Across the Great Divide

One of our best mates from home, Sue Macmillan, is Queen of the Interweb for the lovely Labour Party. She commented in a recent email - in a way that only Sue could - that posts on this blog could, just maybe, be a little long. I'm sure that you will be as shocked as I was at the very suggestion that I could ever be long winded, talk too much, or use one five words when one would do. However, after some thought, I reckon she might have a point. So here goes - leaner, meaner and... er... shorter.

After the crazy, sometimes scary, but never boring fun and games in Moscow, we headed on the first leg of our Trans Mongolian trip from the capital to Novosibirsk, our jumping off point for Tomsk. We shared our four-berth sleeper with a lovely Russian man and woman (work friends, they were keen to stress, not partners, though Lou and I agreed they were clearly soft on each other), who were kind to us in every way. The journey itself was everything I had hoped it would be, and then some. The bunks - me on top, Lou below - were comfortable, and the carriages warm and cosy. The fabled 'samovar' kept us all in coffee, noodles and instant mashed potato, while the hawkers that roamed every platform stop sold everythingfrom smoked fish to giant cuddly toys. We played the occasional game of cards and chess, and read from time to time, but the gentle rock of the train really does lull you into a gentle peace somewhere in between sleep and waking, as Siberian forests roll by, morphing into farmland then back again. Wonderful.

When we arrived in Novosibirsk, the stop from which we were to travel on to Tomsk, we had no accommodation booked and it was 1.30am. Our very sweet Russian friend got dressed and led us from the train to the station hotel (another example of unexpected kindness), but as he walked away back to the train, it became apparent that we would not be spending the night there, as all the rooms were full. So, overcome with strange bravery - and desire not to look like a big wimp in front of Lou - we cwtched together in the grand Soviet waiting room, next to a group of Mongolian Labourers and a man who had taken off both his false legs to sleep. Really.

Five hours later, we found our way to a rickety minibus and set of on a very bumpy three hour ride to Tomsk, the fantastic, relaxed and very beautiful University town where we would spend the next six days, in a very weird and very Soviet apartment. More of which next time, which could be a while, as we set off for Irkutsk - and Lake Baikal - at 10.30pm tomorrow, and I have no idea when I'll be able to blog next. Which should please Sue no end...

Stay warm,

Luke and Louise

(Posted by Luke)