I was able to travel to Irkutsk while on my Mongolia trip

and visited Lake Baikal with my excellent guide Tanya.

The weather was not so great, but we had really great time anyway, the tour was the most appreciated.

It is said that you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear.

This is not universally true.

I have found people who could do that.

The reference here is to the creative skill of Tanya who could indeed produce magic. This by turning an unfortunate situation, the weather, into an advantage by coming up with other engaging opportunities. With these special people like Tanya, it's hard to imagine that what you missed would be better than what they came up with and you experienced as a substitute.She took me to the museum on the lake and we alao spent time in a wooden village where there are buildings from all over Siberia.There were a lot of cultural programs going on at that time and we got joined the dancing. That was a special treat.We had enough time to visit some very special churches in Irkutsk. And unlike most guides, she didn't insist that I see all of them, just very special ones with special characteristics. This was a very nice touch.I am very fortunate and grateful to have all these opportunities. It's fun to meet people who are very well informed and interested in the world.