circle tour of the caves and headed out to lunch of vodka and soup. After lunch we headed to out next stop, "Perm 36" this was the largest political prison during Stalins Soviet peried, created to house any radical free thinkers that challage the state system imposed at that time. The KGB were supposed to destroy all evidence but for some reason they didnt so it is still quite intact. We walked through the doors the prisoners walked though and were taken round different cell blocks and officers quarters. Both of us thought it it resembled a concentration camp, although mistreating through mental torture and malnutrition. Wont write to much have a read up, very intersting place though! Every one who worked their seemed really passionate that they wanted the camps story told and not hidden away so it could not be learnt from.
After the camp we went back to perm and on route stopped at a miltary museum to take pictures of rockects, which is always a must whilst in Russia. The next day our train to Novosibirsk did not leave until the evening so we spent the day walking round looking at all the local sights. In the center of town their were large collections of different ice sculptures, as well dotted around town were sculptures by local artists. I dragged luke down to see an old soviet train, whilst on route i lost my driving license from my pocket, hopefully there are no Russians in Perm that look to similar to me. That evening we caught the eighteen hour train, drank vodka, played cards and tried to get as much sleep as possible!
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