Kungur and the Ice cave - 18th

Having had quiet a sleepless night (not due to sweat as it's only 25 degrees here, just being over tired) woke to knocking on my bedroom door at 8am. The receptionist had rallied an English speaker to ask for my migration card and registration voucher from Moscow. So I decided to get up and venture to the cafe where I was to receive my free breakfast. There is a reason why it is free, because it means the bin men don't have to collect it. I like food, all food, there are not many food stuffs I don't like, and some things I thought I didn't like Simon has convinced me of even their delights (including dates). So when the most dower woman I have ever seen puts in front of me a cup of tea (nice) and a bowl of mashed potato, I thought my luck was in, although it wasn't mashed potato. I can only describe it as a mix between Smash (although I've never had it so am imagining what it tastes like), rice pudding, gravel, the driest cheese you can imagine and a dash of over used oil. You can imagine my enjoyment.

After this appetising delight, I headed off to the "Ice Cave". I had built it up in my mind for so long, I was very excited. And to be honest it didn't disappoint. It was massive (5km, with over 20km unexplored), and really cold - which was so nice as I finally got to use my boots and fleece! It was so dark I struggled to take any good pictures of the ice and the ones I do have don't do the cave any credit.

We were down there for so long (and I was at the back for godsake) I did start to get a bit spooked - images from The Descent came to mind and everytime I took a photo I'd imagine later when looking through them a picture of some beast or other peering around a rock.....aaarrrrggghhhh!

However, I am not sure I would advise anyone else to come all the way to this part of Russia just for the caves..... Afterwards I went for a stroll around the area, it really is beautiful and I can't imagine what the landscape looks like under 4 feet of snow as it usually is.

To be honest, I then couldn't be arsed doing anything else and went and sunbathed on my balcony (a.k.a death trap) to read my book and drink some beer, like a lonely old drunk (see view at midnight from the death trap and the security measures for the Complex). Apart from the rancid breakfast, there is nothing else to eat here, so have survived on a diet of crisps and tomatos, and beer.
Heading off to Yekaterinburg tomorrow and to be honest I can't say I will miss Kungur. As long as I can survive the breakfast and find the bus stop, god willing I should make it out of here alive. I need someone to talk to!