Yekaterinburg - Irkutsk

We took the number 10 train (Moscow - Irkutsk), the "Baikaler", said to be one of the best trains in Russia; we lived like kings for just over two days, played cards, ate pot noodles, drank beer in the restaurant car - just like Palin. Of course, the number one past time on such a journey is looking out the window. We have seen km after km of Taiga, and so many Silver Birch trees. Stops along the line every few hours gave us the chance to get off and experience the middle of nowhere, which really is quite nice.

Delightful pictures have been added. Most speak for themselves, but... the second one down is the procarious gap between carriages (which should not be navigated in flipflops, nor while drunk). Fourth down is our Providnik, or the Penguin man as we nicknamed him (or for any of you who might understand the reference: Mr. Flynn). Plus, check out the beards - these were taken over a week ago. In one of the pictures you can see Mohsin using the Samovar, a hot water supply in every carriage, still heated by coal - a godsend for noodles and chai. Also note the burning in one of the photos, they seem to do it now to avoid everything burning in the middle of Summer - it looked spectacular at night.