Today, the only "whole" day in the train, second class. It was really enjoyable to be with our fellow Dutch 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 are locked at the stops. The train we are in a slow train, and it stops about every fifteen minutes for one minute. Generally a lot less so relaxed.
The border with Mongolia's not like we're used to in Europe, I can almost not remember what it was when you had to be checked at each border. It started about an hour or 1. The train stopped at a small station and petrovnika (railway official) came by to try to explain that we had the platform to the toilet and that the train would wait 2.5 hours, after passport control and that there is 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 had to pay, but well, not moving the toilet and this has its advantages. Marjorie and I went back to the train standing (waiting really is not) and thyme and Michael went off to the store. There was a man at the train that was busy waving and gestures for us to become so we had all the stress because we could not see the boys. I have my very hardest man was called and gestures ... Scenes on the train without Michael played itself into my brain off. When I called, the hard petrovnika who looked at me as if were crazy and said that the train has not really left. Michael and Tijmen just came running up, and ashamed, of course broken. We have some goodies in the market place and bought because it was cold we would soon sit in the compartment. After 10 minutes the train started to drive. Apparently, a lot to be moved, we think so 20 times up and down ride on that drive. In the meantime, I think, sometimes four times to the bathroom outside. You know, if you can not ... then you constantly.
By 5 o'clock the Russian cops all passports and to take all control. 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 sort 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 been told that the toilet 10 minutes and then opened again until finally we were past the next station. So all in line, because who knows how long it takes the next stop.
The next station was the Mongolian border where we have again and again shunted around the train (with dog) was checked. Take back all passports etc. The first meeting with the Mongolian people was all right, 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 nine we were off again, in the meantime no WC. As we drove away we heard from outside the train shouting 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 Ulaan Baatar to go ... but he does not.
It's cozy in the coupe, and we read many cards with our fellow travelers, but we note that for us a little tight, we are now accustomed to more spacious. It is now slightly over 10 hours and everything will be packed. Tomorrow morning at 6:30 we arrive in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar. Hopefully we can use the library of the Internet and thus post messages. If everything goes as we intended to sleep at night in a traditional Ger. Again so get up early ... .. bweh I'm now just enjoying a nice cup of tea, maybe tomorrow I get eits Yak milk or similar drink. Mongolia, here we come.
