long red lines across a map

Sitting on the final train that will make up this trip across the world’s largest country, conversation somewhat inevitably turns to trying to sum up the whole experience. In an odd turn of events the whole carriage is housing predominantly western travelers at about a nine to one ratio. Most with the same thoughts on their mind. The consensus is that taking the time to stop in more than the standard stops was crucial to the success of our time here. No-one could say that Russia is an easy country to get through. A theme that  has been repeated many times here. Yet it is easily the most rewarding and interesting country I have visited so far. [read on]

It is rather fitting that the last piece of real sightseeing that we will complete in Russia is to go see the trans-Siberian Builder’s monument. There was a pleasant surprise on our return to the Downtown Hostel. Anthony had returned early from his tramping around Baikal. The weather forecast had not been good to want to be out of doors. Certainly the conditions this last day in Irkutsk was encouragement to head south. [read on]

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 It has felt like a long time coming but after nearly four weeks of baby steps the trans-Siberia starts now.  Technically only starting in Moscow the traditional route goes down through Nizhny Novgorod across through Perm and the Ural mountains ... [Continue reading this entry]

Welcome to Russia and awesome newspaper headlines. The title of this entry was just below the fold on the free English paper that you find around town. Others beauties include Police Bust Estonian Vodka Pipeline Gang, an article ... [Continue reading this entry]