So this is Siberia

2nd May 2013 I woke at 6.15 Moscow time but had been awake in the night when the train stopped at two stations.  I don't want to miss anything.

In the night we crossed the Volga!  Just saying that is thrilling.  We are beginning a journey to such remote places that even looking at a map does not give you the idea of how far we are travelling.

Apparently before the trains started in 1818 it was quicker to get to Vladivostok by crossing the Atlantic, going overland across North America and crossing the Pacific!  That takes my breath away!

Along the track are kilometre markers which mark the distance from Moscow.

Grandpa described the scenery as miles upon miles of birch forest with tiny settlements along the way.  He described sunshine and snow still laying by the tracks.

I would say that we passed miles and miles of birch forests with small settlements (I thin small is bigger than tiny) along the way. And there was sunshine and snow still laying by the tracks. 

There were no hills and the guide that tells you your are crossing the foothills of the Urals conjures up an alpine scene which is not quite the case.  The train laboured round some corners instead of keeping what seemed to be an arrow straight course and clearly did go up and down a bit but it was soon back on the straight and level and the foothills of the Urals were soon left behind us.

It seems odd that is scenery that is much the same for 5181 kms. still kept us all glued to the train windows.  There was still a lot to see. 

Many of the small settlements are Dachas.  I bet everyone reading this blog thinks a Dacha is the country resident of a rich Russian oligarchs in James Bond or John le Carre stories.  This is not the case.

Dachas as pieces of land probably 60m by 60m  which Russians from the cities either own through their families or aspire to buy.  They should be less than a two hour journey from your main residence in order to get there  on your one day off a week and they are principally to use for growing vegetables and fruit.  The little rural beach huts are just that.  Somewhere to stay or to shelter when you are at the dacha. There are some dachas which the owners are extending, or building new, larger properties so that the original purpose of the owner growing their own food becomes impossible, so it becomes a holiday home! 

Andrea tells us that some of her Russian colleagues who ware around 40 years old have recently bought their own dachas and this was cause for a celebration.

We will pass through some places made famous for various things but I will let you know about these as we go.

So this is Siberia.