After another mammoth train journey we have arrived in Mongolia, and this is probably a good time to reflect on the experience that was Russia for those of you who have never been...
St Petersburg - beautiful, cultured, European.
Moscow - grey, wet and just a big city really (think our opinions may be clouded by the, err, well clouds)
Baikal and Listvyanka - surpassed all expectations, stunning scenery, always warm and the best view I've ever had while playing endless games of table tennis.
Trains - a surprising pleasure. ok the grumpy babushkas, the trees, the endless border stops and the (very) poor quality food were the lowlights. Highlights included a carriage full of Mongols applying 10-15 facepacks a day, the stunning scenery of Baikal and heading down to Mongolia and the Steppes, the platform promenades and of course the grumpy babushkas.
The people - incredibly friendly and helpful, unless you work in an information kiosk or are a female aged 15-30 in which case don't even bother talking to them. The fashions were, shall we say, unpredictable, the fake furr, the fake leather, the bin bag coats, the track suits (this place puts the scousers to shame!) and people should come from all over the world to marvel at the shiny suits. Still my favourite person was on the bus to Irkutsk and squashing 4 onto the 2 seater back seat. Sarah said "You sit next to him, he squeeks". I paid no attention in the mad crush until the fat man in the tracky bottoms and the shell suit top started squeeking from within and occasionally gently woofing. He may have swallowed a toy and was off to the city for help? We will never know.
I've lost track of date and time, Forests appalling form, the wider world crashing into financial oblivion and there's still so much more to come starting in Ulaan Baatar and the Steppes, the Gobi and with a bit of luck, we may just get to see a Golden Eagle hunt a live wolf apparently. Happiness rating is rising!
St Petersburg - beautiful, cultured, European.
Moscow - grey, wet and just a big city really (think our opinions may be clouded by the, err, well clouds)
Baikal and Listvyanka - surpassed all expectations, stunning scenery, always warm and the best view I've ever had while playing endless games of table tennis.
Trains - a surprising pleasure. ok the grumpy babushkas, the trees, the endless border stops and the (very) poor quality food were the lowlights. Highlights included a carriage full of Mongols applying 10-15 facepacks a day, the stunning scenery of Baikal and heading down to Mongolia and the Steppes, the platform promenades and of course the grumpy babushkas.
The people - incredibly friendly and helpful, unless you work in an information kiosk or are a female aged 15-30 in which case don't even bother talking to them. The fashions were, shall we say, unpredictable, the fake furr, the fake leather, the bin bag coats, the track suits (this place puts the scousers to shame!) and people should come from all over the world to marvel at the shiny suits. Still my favourite person was on the bus to Irkutsk and squashing 4 onto the 2 seater back seat. Sarah said "You sit next to him, he squeeks". I paid no attention in the mad crush until the fat man in the tracky bottoms and the shell suit top started squeeking from within and occasionally gently woofing. He may have swallowed a toy and was off to the city for help? We will never know.
I've lost track of date and time, Forests appalling form, the wider world crashing into financial oblivion and there's still so much more to come starting in Ulaan Baatar and the Steppes, the Gobi and with a bit of luck, we may just get to see a Golden Eagle hunt a live wolf apparently. Happiness rating is rising!
1 comment:
the process of trying to leave a comment is very fiddley! But maybe that's me. Glad the happines rating is rising. Enjoyed the extra photos - particularly the one of teh wedding!
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