Russia

Altai Russia

Just left Mongolia and I’m now on my way back to Kazakhstan, done the road before but its still a very beautiful one. Some impressions from the crossing below.

L8722556L8722625L8722631L8722622L8722583L8722611L8722618L8722667L8722643L8722676L8722679

Lake Baikal

Finally I reached the main destination - Lake Baikal.

First I visited the Baikal Museum for a guided tour and the history about the unique place. The baikal lake is very very old and holds the most fresh water of lakes, it is the deepest (about 1650m) and even further if you would consider the buildup morass (this could add up other 9000m, yep the lake is so old and has even is own bail seal. Also it hold s few of the rarest fish breads and not only a few can only be found in the lake. The water is so clean and so pure that you could use it to top up your car battery.

Anyway. Now the visit of the main Village Listwjanka. This looks like a sunny holiday resort and it really is. Small tourist markets, beaches, ice cream, bars, restaurants and hotels. Went also for a 3 hour boat cruise. What a water, you could really see downwards for meters. And the water itself was like silk, so smooth. This, I can say for sure, is best water I have seen so far!

Worth a visit and for a stay of at least 5 days. The one and a half I had was way to short to enjoy the lake fully.

L8721160L8721161L8721314L8721182L8721189L8721233L8721260L8721276L8721279IMG_3156L8721310L8721318L8721329

On our way to Baikal

Now, what’s like to be on the trans-sibirian train - the normal one, not the Zaren-Gold.

Well, it’s very, very standard and not well equipment. Simple 4 bed cabins. Sometimes clima does work, sometimes you cannot open the cabin windows for fresh air. And its cramped and so on. There are also the open coaches, not very pleasant. Would not recommend to use them but there were three ladies from Bolivia who chosed the open one on purpose. Not my cup of tea but hey.

Compared to the night trips from china which are similar looking, there are also no washing facilities apart from one basin for each toilet. If you are lucky there might be a shower available on one of the few lengthy stops - if you got the key and they would tell you.

On this first stint to Yekaterinburg I was together with Olga, Kati and here daughter Lisa. You can’t wish for a more lovely fellow passengers.

The second stint to Irkutsk I had a 4 bed cabin for myself, the next two nights two from Russia joint me. On the second train I meet quite a few tourist from all over the world: As already stated - Boliva, South Africa, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Netherland, Switzerland, England, France......

As for the landscape, it wasn’t what I would have expected. Very greenish and treeish, more like somewhere in Europe, I expected far more swamps, green lands, a lot of brown lands, mountains or even hills, rivers, lakes etc. etc. At least the villages in between told you that you were somewhere else.

IMG_2688IMG_2694L8721097L8721091IMG_2709IMG_2700IMG_2715IMG_2745IMG_2840IMG_2845IMG_2850L8720751L8720788IMG_2872IMG_2887IMG_2885IMG_3041IMG_3057IMG_3071IMG_3087IMG_2795IMG_2794IMG_2748IMG_2724

Yekaterinburg

In Moscow went on the trans-sibirian train again and the next major stop before the lake Baikal was Yekaterinburg.

The city is famous for steel, gold on and on and on. During the sorwjet times it wasn’t open for foreigners. But it is also known for Boris Jelzin and the shooting of the last Zar, the Romanovs.

Only had one day, but I had a damn good and funny guide. Best you can wish for. First I had simple tour de city about the modern world of Yekaterinburg as it is a city made for the industry. As a result the city is a bit of mixed bag architectural wise. Bauhaus here, modern there and in-between old merchant houses and then social housing. Compared to the ones before this city feels a lot more open and grounded. Really likable!!

But of course I went on the footsteps of the Romanovs, which means visiting the Church on the Red Blood build were they were shoot and then the place in the woods were they tried to get rid of the bodies - which is now the place of monastery.

For the rest of the day went for a city stroll before I jumped back on the trans-sibirian train.

L8720801L8720797L8720812L8720847L8720853L8720899L8720904L8720916L8720950L8720984L8720987L8720997L8721038L8721050L8721059L8721060L8721080

Moscow

After a 3 and a half hour train I reached Moscow.

A large City, and it feels a bit like a swiss one as a lot is upper class. Off course we went to the „Roter Platz“ and the Kreml, but as everything is also on a large scale went on a hop-on guided bus tour for the rest of the day. For the second one I had a private city tour. Were lucky as the guide was very good and I could also skip the queue for the Kreml-Tour. The Kreml itself was rather surprisingly as it was really open for visitors and I could have good walk around, of course I couldn’t enter any of the main buildings apart from the cathedrals. I for sure was expecting a more strict access and a lot fenced off, but it wasn’t. Could also exit the Kreml via the main door towards the KGB - thanks to Putin this is now a public exit.

They were setting up a stage on the Roter Platz as tonight were the celebrations for the school graduates.

Visited the grave of the unkwon soldier. Late afternoon went for a small boot cruise in front of the Kreml.

In addition they were setting up small wooden shops etc for the weekend close to the Kreml and within the main shoppings street - and I’ve been told they do this for every weekend. Cool.

Late afternoon the year-end school graduates started with their celebrations. It was a bit strange for someone from the west. First every „school“ laid red roses on the grave of the unknown soldier, one ofter the other. Also the celebrations were fenced off , so we could only watch form the far.

Next a bit of night life and a stroll through the shopping streets with its restaurants, bars and pubs. At about eleven I went to the Roter Platz to see whats going on. Total mayhem. Loud music with a lot of oomph, a bit of a light show and the graduates entered from the inside of the Kreml. Yes! And at the main gate you could the see them parting inside the Kreml. A least some large beachballs were flying around. Unbelievable! And for the end a major firework for about 25min.

So, thats Moscow now.

IMG_2578L8720481L8720483L8720614L8720542L8720553L8720560L8720544L8720571L8720579L8720580L8720600L8720532L8720505L8720592L8720713L8720648L8720518IMG_2631IMG_2654IMG_2645

St. Petersburg

On my journey back to Ulaanbaatar. First Stop ST. Petersburg

What an impressive city! It is not that old (about 300 years), but it looks nice and very similar to Vienna but everything is on a larger scale, very! Worth a visit, better a few to get around. Anyway. Stayed in the lovely hostel „Friends of Dom Knigi“ - it only has two-bed rooms, but the interior is rather lovely. Highly recommended.

As I only had about three days I’ve done few city walks and a boot tour, which I would recommend to at least get a feel of the size of St. Petersburg. Visited the Hermitage. It is located right at the riverfront in the Winter-Palace. Very majestic. But I have to raise a complain - most of the descriptions are Russian only, thats not up to date for such an museum.

All in all an very European city with good street life. A must-visit.


IMG_2554IMG_2561IMG_2562

L8719945
L8719909L8719858L8720122L8720030L8720182L8720206L8720230L8720272L8720277L8720305L8720328L8720365L8720393L8720403L8720330L8720356L8719925



My way back to Ulaanbaatar

Now the long awaited update to our Journey.


After 3 long weeks relaxing and not doing a hell lot in Germany we will back on the road... ahh... train again. Yes, we will take the Trans-Siberian Train from St. Petersburg via Moscow, Jekaterinburg, Irkutsk & Listvyanka to Ulaanbaatar.


  1. 20.06 Flight to St. Petersburg
  2. 21/22.06 Sightseeing - St. Petersburg
  3. 23.06 Train to Moskau
  4. 24.06 Guided city walk including the Kreml Area
  5. 25.06 Trans-Sibirian Train to Jekaterinburg
  6. 26.06 Jekaterinburg - Guided city walk
  7. 27/28.6 Trans-Sibirian Train
  8. 29.06 Arrival Irkutsk. Direct transfer to Listvyanka, Guided city walk Listvyanka incl Baikal-Museum
  9. 30.06 Stay Listvyanka, Baikal Boat Trip, return to Irkutsk
  10. 01.07 Irkutsk - Guided city walk
  11. 02.07 Trans-Sibirian Train
  12. 03.07 Ulaanbaatar


Our beloved Landy awaits us fully restored in Ulaanbaatar (will it be the same after the awful crash? It’s a Landy....) and we will continue our small trip around Asia. After Ulaanbaatar will head down to the Gobi desert and some very interesting places before turning towards Erenhot for our Overland Journey across China towards Tibet and Nepal.



Transibirische-Eisenbahn

Enter Kazakhstan

Now, my main journey starts for real - Enter Kazakhstan. This should be an easy boarder crossing as the visa requirements for Germans are relative easy (15 Days Visa free....)

First the Russian Checkpoint. This was no comparison. Friendly, Helpful, smiling, asking question, not much paper work. This was a breeze and only 15min. But the get off was a mess. A single road for Cars and Trucks and both ways. and the Road was not made of Tarmac. to get to the Kazakhstan Boarder we moved very very slowly for about 70min. This was so far the first last place where I saw German number plates.

The Kazakhstan Checkpoint was easy going. First I had to get the immigration forms (not much to fill in) and a small paper stating that two want to enter. Next was the passport control. About 5 Minutes and 3 stamps. Done. Car inspection - hmm maybe 5 minutes and I we go.


IMG_1002IMG_1008

Russia - Toljatti

Tolyatti, the home of Lada and a city thats existence is based on Lada. Well, the Lada plants couldn’t be listed for whatever reason(s). So, I had to relish the main city on over a two dull days. And to do this I went for a Russian taxi cruise to main park. However as winter just hasn’t finished it was grey muddy misty and not the sexiest place. But at least there were was a political demo (very well surveyed by the state) in true Russian colors - Red and Hammer & Chisel.

IMG_0952IMG_0968IMG_0976IMG_0978IMG_0981IMG_0982

Driving in Russia

Well, this is an experience for sure. The Russian Driving style is not as bad as the Polish. This is for sure, but still very mad and very close to hara-kiri. And then there are no road marking for lanes and whatsoever. Have a guess.

But the roads are..... well awful terrible. If you think the roads in Germany, UK or Ireland have potholes, think again. Those are nothing compared to Russia. Potholes everywhere and up to 2 square-meter in size and 30cm in depth. You are driving zig-zag finding the best route along the roads. They must made a fortune on tyres and shocks around in Russia!

The surrounding landscape is however compensating. The villages and cities are poor and in often in a very bad state. Basically rundown. But the nature gives an impression of a big natural nothing. Wildness pure.

IMG_0817IMG_0888IMG_0909IMG_0859IMG_0936IMG_0918

Smolensk

Our first destination in Russia was Smolensk. Famous for the old city wall, also known as the Small Kreml. We went for a short walk around the main wall alongside the river Dnepr. And then of course the Uspensky Cathedral. Very, very nice and large. The Interior is impressive and a lot of, I mean a lot , of gold.

As for the dinner I went for the Temnitsa, located inside the Kreml wall. Definitely an upper class restaurant. Big old typical Russian chairs. Wall carpets and massive tables. Food was very very good and very affordable, basically a full three meal course plus drinks for two person for about 35 Euros. And then the waiters - took a selfy including us!


IMG_0837IMG_0835IMG_0838IMG_0842IMG_0850

We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted, analyses traffic and to understand where our audience is coming from. For more information please view our GDPR Section.