Trans Siberian - Irkutsk to Ekaterinburg (50hrs... f**k!)

The morning of our mega train journey we headed to the supermarket and loaded up on provisions. After the first stint we figured we had the amount of vodka about right but had under-catered on the food. So with one bottle each and a lot more food we headed to the station.

Unfortunately this was not the party train we had first experienced. To say that we were the black sheep of our carriage would be an understatement. Our neighbours didn't really appreciate our taste in music, singing ability or the fact we were playing charades and having a good time. After multiple requests to be quiet we decided it was time to go to sleep even though it was only still 10pm and daylight. At least it was just us 3 in the cabin for the first night. 

The following day was pretty much a repeat of the first. We copped a few scowls but just kept smiling back and saying hello which seemed to be working with our stewardess, if not all our fellow passengers. After day two we realised that cabin fever had set in and we'd be useless in prison. Gina in particular was suffering from limited cigarette breaks and going cold turkey on her Diet Coke addiction.

Early in the morning of the 3rd day we were joined in the cabin by an odd little Russian guy. He didn't speak any English and despite the obvious, that our Russian was equally non-existent, that didn't stop him trying to talk to us. It also seemed like he was drinking a cup of tea every 30mins. That probably explains why he had to get down from the top bunk just as regularly to use the toilet. He eventually left us in a little town called Perm just before Ekaterinburg. A few hours later we arrived in Ekaterinburg at 10pm and glad to be off that bloody train. We even got a laugh and a smile from our grumpy old stewardess. Maybe she was just happy to the back of us.