From our bus experience we were prepared for the worst for our first 13h trip by the Russian long distance train and were absolutely surprised by the comfortable journey that awaited us.

We booked a „Kupe“ ticket and found ourself at a small table with Michael and Viktoria. We were offered delicious georgian cheese and bread from Viktoria and a continuing discussion from Michael. The fact that we understand nothing of the complain about politics in Russian did not seen to bother him much. Around eleven all went to bed and were shaken to sleep.

The next day we had a look at the „Platzkarty“ wagon and despite the fact, that it was open it didn’t seem worse than a „Kupe“. The two fold price difference finally convinced us. And we started a 36h journey from Kazan to Novosibirsk. I managed to sleep through 24h of this 36h (everybody who knows me, know that I fall asleep as soon as I enter something moving). The rest of the time flew by by eating rolls, bread, waffles and tschak-tschak (some interesting russian kind of sweets), drinking tea, and trying to chat with the ladies sleeping below us. A little russian, hands and feeds help a lot at this point.

Some facts about the Transib:

1. Out of 50 Russians only one group of three man were constantly drinking vodka.

2. The whole train works electrically, except the samovar in each wagon that is providing hot water for everybody. This is heated by burning coal.

3. If you are a little limited in your ability, don’t book one of the upper beds. It needs some acrobatic skills to get into them.

4. Russians are overwhelming friendly, but don’t expect them to speak English.

5. If you are running out of food, you can buy fish, fruits, and fried bakery products, from the ladies waiting at the big stations for you.

6. You get bed sheets, and towels, but nobody will tell you how the water tap works – however it works.

7. It’s a lie, that you can’t open the windows. I figured that out after my head nearly froze while sleeping with an open window.