Travel

Trans-Siberian to Ulan-Ude

18-20 March 2010

A sort of Jack London day in Siberia. We left Irkutsk for a scenic train ride around the southern end of Lake Baikal. Sharing our car with several cooing birds riding the rails to Vladivostok. All we can tell from the man who transports them is they definitely are not destined for a plate. Once again we are served water and a nice bowl of Borscht. The train is #350, slower and older, but a nice ride. Many fishermen on the ice, ice pressure ridges, and cars out on the ice. The lake is immense – the largest in Europe. It is a huge expanse of snow-covered ice with high mountains in the distance. (more…)

By Pat, ago

Trans-Siberian to Lake Baikal

13-17  March 2010

Siberian snow-covered village

Somewhere crossing Siberia with flat land for miles, trees and more trees, lots of snow interspersed with huge villages of small wooden homes. This #2 train is top class but to get to the next wagon we cross thru an open space where the steel plates are frosted over from the cold. Russians appear to like living in hot enclosed spaces as they shut the doors and draw the curtains to a cabin that must be 80 degrees. (more…)

By Pat, ago

Trans-Siberian to Shadrinsk

11-12 March 2010

Looks cold and probably averaging 20 degrees with 3 feet of pristine snow as we pass thru the undulating hills of the Urals on our way to Shadrinsk. We are about 940 km out of Moscow (all time and distance is in comparison to Moscow) and it is sunny with blue sky. People are walking to work as we pass thru villages. The air is clear and I note no pollution. Many little houses of greens, blues, and yellows and many local dachas. We are learning what the locals mean when they say “Moscow is not Russia.” (more…)

By Pat, ago

Traveling the Trans-Siberian Railway

I am home and organizing my wonderful memories of Russia and traveling the Trans-Siberian rails in winter. It was quite an interesting experience, as all travel should be. I traveled with Yvonne, my friend from Switzerland, and my iTouch. Rather than the complete text sent home via Siberian wifi, I will post a few summaries of the stops along the route from Moscow to Vladivostok. (more…)

By Pat, ago