Days Three to Six
April 9th - 12th 2008
Three excellent days were spent on board the Baikal crossing Russia. As far as the Urals the scenery was mostly beech trees and quite a lot of snow. This was punctuated by small communities of wooden houses with dirt roads. The poverty was very evident with many people scratching out an existence from collapsing shacks with a small vegetable patch in the garden. After the Urals the scenery became beech trees and quite a lot of snow. The poverty of rural Russian Federation life was all too clear. As we moved further from Moscow the train progressively ran out of provisions. Most of the menu requested in the dining car was met with a firm "Nyet" from Oxana - our dour but friendly waitress. Most of our food was bought from the platform, or from our own stores. It got a little desperate towards the end!
Total miles 6300
Trip miles 3800
Three excellent days were spent on board the Baikal crossing Russia. As far as the Urals the scenery was mostly beech trees and quite a lot of snow. This was punctuated by small communities of wooden houses with dirt roads. The poverty was very evident with many people scratching out an existence from collapsing shacks with a small vegetable patch in the garden. After the Urals the scenery became beech trees and quite a lot of snow. The poverty of rural Russian Federation life was all too clear. As we moved further from Moscow the train progressively ran out of provisions. Most of the menu requested in the dining car was met with a firm "Nyet" from Oxana - our dour but friendly waitress. Most of our food was bought from the platform, or from our own stores. It got a little desperate towards the end!
None of that detracted from the amazing experience of watching thousands of miles pass the window of our first class cabins as we relaxed in comfort. We splashed out on the cabins and we all appreciated the space, service and comfort.
The kids went to Train School every morning, learning about Russia from our cabin on my Encyclopedia Brittanica on my laptop. This is not meant to sound too worthy, but it really was a great experience - learning at perhaps its best. In a classroom without walls.
Morag enjoyed this relaxing phase of the trip. Our Provodnitsas were lovely and kept us supplied with tea all day. Evenings were spent either watching movies on the laptop or playing card games.
Julian was accosted twice by Vladimir - a Russian alcoholic who had a kind heart. He introduced himself by tearing off a strips of an enormous dried fish and insisting I ate them, washed down with strong Vodka. On the second evening he sat down with two girls - uninvited - and ordered Russian champagne. He tried to get it added to my bill. Oxana was having none of it!
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Please leave a comment. Thanks for your interest. Julian.
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