Trans-Siberian Moscow - Irkutsk

Already 5000 km done.... still 4000 in front of us !
To sumarize the famous Trans-Siberian Express: stress at the beginning (who in my room? how can I stay 4 days in a train?), unique experience during the trip (cool people, nice landscapes, good organisation...), but happy in the end to get off and sleep in a real bed, take a shower and not living with stangers in a very limited space !

In the wagon, there were 9 compartiments with 4 people. We shared with a dad (funny little guy who talk to us in Russian as if we understood) and his 13 years old son (football Chelsea who weared the shirt during the whole trip).
Our first surprise was to meet very few foreigners... Some Germans and French in other wagons.... but we didn't communicate with them. Mainly families coming back home from visiting their relatives in the West.
Our principal activities were sleeping, reading, eating, playing mini black Jack / Roulette, drinking tea (always free hot water for self-service) / beers and speaking in pantomine with our newly made russian friends.
Traditional cloths: comfortable like pyjama, pink jogging suit (see marilyn) and slippers.
Basically, it's like a never ending pic-nic with unknown people who don't speak your language.

The first evening, we met a very nice Russian guy, Anton, 24, musician (flute traversiere) in the Army who used to be history teacher in the university... Not clear why he quitted teaching... but we assumed he had more chance to be paid in the Army than as a simple teacher ! Anton was on his way home after a 15 days trip around Europe (Paris, Venice, Barcelona, Berlin, Monaco...).
He was our official translator when we couldn't express ourselves anymore with our hands or feets ;)
Especially essential when train stopped at a station, couple of times per day (from 2 mins to 40 mins), in order to run to the locals who are waiting for us to sell fresh smoked fishs, hot potatoes, and cold beers.
These stops are the highlights after a long sit-in and an occasion for everyone to get off the train for some fresh air (only air conditionning, no open windows)!

Incredible ! We also met a familly whom son had never met foreigners before us in his life... He was musician (accordion) and was then convinced to learn English to understand his English pop idoles !

Also we had our favorite cooks: 2 Army pilot guys ;) Many on this trip because each year they get 1 free train ticket. In their bag, they carried a garden full of vegetables (tomatoes, garlic...) and we tried our first smoked fish with them !

After this trip we stayed 2 days in Irkutsk where we visited very old houses... We had the impression to be in the movie with Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn !!! And guess what we did the second day? We spent the whole day in the train around Baikal Lake on the road on the first route of the trans-siberian!

And tomorrow, again on the train for the final Vladivostok ! New stories in 4 days !

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Part of trip: Asie 2009

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