| March 2, 2010, 22:30  The last post was just before we went to the station. Now it is 23.13 Moscow time (the train only has Moscow time) and we drive through a dark landscape with lots of snow. It was a hassle, with the Metro went well, there was only told us that there were two train stations in the metro. When we surfaced, we knew then not sure where to go and the Cyrillic did not help. We asked a passerby if this is the station was good, the answer was 'da'. Well, we've saved, and once inside we were even less wise. The first woman behind the counter did not help. My stress level had skyrocketed and I almost ran around like headless chicken. Michael kept his cool. In the other window, the woman was kind enough to us in Russian to tell that we had to walk and she pointed in one direction. Of course we went first and could find nothing wrong. Back and in the other direction. The strange thing was that you had to walk from the building and that the tracks were about 100 meters. Avery had by this time well where to go and led me straight to the track. There stood the train at each door in a Chinese conductor / train operated. On the wagon to 9. Once there, looked at "our" train operated difficult for our tickets. We have got 2 books, 1 train tickets to Irkutsk and Ulan Baator and one with the tickets of Ulaan Baator to Beijing. Immediately he said with gestures whether we went to Ulaan Baator. No, the answer was Irkutsk. There was someone else and I was overtaken by the minute restless. After consultation we were in any case the train, finally. We were pointed to our compartment and large backpacks could drop. We were stunned, what a luxury coupe! When you come to the right two sofas / beds that can also be folded. In the middle a tafelte (with thermos) and opposite the benches in the corner by the window a large zitstoel. Michael is now curled up in that chair shots. There is also left the door immediately after a shallow box with a pair of brackets and ... the door to the 'bathroom'.
A small box with a tap and hand shower, the water then runs through the pit road. There is a large luggage in a box above the hallway, sitting there in our backpacks and under the zitstoel and the lower bed is enough room for our travel bags with clothes and all the food down. We also have delicious firm pillows, crisp white sheets and even bedside lamps. Everywhere seems to think, we have the option to dim light and ordinary fluorescent light and even an electrical outlet. There are curtains and even a mini folding stairs to the upper bed. Both beds have a mini rack / net you a number of things in easy reach. The only downside is that we can not put the heating and that this blood is hot. Oh .. and the toilets have no toilet paper, but we were prepared. After we were a little recovered from the stress we unpacked our stuff and began to investigate. At the two ends of our wagon down the toilets and there is a samovar for hot water. We walked through the different coaches and have seen that the samovars on coal used, here and there lie in between the bags with pieces of coal. It is clearly a Chinese train, I had already understood that bit more luxurious but we can were no signs anywhere to read what is mentioned. The wagons are similar, apart from the coupe's also for four persons. A couple's car on the dining car. Here they have cards with Russian menus and it looks not too expensive. The menus are huge, but I already understood that although the menus are similar often half the offer is not available. We have nice hot water extracted and put tea (super that we meehebben). The beds are made, during the day do you have a cover over it so you just on the lower couch. The train and we have actually a mini-house room. Here we sit with a cup of tea to enjoy the fact that without them doing anything travel, it feels now like we do a really tough journey, Moscow city and was a kind of warmup, the train and we went along on to Siberia. juutsel | Posted in Trans Mongolian Express (Part 1) | No Comments » 55 ° 44 'N, 37 ° 36' E March 2, 2010, 17:15  The last day in Moscow again, tonight we get on the train, and follows a radio silence of 3.5 days. Nothing to worry about, I even believe that for some good to the website of addiction. Saturday will be added, of course, once all the posts of days before. Today we have done little complicated, but it was my favorite day. We started with a visit to the mausoleum of Lenin. The visit to this is free, but you must give your bags and that will obviously take some money (but I can not complain for 1 euro). Then through the metal detector where I was ported: "What you have here, '' my wallet ..." show me "..." okay ... what you have here? " (While his bleep-bleep stick on my other breast orphan) ... 'nothing' (could not remember anything in that bag was my breasts and he could not mean?) ... The man looked at me weird 'nothing ?? " Which I felt anyway and with the tiny hair clip in my hand might run. The red walls of the Kremlin runs directly behind the mausoleum, and there are all names in marble plates with red carnations beneath. I've never realized that the flowers in Russia, about equal to the former state party. A little further we were directed to walk a lot while we are in the dark staircase descended from the Mausoleum. At each corner bars looking soldier ... and there he was then ... THE body (although there are also stories) of Lenin. We were encouraged to walk through. What struck me was his perfectly combed beard and purple spot on the head. When we walked out I wondered aloud how Lenin was deceased. We both knew it not, and so I just looked up. Earlier in his life someone had tried to shoot Lenin, thus there was a bullet in his body, too close to his spine to be removed. In 1922 he got his first stroke (caused by the bullet) and was partially paralyzed on the right half of his body. At the end of 1922 he suffered a second stroke and stepped out of politics and public life. In 1923 he was third stroke and was bedridden and was unable to talk. This was 6 years after the revolution he led. Incredibly, beginning in January 1924 he is deceased. The cause of death was officially fourth stroke, but of the 27 doctors who were treating him, only 8 have signed this death. After his death there was much speculation whether he had syfillus: after death there is evidence for the fact that he had syffilis, but had spent most of the Russian population at that time. There is no evidence that the disease was already advanced so far ... at least do a smooth story about the embalmed corpse that we have seen. In the afternoon we had a slightly less sinister trip. We thought it would fun to go skating in Moscow and the largest ice rink in Moscow was also the cheapest. We went to the famous Gorky Park, which originated from pooled gardens and now has become a mini theme park. In winter all the attractions closed, but they show the greatest avenues flooded refreezing and thus to create an ice rink. So super cool. Today was the thawing and with only 1 bunch we were therefore the only one who rondschaatsten. A great experience, as a couple on the ice surrounded by closed attractions and here and there people who were clearing snow. And even the birds have to find a fur coat ... it will be a special kind, but it seems like a crow with a fur. We also have a snack somewhere drunk, and we are grandiose wrong, but because we did again a wonderful meal (street tent with roasted potatoes and various fillings). Nibble that was ... As I type this is Michael with our 'Mother Russia' to communicate. This lady belongs to the hostel, speaks no English but has a friendship with Michael. Yesterday he was using a translation and computer-pronounceable conducted an interview with her, either, he has talked to her via the computer, but the answers did not understand we still do not. Really funny ... and it is such a sweet person. We actually haddden her late sixties estimated, but now they just told us that she was only 45 is ... schockerend to see. That beauty quickly disappears again. Yesterday we asked if we could do was in the hostel and could. Our Mother Russia did the laundry ... everything is good come back ... but she had also done some time in the dryer. This has now all our stuff a bit smaller, not bad ... but we're not meegekrompen. Hence the sports day. Now we have here at the hostel, our bags are next to us and we stand for 2 hours at the station waiting for our train ... and it does touch on it and we say goodbye to Moscow: a great city. A few small strikingly present to the city: clean streets, falling snow (sometimes thrown to the roof to relieve), beautiful subway stations, few English speaking people ... but very nice, a lot of control, many seemingly useful occupations, more social security, beautiful women, big heels, snow and mud, good food on the street, vodka and beautiful, beautiful buildings. A city to come back to, and this period is superb. Davisdanya Moscow juutsel | Tags: Gorky Park , Lenin , Mausoleum
Posted in Moscow | 2 Comments » 55 ° 45 'N, 37 ° 37' E March 1, 2010, 20:41  Today we visited the Kremlin. Because we earlier days were overwhelmed and fatigued by all the impressions, today we have chosen to see it all at rest. That the Russians are unrelenting, we noticed immediately. Michael's student (without date) was not accepted for discount (yes, we tried to defraud ...). And although dozens of people went through the gates with bags, we had our issue. Stupidly, we were obviously the hats and gloves in the bag forget that we are numb to the Kremlin. After a short walk across a beautiful bridge with a gateway to the Kremlin, I stood there somewhat surprised. Modern buildings all around me and not what any historical importance did! We walked further and found an enormous cannon, called the canon of the Tsar. Cannon balls as big as my thigh! Very impressive. Then revealed the world of golden turrets themselves to us. We played eavesdropper at a passing group and found out that the colors in the church have a meaning. Gold stood for the divine, green for life, and blue for the Virgin Mary and the innocence. Hence all those golden domes. What followed I will not describe in detail. I can briefly say that it was overwhelming, magnificent and beautiful, but being I've seen enough icons and iconostases and that lack of English captions to much speculation and sometimes led hilarity. After all this splendor we have simply to a Metro station delicious hot sandwiches bought and eaten. Because we as experienced subway-goers' the way enough to know we are "sophisticated" four stops went looking for a sidewalk café. Here we walked to a market with mobile stalls where everything was displayed behind glass, because cold. Then enjoyed a delicious cup of coffee and tea, with what I thought was a sweet roll, but what appeared to be meat and onion. Just before we were back at the hostel, we are still in discovery went to a supermarket somewhere in the neighborhood. Along the still effervescent tablets bought (yes Mom, I really pay attention to the vitamins!) And some good food for the train smashed. Some supermarket gives a good picture of what one considers important: eight shelves alcohol versus half shelf fruit and vegetables, lots of deep fear and meat and two shelves full of different types of oil. You can imagine that those beautiful Russian women with a diet not long remain conserved. Because we want to adapt well, we have the whole night on the vodka sat with the 'responsible' frozen lasagna dinner and blini (pancakes) with boneless meat with jam. Very disgusting actually. The washing is done, the tickets were met: first still packing and then we are ready for the train, tomorrow. But first we go tomorrow and see Lenin spin on the ice in Gorky Park. Life is pretty good in Moscow ... juutsel | Tags: Blini , Kremlin , Metro , Vodka
Posted in Moscow | 2 Comments » 55 ° 46 'N, 37 ° 38' E March 1, 2010, 15:16 This morning we were witnessing a typical Moscow matter. Seated at a small table in the hall annex IKEA kitchen passed halfway between two slices of bread a slightly older man. A Russian. He walked in a somewhat impoverished vodderige camisole and pants. After ten minutes he came back from the shower and went back into his room. Frankly we thought the man was single, but the female voice not much later came to his room, betrayed something else. She sounded very young, at least 20 years younger than the man. After a quarter snatches of their conversation (only Russian) having heard, came the denouement of the story just before our curiosity threatened to harm us. The woman stepped out, as gray as the man dressed in a not too fancy colt diamond. The couple was just a shabby Russian couple. Or not? After Mrs. her lips had carefully worked with her lipstick, she went back to her room in less than five minutes to come back. She looked like a czarina! Dressed in a fur cap and dressed in an extremely elegant fur coat, she was an ugly duckling into a swan ... older. The man looked shabby also still out. Why has it taken so typical Moscow? Walk the streets all women look like catwalk models at. Beautiful coats, take shoes, handbags of designers, it may not. But inquiry taught us that most of them do not have money for all this luxury. They lend themselves to a break and good to see an iPhone to show and a 'rich' life seem to lead. But at home it is abject poverty. Ostentation is important, especially for the ladies. Because how unhappy you are, you do not want others that you can see ... michiel Dewit | Tags: Fur Coat , Fashion , Female
Posted in Moscow | 2 Comments » 55 ° 46 'N, 37 ° 38' E February 28, 2010, 21:41  The circus was today in Moscow. Depending on how you look at Moscow's almost always a big circus. But today we have tried to make a circle: the circle line metro stop 5, we learned, knowing that on that line prachige metro stations are built. We were happy not disappointed. There were really some wonderful drives in, with huge chandeliers station with fluorescent tubes and large mosaics that decorate the power of the former Soviet Union glorified. But perhaps most startling of our underground experience was, is the enormous flexibility of the ssyteem. The Metro is like a body in every place where you can feel the heartbeat, there is a tight rhythm and everything follows that rhythm. The people walking in the rhythm of the Metro, the trains arrive and depart exactly on the beat and even in the sometimes immense long escalators with what good will the beating heart of the underground feel. The Moscow Metro is alive and healthy. A funny story, told by two Dutch travelers who arrived today in our hostel, is also about the subway. As in the Netherlands used the Metro in Moscow tollgates with smart cards. The system operates in a slightly different philosophy. Where you in the Netherlands for dense stands gates, all gates are wide open in Moscow. In the Netherlands the gates open (with luck) if you have your permit for swings. In Moscow, the gates will only close if you do not pay. And how! The designer of the system, certainly a sadist, has decided that defaulters should be put quite mad. Go through a gate without pay, as our Dutch fellow travelers experienced at first hand, then shoot at knee height immediately stumbling bar between your legs and begins a aroused circus music playing. "So you think you are special and not have to pay? Entertain us but with some acrobatics! " michiel Dewit | Tags: Chip , Circus , Metro
Posted in Moscow | No Comments » 55 ° 41 'N, 37 ° 32' E February 27, 2010, 22:37 Briefly in between: who wants to learn Russian? Everyone screams how difficult Russian, but the spells to conjure a smile to be pretty easy. A few Russian words do wonders! So who does that? What you should know in Russia: We go there soon once again as good at studying. Tonight we have some nice people at a Russian party (no vodka, funny enough) has gotten some help. As you can see exactly a tongue breaker is Russian and is easily pronounce even the simplest words for a long tour ... michiel Dewit | Tags: Russian , Language
Posted in Moscow | 3 Comments » 55 ° 45 'N, 37 ° 37' E February 27, 2010, 15:22  The first day of travel. That is, yesterday we had already traveled all day, but because we started that day in Enschede, is today still really only the first real day of travel. Completely configurable, we started late in the day today. Around an hour or 10 to be exact. Still 8 hours Dutch time, but here it felt very luxurious. Yesterday I bought at the airport yet fast noise top two pair and I have certainly not regretted it. The tig-lane road from our hostel (full of nice people, incidentally) is, makes the whole day a lot of noise. Impressive, especially if a police car tearing along, all the while producing strange noises, a kind of frog that 'rabbit' says.  What do you do first if you are in Moscow? A logical question with a logical answer: you admit to all the clichés and goes to the Red Square. Two stops on the orange metro line 6 ('Kaluzhko Rizhskaya-') and we were a nice step in the right direction. A pleasant walk (not so cold) on the Varvarka street and suddenly there it was: a inmens impressive collection of buildings! Once on the square, we were overwhelmed by the grandeur, and not to forget the feeling in a photo ended up being. Very special.  The big red wall of the Kremlin is immediately apparent. You can not miss him. Then you notice right away again on St. Basil Basilica. So colorful and ... unusual. After a walk across the square and a visit to the Basilica Gum we visited. With a list (an old student of yours truly), we could see the churches at a discount. What we saw was completely different than expected under one roof, there are 10 chapels, on the optimistic signs as 'churches' indicated. Each chapel has hosted extensive collections of icons. Moreover, each chapel also has its own "secret" room in which all mystical rituals will have occurred. Oh, and cold it was there! On the Red Square was also an ice rink, sponsored by Gum. A huge runway on which the happy-few of Moscow had extended fun and attention. After visiting Gum - a department store / shopping mall where the hive is in a poor market stall - we understood the scale of the ice better. Gum is huge! The building consists of three passages, each three stories high, connected by corridors and sky bridges and covered with an impressive glass roof. In Gum are all big, expensive brands represented. What a splendor!  A guide, standing on a ladder at the ice rink, could not prevent that we were listening when he talked about past and Gum: Gum was once a department store that was open to everyone. The stuff was affordable for everyone, but the choice was minimal. Now you can not think or Gum sells it, but there is hardly a Muscovite who can pay ... And the Kremlin? We are no longer went inside. We were walking all pretty tired and overwhelmed by all the impressions. What a first day! On the way back to the hostel, we did some shopping at a supermarket and we came through a navigational error, accidentally on the busy subway station right opposite the Kremlin. We learned that in Moscow there are people directly and shamelessly push the subway to come. As if by a tidal wave is flooded! Tonight we go to Marina, the lady who originally we would spend the night. She gives a party and we are warming up  I do not think we leave, but the adventure beckons ... michiel Dewit | Tags: Gum , Kremlin , Moscow , Red Square
Posted in Moscow | 2 Comments » 55 ° 46 'N, 37 ° 38' E February 27, 2010, 14:56 Just one funny fact about how inexperienced we still are. Last night we both wanted to sleep a little shower. Delicious. Michael and I both so in another room. The shower was a slide valve, which you could move from left to right. This indicated that the left was warm sotnd Enr ight cold. After the valve had been left not warm him I turned to the right (ie to the blue, cold ball to) and prompt the crane was warm. Simply waterledingen improperly installed. When I was finished I knocked with Michael that unreported or so cold I had showered. What appeared, when in warm not hot water, he came in 30 seconds under the shower by fall without the other side to try  We still have much to learn shows. Furthermore, half of our hostel from Ikea, we feel there is so bad at home. Just e hebbenw password and optimize the wireless itnernet obsolete so we now enjoy in our room are typing. About what we all have done today writes Michael surely have some fun .... get back here now ga Iki nice shower. juutsel | Posted in Moscow | No Comments » 55 ° 46 'N, 37 ° 38' E February 26, 2010, 20:32 It is now about half past eleven at night and we are installed. It is unbelievable move went well ... all we really need to get used to the fact that they write differently here in Russia, the train went well ... but then we had in the metro and there is nowhere used the Latin script. Luckily we had already prepared and we're just in 1 time went to the hotel, nothing detour, incorrect, or search. Actually, it is also nice and warm here, a few degrees above or below 0, not much different than the Netherlands in recent weeks When we emerged from the subway came I was immediately completely impressed, what a beautiful building. We had actually expected a little more east block style with beautiful buildings that are not maintained but the 200 meters to the Hostel were dazzling. The Hostel is very cute, we have a mini room (there is a 2 pers. Bed and a table and chair). There is a mini kitchen with a kettle (tea!) And three showers and 3 toilets in the corridor. Just a moment without backpacks out to buy something to drink and see if there are shops. Great, at 50 meters a 24 hour shop with decent prices, so we have a treat broken. Michael is currently studying with a Russian American to talk, really a kind of living room atmosphere. I feel sticky, tired and satisfied, miss the washing machine now ... A very wise cousin (Otto) compared vandaaag travel with adventure, I completely agree with him. We are on a journey and the adventure really began. The stress is already at Heathrow slipped off me and for now what I did not return. Enjoy and immerse in Russia ... Moscow to begin (tomorrow is vodka made it!) juutsel | Tags: Moscow , Russia
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