Today the only "whole" day in the train, second class. It was really enjoyable in itself with our Dutch fellow coupe but what a hassle! This morning we were up early, it would be a day where we crossed the border. As with the other train was also the toilets locked gedan here at the stops. The train we are in a slow train, and he stops approximately every fifteen minutes for a minute. Generally a lot less so relaxed.
The border with Mongolia is not as we are accustomed in Europe, I can almost not remember how it was when you had to be checked at each border. It started around an hour or 1. The train stopped at a small station and petrovnika (railway official) came by to try to explain that we are on the platform to the toilet could and that the train would wait 2.5 hours, after passport control and that a small market was.
Glad we went with four of the train and go to the bathroom. The French who were standing toilets, but better than nothing and we also had to pay, but well, the toilet was moving or not and that also has its advantages. Marjorie and I went back to the train (they really can not wait here) and Tijmen and Michael went off to the store. There was a man at the train that was busy waving and gestures that we go inside so we had all the stress because we could not see the boys. I have my very hardest called and the man remained without gestures ... Scenes Michael played in the train itself into my brain off. When I came hard again called the petrovnika who looked at me as if was crazy and said that the train has not really left. Michael and Tijmen just came running up and I was ashamed of course broken. We have some goodies to the little market and bought because it was cold we would soon sit in the coupe. After 10 minutes the train started to drive. Apparently a lot to be moved, we have I think 20 times up and down ride on that drive. In the meantime, I think we called 4 times to the bathroom outside. You know, if you can not ... then you constantly.
By 5 o'clock the Russian cops all passports of workers and to control everything. You should really coupe so they can check if you are not someone with bootlegs. Eventually we drove at 19:00. The view was magnificent, a kind of vast wide plain between mountains. Here and there were horses and cows on the plain. The people look directly rather different from the Russian people, a lot friendlier and more open face. After 20 minutes driving to have told us that the toilet 10 minutes opened and then locked until we were past the next station. All in a row so, because who knows how long it takes the next stop.
The next station was the Mongolian border where we have shunted again and again throughout the train (with dog) was checked. All passports again occupy etc. The first meeting with the Mongolian people was in itself is good, they spoke English, were polite and looked some more charming off. Here and there was even a joke about the pronunciation of our names. At a quarter past 9, we left again, in the meantime no toilet. As we drove away we heard from outside the train screams followed by a heartfelt 'get the f * ck out of my way "which came from someone who har drende and tried a train to catch ... I fear that there is someone who missed the train and whose stuff now to Ulaan Baatar ... but he will not.
It is cozy in the coupe, and we read many cards with our fellow travelers, but we note that for us a little too tight, we are now accustomed to more spacious. It is now slightly over 10 hours and everything is packed again. Tomorrow morning at 6:30 we arrive in the capital of Ulaan Baatar. Hopefully we can use in the library of the Internet and thus post messages. If everything goes as intended, we sleep the evening in a traditional Ger. So get up early again ... bweh .. I am now going to enjoy a nice cup of tea, maybe tomorrow I get Yak milk or EITs like to drink. Mongolia, here we come.
