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So, we finally made it on to the Trans-Siberian Express after the longest, most ridiculous journey ever...
After much deliberation and sitting around waiting for the airspace to clear between Heathrow and Moscow Domodedovo airport, we decided, for reasons unknown, to DRIVE! The plan was for Jenny's Dad (hero) to drop us in Riga (Latvia) where we would catch an overnight sleeper to Moscow, which would arrive with three hours to spare before the departure of our Trans-Siberian train, from the other side of Moscow, to Irkutsk. So we embarked on our fleeting Euro-adventure on Tuesday evening - knowing we needed to be in Riga by at least 4pm Latvian time on Thursday. First stop Folkestone! A fairly unremarkable stop; apart from a riveting discussion about why French people look French (conclusion: noses and facial hair) and missing our shuttle! Brilliant - minus two hours.
Luckily most of us managed to catch some kip and slept until we reached Holland. So, one day of our adventure down and we'd already been through three countries (France, Belgium and The Netherlands)! Again, not a lot to report from Germany aside from some Welcome Break schnitzel and unexpected general cleanliness - well done Germany. Poland, however, came as a bit of a culture shock. We passed an abundance of trees, trucks and er... prostitutes. We've also come to realise how ridiculously huge Poland is - it took us the best part of a day to reach the border, and when we did, we were covered in snow having driven through a blizzard... in APRIL!
Then to Lithuania, which was particularly unimpressive! Having always (well sort of) wanted to go to Lithuania, I was most disappointed! We drove through some really run-down areas and some areas where there was just nothing. But thankfully (for our little Chevrolet) the roads were pretty good. Finally, at around 11am Latvian time, we arrived in Riga, safe in the knowledge that as long as we managed to navigate through the one way system and find a parking space, we would make our train to Moscow. Riga was equally as run-down as Lithuania with burnt out, desolate buildings more frequent than functioning ones - I think still a hangover from the Soviet era.
On a more positive note, however, we were able to buy our train tickets and change some money - although very few Latvians speak English (and even fewer were willing to practice on us). Note for future reference: the Lat currency IS twice as strong as USD - which I found out the hard way by refusing to believe this and arguing in English with the stern looking Latvian exchange lady; suffice to say, we had to find another bank.
We eventually found our platform and, thankfully, a coffee shop right next to our carriage, so when we boarded the train I hadn't time to topple over backwards from the unnecessary weight of my backpack - Kate did though!! Unfortunately, on entering the carriage, realisation dawned as we laid eyes on, what essentially was - a glorified bench, with not nearly enough space for the three of us to sit comfortably on, let alone to spend a night. However, after unraveling an extra bunk from somewhere above us and persuading a friendly American to lend us his, we were all able to fathom a relatively sound nights sleep (which, after 38 hours in the car, was very welcome and fairly necessary).
On arrival in Moscow, it all became fairly daunting as everything is in Russian - go figure?! Thankfully our amicable, bunk-lending Ohioan named Bill offered to tke us where we needed to go. This involved navigating the Moscow metro at rush hour and we quickly found that it's no place for three small, rucksack-clad English girls and a hoodwinked, long-haired American. Oh dear! But we made it to our Trans-Siberian station with plenty of time for a burger.. Perfect.
So we FINALLY made it to our train! We may have been tired, hungry and smelly - but we were on the Trans-Siberian Express and even had a thumb-sized Russian man sharing our four bed compartment to prove it!! Anna x
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