On leaving Omsk

Our enforced stay in Omsk while Emerald has received treatment has allowed time to see the city. (It's amazing how little time is available on an ordinary rally day or even a rest day.)

Omsk is an old border city founded in the early eighteenth century whose claims to fame are as the place of exile of Dostoevsky imprisoned 1850-54, and as a closed city (for defence security) in the Soviet era. There is a sprinkling of grand buildings restored but not in public use.

Work is also underway to enhance a striking city centre street lined by terraced nineteenth century buildings in retail use.

The Greek Orthodox cathedral is dramatic but scarcely historical. It is a post Soviet era reconstruction of an 1890s building destroyed in the revolution.

>
>
> There is not, as yet, much capacity to welcome foreign visitors. A majority of restaurants we explored had no foreign language menu and very limited translation capacity. No doubt it will change.
>
> Our enforced stay in Omsk whilst Emerald has received treatment has allowed time to see the city. (It's amazing how little time is available during an ordinary rally day or even a rest day.)
>
> Omsk is an old border city founded in the early eighteenth century whose claims to fame are as the place of exile of Dostoyevsky in prison from 1850-54, and as a closed city (for defence security) in the Soviet era. There is a sprinkling of grand buildings restored but not in public use.
>