At 8.30 local time I boarded long distance train. Passport is always checked while boarding – your name is always printed on the Russian Railways ticket. “Platskartny” car category is like a 3rd class similar to the europen couchettes but not divided into compartments. There are also extra 2 tiers of bunks along the aisle. Upper berths are little cheaper. sheets, pillow and little towel are included.
Siberian flat plains on the other side of the window. Wild country, huge unused areas… Birch forests. In the corner of every car there is distributor of free “kipyatok” – boiling water – people use it to prepare tea, coffee, instant soup…
Soon we started a talk with local people – they are very friendly and courious that the foreigner speaks their language.
After 7 hours I left the train in Tyumen. Soon I boarded another train for 3-hours trip to Tobolsk. Society in the car was completly different: rude, noisy, drunk people. The weather changed, it was already raining when in the dark we reached Tobolsk. My friend Alla was waiting for me at the platform – soon in her flat I was enjoying hot tea with honey and bliny with cottage cheese. It is so good to have such a friend!
