July 31- Aug 1
Our first train journey
was from Vladivostok to Khabarovsk, 588 km over 8 hrs. We needed our passports
to board the train and the bookings were checked electronically by the
provodnitsa. The trains are well appointed in second class with 24 berths per
carriage. I slept well in our four berth couchette, with blankets and sheets
and neat reading lights and two toilets per carriage. We had breakfast of
porridge before getting up. The in carriage samovar has been replaced by a hot
water heater that we are using avidly. It was useful to have a short journey
now because we know what to expect on the train. I enjoy walking up and down
the carriage and looking out of the windows.
We had 2 nights In Khabarovsk
located in the Far Eastern part of Russia, beyond Siberia. The town had two
dramatic cathedrals with glistening domes. Next to one was a huge modernist
second world war memorial with thousands of names, just reading them was
moving. We visited an excellent museum with displays about life in Russia
across the centuries and depicted a gulag camp in the 1940’s. There was a
fascinating display of political carpets made over the 20 century and
celebrating political leaders including Stalin and a female cosmonaut on a deep
blue background. In the evening we went on a river cruise and saw a huge bridge
and sunset whilst sipping Russian champagne.
People were surprised that English travellers should be in Khabarovsk.
We liked the city, it
felt remote but laid back and was easy to walk around. The weather has been
very changeable, Misty in the morning, then hot at midday and with rainstorms
in the afternoon.
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