The Adventures of Julie: June 2008

Thursday, June 19, 2008

From Russia with Love

Russia. How to describe my adventures here. Here are some snapshots and thoughts.

We arrived at Lake Baikal, in Siberia Russia, after a 30 hour train ride. Lake Baikal is the world's deepest lake. It could supply the world with water for the next 40 years. We stayed at this amazing place called Nikkitas Homestay. The lake was out our back door and we had three amazing meals a day included. We enjoyed their Banya, Russian Sauna, where you pour heated water over your body to wash and relax in the heated Sauna, and we spend a day biking around the lake and having a picnic lunch. We even braved the water, which is freezing, but it is said if you go in, it adds 25 years to your life.

We jumped back on the train for our longest leg of the trip, 72 hours. It honestly went by so fast. I would wake up, make fresh tea, with the hot water that is provided on all the trains, have a nice breakfast. Then, read or journal or listen to my ipod. We usually had a stop around 9 and 12, so I would get off and get food, or just stretch. We got to know others who were traveling the same route, so afternoons were usually spent in someones area, we each had a sleeping bunk in a room with four beds. We were in third class, so our beds were smaller, and we had no doors to our room. A couple of our friends were in 2nd, so we were usually in their space. We played cards and hung out. Then, bedtime.

Suzdal was our next stop, an idyllic Russian town, straight out of a fairy book. Seriously, green everywhere, old fashioned churches, a river running though the town, picture perfect houses. And we arrived in the middle of a Russian holiday. Made getting a room a little tricky, but we got to see an awesome Russian play with dancing and enjoy the festival atmosphere.

And then onto Moscow!! It really was such a feeling to stand in Red Square and to see the Kremlin and Lenin's tomb and all the things that you read and hear about. I loved Moscow, it is a beautiful city, full of parks and well laid out with a great metro. We did the tourist route, seeing the Kremlin, Lenin's embalmed body, which is very creepy, St. Basil's cathedral, and a river cruise.

Monday, June 2, 2008

From Sunshine to Snow

So, we are officially on the trans-siberian railroad. And it is COLD!! It actually snowed, when we first got into Mongolia. It has been a little bit of a shock. I am surviving okay. Just don't smell my feet. I only brought one pair of socks and I have been wearing them for about a week now.

We have taken the train from Beijing to Ulan Baatar, Mongolia and tonight will be leaving on the next leg to Lake Baikal in Siberia Russia. Then on the Moscow. We will spend 7 days on the train total, with our longest stretch being about 80 hours. We shared our cabin with a really nice Mongolian couple when we came from Beijing. We also had a couple other travelers we had met up with and we spent time talking with them and playing cards. It was a great trip. We have a sleeper car, so we have lots of space to relax.

We have been enjoying Mongolia. It is beautiful, lots of open space and nature. We did a trip out to a national park near here, and stayed in a ger. You can see some of the pictures. Don't forget to check facebook for all my pictures.