I'm on the Train!!

We left our homestay yesterday after stocking up at the supermarket for the trip (see Beans picture).

Beanz meanz Heinz

We boarded our train from Karaznasky station bound for Ekaterinburg (main city in the Urals region of Siberia) - Border between Europe and Asia.

We thoroughly enjoyed our private 1st class 2 berth compartment (see photos) - a bit like the train to Hogwarts in Harry Potter!

Enjoyed Russian Champagne (2 GBP) and caviar (80p - a bit cheap and nasty though!) and many of the other provisions we bought for the journey. We were on the train for a total of 26 hours and travelled around 40-50mph for around 1700km.

Emma was hoping for there to be foodsellers on the platforms where the train was stopping along the way, but one of our first stops late in the evening on the first day has to be one of the most surreal experiences. People were walking up and down outside the train just selling crystal glass sets, 3ft high vases and chandeliers - I kid you not!! Naturally we stocked up and decorated our carriage delightfully!

Eating Caviar and drinking champagne

During the night at one of the stops, it appeared as thogh a train "engineer" was trying to re-shape the wheels directly beneath us, with a hammer! Later after having heard this a few times, we concluded that it was to remove the ice which forms along the way.

Had a walk up and down the train (see photo of Em in between some of the carriages!) and had lunch in the dining car - another rather Russian only experience!

Train was due to arrive at 20:12 (26 hours after leaving Moscow) - disappointingly it arrived around 1 minute early - British Rail could learn a thing or two about snow on the line!

In between carriages

Our carriage before we wrecked it

View from the train

Yes, we are travelling together