I’d like to tell you that everything was wine, roses, romance, adventure and excitement. But being on a train for a stretch of 2 nights and a day was anything but (granted this is just my opinion).
There are 4 of us in a narrow carriage. I’m on the top bunk which hangs down low enough that I can sit up without hitting my head on the roof but the bed itself is narrow which makes for harrowing nights as you are thrown too and fro as the train jerks from side to side. And should the trail slow down suddenly, you need to grab onto something fast as the guard rail (if there is one) isn’t all that big.
But what to do for 2 nights and a day? This isn’t like a hotel room where you get a TV with a movie channel or in-room broadband. There are no plugs in the carriage either, although there are 2 in the hall but always seem to be in use by someone recharging a mobile. We’ve all brought books along, mp3 players, a few games but after a while one starts to get a bit stir crazy from being in a confined space with no means of escape.
Did I mention that the heat is always on and pumping out?
There is the dining car which may have a small TV but as I don’t understand Russian so that provides limited amusement. I remember feeling disappointed that the dining car wasn’t more of a communal meeting place for other travelers. Most often I had the place to myself.
The one communal space seemed to be the narrow hall that extended the length of each railcar. Everyone just standing at the window wistfully looking out at the barren landscape that never seemed to change.
The train does make periodic stops along the way (as trains do) but there is much confusion and uncertainty as to how long a stop is for (5 min, 15? 30?). The guide book we have is assuming you are traveling in the summer and heading towards Vladivostok. Whereas we are travelling in spring (if you can call it that) and going in the opposite direction, so the schedule isn’t the same. So getting off to explore the platform is a bit of a risk.
Our last full day on the train provided some entertainment as we all decided to have dinner in the dining car. You’re limited as to how much food you can bring with you as you’ve no fridge to keep perishables.
Here were our dinner choices:
With one outdated phrasebook we managed to figure out what was soup vs mains. But often we’d point at something only to be given a shaking of the head and waving of hands to be told no. Eventually we all managed to order something and it was all wonderfull (apparently I ordered fish).
As the sun sets behind the birch trees our next stop will bring us to Omsk at something crazy like 06:07.
