Blogs from Siberia, Russia, Europe - page 59

Turistas concentrados Si poco antes de las seis de la mañana, un verano, en la estación de tren de Irkust, se encuentra con una concentración de turistas (los reconocerá por sus maletas o por sus mochilas), no se asusté. Somos esos locos occidentales, en su gran mayoría, que pagan por coger el verdadero Transmongoliano. El que les llevará hasta Ulan Bator. Los nativos (me refiero a los rusos, los mongoles y los chinos) lo tienen difícil para coger un billete en estos meses. Lo de verdadero viene porque hasta ahora habíamos tomado trenes similares, pero de distintas rutas. El primero, el mejor, llamado tren de los Urales, que hace la ruta Moscú-Ekaterimburgo. El segundo, el Transiberiano de toda la vida, que hace la ruta Moscú-Vladivostock. Y por último, íbamos a coger el Transmongoliano, que hace la ... read more

Periódicos y revistas Dos periódicos y una revista en el compartimento y solo se podía disfrutar de las fotografías. Por las noticias que habíamos visto en los canales internacionales de televisión en nuestro último hotel, la reunión del G8 en San Petersburgo, o el ataque de Israel al Líbano, nos podíamos imaginar de que iban algunos de los artículos. Nada podíamos entender sobre la política o famoseo local, o sobre los espectáculos o noticias culturales que interesaban a los rusos, por más que vieramos imágenes de personas saludándose y de conciertos de rock o pop, lo cierto es que no sabíamos quienes eran. La programación de televisión, tampoco nos decía mucho, excepto que en lo que suponíamos que era el apartado de programas recomendados, se mezclaban las películas y series norteamericanas de éxito, que no necesariamente ... read more

The train ride to Omsk was decent, my final full day on the train. I was in a full compartment again and I would be the first one off. It was a woman and two men this time, the men related and the the woman on her own. I was the only one with english, so it was another ride of reading and smiliing, though the lady did feed me a bit. It was some nice scenery that final day, and the weather started heating up again, so smiles on my face. When I arrived in Omsk, it was morning and very hot. I decided that I would try my luck with a cab driver as the map said 3km to the town from the train station. As soon as they knew where I was going, ... read more

So, I get off the train and start to the street. The french girl told me it was only 25 minute walk to the city from the train, so I thought, no problem. It looked like rain, but nothing too scary. So, as soon as I hit the front, the taxi drivers are after me. Nope, you can not walk, the bridge is out. Hmmm...I was not told this on the train, and she was just here a few days earlier, so I figure the guy is blowing smoke and set off on my way. Now, I have this thing with maps. Unless I am really paying attention, I always go the opposite way. Well, the driver put my attention somewhere else and an hour later and no sign of a river, I realize I have ... read more

We arrived at the Russian border in the early evening and after hearing numerous horror stories about Russian border guards, were suprised when they let us pass without even looking in our bags. The only grief we encountered was that as foreigners, ours were the only passports taken away for inspection and when the train began to shunt around we did get worried that we would never see them again. This was not to be however and we left the border after 2 hours, passports in hands. We pulled into Novosibirsk, the 'capital' of Siberia at 9:00 and had the whole day to kil before getting on the next train. We were able to locate a left luggage office and left our bags before heading to a Russian copy of Kentucky Fried Chicken for a very ... read more