Overland '05

Day 22 - Fri 20 May 05, Irkutsk, Russia

Up for breakfast at 9:30 (tea and pancakes) and then out to have one last look around. Got to see the wooden buildings, popped into an Internet cafe to check e-mails, and then into the market to get supplies for the train. Got some cheese, bread, chocolate, and vodka. Then it was back to the homestay, and great news the water is back on. So after a cheese sandwich I managed to get a hot shower, and felt much refreshed.

15:30 came, and there was no sign of our lift to the railway station. We rang our contact, and found out that he was downstairs waiting for us! Got to the station with no incident.

Found my carriage and thought I was going to have it to myself, but 5 mins before departure my carriage mate appeared. His name is Mikael, he works for Coke, and he's heading home for the weekend.

The carriage is very plush, and even has a flat screen TV - I wandered down the train, and sure enough I found Lucinda and Will. They have a four berth carriage all to themselves. They too went to Liveskana, but they didn't really like it as much as I did. Isn't is strange how different people can view the same place from completely different angles!

The train is hacking a long at a fair old rate now - we've just had a bread and cheese supper with some chocolate from the market.

The scenery is very different now, it is green and verdant. The provodniitsa has been out with the vacuum cleaner, and the Australian tour group are having a meeting at the other end of the carriage.