Siberia Russia Part 7 The Trans-Siberian Railway
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Travel Leisure -> subcategory Destinations.
Siberia, Russia, Part 7: The Trans-Siberian Railway
Summary:
After deciding to spend a year teaching at Chita State Technical University in Siberia, I embarked on a journey unlike any other. This installment begins as I leave the train station in Khabarovsk.---
An Unexpected Journey
When I decided to travel to Chita, Siberia, I initially estimated a three-day journey. Perhaps, I thought, it might stretch to four days with time changes.
As the afternoon of day four arrived, I found myself finally boarding the train to Chita, eager to experience Russia's stunning landscapes. Riding the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway was going to be a highlight?"a story to boast about to friends. But as often happens with great expectations, reality had a surprise in store.
The Long Haul
In California, there are two types of trains: express, which swiftly takes you from point A to B, and local, which stops frequently. I was clearly on the Russian equivalent of the local train.
We left the Khabarovsk station with anticipation. The train gained speed, and the city began to blur past us. But after just five minutes, we started to slow, eventually halting at another train station.
Assuming there were simply two major stations in the city, I remained optimistic. The train whistle blew, and we were off again, smiles on our faces?"until we stopped once more mere minutes later.
How many stations could there be in one city? At least five, as we visited that many, spending an hour within city limits.
A Lengthy Conversation
Standing in the hall, a Russian man overheard my muttering and decided to practice his English with me. When I commented on the numerous stops, he grimaced, estimating the trip would take over three days. I felt my enthusiasm wane. Three days confined to a tiny train compartment wasn't what I had envisioned.
He then informed me that the food car was closed for the entire journey. For a moment, I channeled Homer Simpson discovering Springfield had run out of beer.
My new Russian acquaintance, intrigued by my outburst, asked, "What does that word mean? We never learned that."
Despite the challenges, the experience was one for the books. Discover more about my Russian adventure at NomadJournalTrips.com.
You can find the original non-AI version of this article here: Siberia Russia Part 7 The Trans-Siberian Railway.
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