OK. Enough suspense. I did make it to Kyzyl. Barely. It was exactly what I was searching for. Except for when the Russian Immigration authorities came to my hotel and took me to their offices for questioning. I couldn't begin to make this stuff up. Truth is definitely stranger than fiction.
At this moment I am waiting for a cab to the airport to catch my flight to Beijing. I was only able to obtain a transit visa so I have four days in China before I must leave. I'll head home after China. Feeling pretty chipper in an Ibis hotel in Glasnoyarsk. Flight to Beijing leaves in 4 hours.
Kyzyl will require three separate blog entries.. What an adventure! And I didn't have to bribe anyone or sustain too much torture. What a country!
