NOV 9, 18 .. IRKUTSK .. MY NEW 'HOME'

I have two primary associates here in Irkutsk.

Mike on the left below and Sergey on the right. 

For over three years, Sergey has wanted me to visit Irkutsk.

Mike is my translator. 

Without Mike (or his equal) I would not be able to carry my message to those here in Irkutsk and elsewhere in Russian Siberia where I will be speaking.

They found me my initial apartment.

Below is my couch / sofa-bed. 

My very comfortable chair.

A very pleasant kitchen.

Make no mistake, I love and I have enjoyed being in this apartment.

But in actuality, it is a Studio Apartment, more for one person than two.

With Patti due to come over here, the bed is an issue.

For me alone, the bed is just fine. But it is not going to work for the two of us.

And?

And so I am moving into a new apartment. 

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MY NEW APARTMENT IN IRKUTSK

First, it is very close to my former apartment. It is equally close to the Angara River and the wonderful riverfront walkway.

As I enter, ahead of me are two closets.

The below photo gives you a perspective on the entry closets.

The bathroom.

With a clothes washer.

 A really 'snazzy' kitchen.

My couch.

In the below photo, while sitting on my (above) couch I see (to the right) the entryway into my new apartment.

Look to the extreme left side of the above photo. 

In the below photo you can see that there is actually another 'room' in my new apartment.

Now let's go back to my couch.

Volia! Will you just look-at-that!

Snap your fingers and he becomes a real bed.

Now back to my other 'room'. 

You can see in the first two photos below that a curtain divides this into a separate 'room'.

This became Patti's bedroom. A very pleasant exterior window

And the above couch can turn herself into a bed as well.

My new apartment has some really bright lights.

It also has top-drawer, extremely fast internet.

And?

It is actually less expensive than my first apartment. I will be paying for electricity and the internet so I can't, at this instant, calculate my monthly cost. I may also have to pay for bedding.

I will be moving next Monday the 12th of November.

"Captain Oh Captain. You never cease to amaze us."

This was lock-stock-and-barrel 100% Mikes doing.

And?

In the final analysis .. It was a no-brain decision.

Smiling .. Cap