2144 km to Moscow
The train stopped shortly after breakfast at Tyuman (the oldest city in Siberia). On the other slide of the platform sat the train heading east towards beijing, a Russian train with more surly looking attendants than our Chinese ones.
We said goodbye to Siberia and carried on to Yekaterinburg. This town has quite a history. In a villa nearby the Russian royal family, the romanovs, were brutally executed at the hands of the bolsheviks in 1918. After being held under arrest for two months the entire family was shot, bayonetted, dismembered and then burnt.
Also in the same vicinity, us pilot Gary powers was captured when his U2 spy plan was shot down. The soviets found undeniable proof that he had been spying and made quite a song and dance about it. The song became popular, and then a band was formed, initially called powers, but then renamed U2. The bands lead singers name is the short form of BelieveitOrNOt.
Despite the infamy of the town, we only had 20 mins in the station, just enough time to stretch our legs a bit and hum Billy Joels "we didn't start the fire".
We left Asia at km 1777 from Moscow and passed through the urals. Then came Perm, where Robert bought a smoked salmon sandwich for 30 roubles (1$) and we stocked up on bread, orange juice and hard boiled eggs for tomorrow's breakfast of kings.
Tonight is our last night on this train. We battle on to Moscow tomorrow. The fan in our cabin packed in, so we have been moved to the adjoining cabin. Should take us about 10 mins to mess it up like the last one.
We may try some vodka to celebrate the last night and the us independence day, with our american fellow travellers. Any excuse to try some on the train. Can't be worse than last night's russian champagne (champansky).
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Location:2144 km to Moscow
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