Time for Relaxation

Tuesday 8 August

Yet more border crossings – this time scheduled for 05.20 out of Mongolia and 08.45 out of Russia. Typically Colin set the alarm for 05.00 and is up and showered before I’ve even opened an eye. The train doesn’t actually arrive at the border until 06.00 and the Mongolians check our passports and customs forms in double quick time and soon we are speeding towards our Russian border rendezvous at Naushki – having breakfast on the way. It’s amazing how the landscape changes as soon as you are back on Russian soil. No people, no animals, and just settlements that seem deserted. Lots of forests, rivers and telegraph poles, but no life.

The same passengers are thoroughly checked again by the same Russian guards and police we encountered 30 hours earlier and it still takes three hours! Just Red style beaurocracy! (sorry, can’t spell this and it doesn’t come up on the spell checker so just substitute “red tape”!).

The rest of the day has been spent in idle relaxation – we don’t actually get off the train now till we arrive on Friday morning in Vladivostok. Lunch was followed by an afternoon siesta, followed an hour’s stop at Ulan Ude for a walk up and down the platform – our exercise for the day – and Colin said “Stroll” , no power walking!”. We missed the “Naadam Festival” film about traditional games in Mongolia this morning, as we were busy posting blogs and emailing – our first connection for 6 days (after a special plea to the angel), so we had to make the most of it. We also missed the “Story of the Weeping Camel” this afternoon – reportedly available in our cabin, but sadly not on our tele.

Tomorrow is likely to be the same again. Just a couple of short stops way out in the wilds of Siberia – we are warned not to leave the stations as the train won’t wait for latecomers – with some films interspersed along the way. Sadly the Russian classes seem to have come to a halt, but we are practicing at the stations, reading adverts and signs.

We are trying desperately to post pictures on the blog, but haven’t mastered the art yet – so if anyone knows how, please email us. We’ve managed to compress a couple of piccys but not actually put them into the blog. When we get a signal again we will have another go – I obviously need to talk to the angel again!

So far we have met a Lord who was born in Bromley, and tonight another passenger who is intimate with the Ramblers Rest, a well know refreshment house, in Chislehurst. Many other Brits are from south eastern England and we are all able to exchange anecdotes of home. It is amazing how many men are traveling on their own – is it just boys and their childhood affiliation to train sets!!! They claim their wives weren’t interested in the trip, but would I want Colin to set off on such a journey on his own? NO!!!

COLIN’S COMMENTS

Early start to the day, but with a smiling female Russian immigration official! Better than some apparently who had a very pedantic Russian shot putter checking their documents. Enjoyed day on the train – the quarter mile walk up and down the platform from one end of the train to the other was quite exceptional!

I have found it to be a great atmosphere in this luxurious part of the train. One of the complimentary vodka bottles keeps evaporating, but I am doing my best to keep up with it. Two birthdays today in the restaurant car we were in and why does everybody who has a birthday come from south east London? Although exercise is minimal, I keep healthy by taking advantage of the doctor’s advice of “Drink more red wine!” I remain exhilarated by the vastness of this landscape, however for me, Mongolia is the jewel in the crown! – Wow!!! – and the guide wasn’t bad either! But don’t expect me to drive here, it’s off the wall.

Clocks have moved on yet another hour tonight (we are now 9 hours ahead of England), so it is already midnight and the furnace red sunsets have just ended. I am now going to bed – in the top bunk.

STEFFI’S PS: From a poll in Gold Class, only one woman (Lady Margaret) is sleeping on the top bunk!! (Heritage Class, of course, sleep side by side).