Siberia Russia Part 6 When Stairs Attack in the Khabarovsk Train Station
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Travel Leisure -> subcategory Destinations.
Siberia, Russia Part 6: When Stairs Attack in the Khabarovsk Train Station
In this ongoing series, I describe my journey from San Diego to Chita, Siberia, where I've relocated to join Chita State Technical University as a professor. This part of the story finds us at the Khabarovsk train station, preparing to board the Trans-Siberian Railroad.
Day 4
If you've been following along on NomadJournalTrips.com, you'll know that my original travel estimate from San Diego to Chita was a brisk two days. Well, here we are on day four, and I’m just now boarding the train. Clearly, my math skills need some work?"my apologies to the American education system!
Those hypothetical physics problems about trains and cyclists never made much sense to me. Who can calculate arrival times when pondering the cyclist's fate and the conductor's imminent nightmares?
The Curse of the Stairs
Through my friend Grae's efforts, we secured train tickets to Chita for $27, giving us a private berth and some comfort in the journey ahead. After a restful night, we stepped out of our hotel room into pouring rain. Fortunately, a kind local drove us to the train station, and all seemed well?"save for a slight delay of an hour for our train. As we waited, we indulged in some people-watching.
I couldn’t help but contemplate my luggage. Along with a hefty hiking backpack, I was burdened with "the lump"?"a massive duffle bag weighing about 70 pounds with tiny wheels and plastic bars. Though intended to be portable, it felt predictably cumbersome. Considering I was bound for a year in Siberia, I'd packed it to the brim and couldn't shake an uneasy feeling.
When the time came to head to the platform, we had to navigate stairs and tunnels, very unlike San Diego's layout and weather. Pairing rain with a heavy bag on wheels was a challenge.
Through the bustling crowd, I managed to descend the first set of stairs unscathed. The second flight, however, was a different story. As they say, time slowed.
I was nudged from behind, and the lump hit my knees. Falling back onto it, I suddenly found myself on an unexpected bobsled ride down the stairs.
In slow motion, I noted the agility of the Russians around me. People leaped onto shelves or slimmed down miraculously. Somehow, not a single person was hit on my way to the ground. My landing was gentle, not marked by a loud collision with the wall.
I quickly stood, scanning for any injuries. Silence greeted me?"just a sea of onlookers. My ego and flushed skin were the only casualties. Making an impression is my specialty! I fervently hoped none of these witnesses were heading to Chita.
Life resumed as everyone moved on without comment. Alas, the lump demonstrated equal stubbornness when it came to ascending the stairs on the other side of the tunnel.
Next: The Trans-Siberian Railway?"How Many Days to Chita?
Stay tuned for the next chapter of this adventure!
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Siberia Russia Part 6 When Stairs Attack in the Khabarovsk Train Station.
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