81 hours, 3221 miles and 5 timezones!!

We are off the train and in Irkutsk, the train journey was brilliant, we met some great people and we weren't bored once!

For the first 8 hours we were joined in our cabin by 4 guys that were travelling for work (2 Russians and 2 from Kazakhstan) they spoke a little English and we got on well - they bought us beer and food and wouldn't let us get any. It would have been good if they had been on the whole journey (at least we would have been able to buy some beers for them), but it was not to be. As they were leaving they gave us some good advice, some sweets and also a 200 Kazahkstan note - we wanted to give something in return but didn't have anything other than the Canadian Whisky that had been given to us (thanks Charlene) so we gave them that. They were chuffed (that means happy Stas).

After that we moved cabins for a day to allow a family of 4 to share and not be split up - it meant we gave up our much sought after bottom bunks in return for top bunks but it was only a night. This also meant we were now sharing a cabin with a soldier (he was quiet and read a lot, Vcky wanted to try his hat on but we missed the opportunity) and 3 other people over the course of the night.

The following morning after a hearty breakfast of salami and cheese we had a wander up and down the train - we're glad we went for 2nd class, 3rd class were literally just piled up in one long carriage. We also appeared to be the only westerners on the train which we felt quite proud of. Back at our carriage we got invited to sit in with the family we'd given our cabin to, they spoke no English, and our Russian has only improved very slightly but we just about managed to make conversation, they taught us a new card game and exchanged photos spending quite a lot of the day with them. That evening the family left and we got our bottom bunks back - and it turned out the cabin to ourselves for the next day and a half.

(the next sentence should be read in a soft Geordie accent)
Day 3 on the train, and Vicky and Glen awoke in their private cabin and had a nice relaxing day taking in the scenery, chatting, reading, eating, drinking and playing cards.
Despite the length of the journey, the scenery changes very little. Most in through woodland and marshes with the occasional climb and descent when you can see further up/down the valley to more woods and some fields. There are also a number of small towns and villages - many of them made up of wooden shacks and dirt roads - it looks more like something from the wildwest!

There are a few stops along the way, most only for a couple of minutes witha couple of 20/30 minute stops each day when you can get off, stretch you legs and buy anything from full roast meals to china cats and chandaliers from the Babushkas at the station.

To sum it up, we loved the journey and especially spending time with the people we met. I'm sure it's been said before (if not may I forever be quoted), but the true joy of travelling comes not from the places you go but the people you meet.