OVERNIGHT the train crossed the (apparently) inconspicuous Ural Mountains marking the geographical boundary between Asia and Europe. Today was my first day in Europe. From the Urals the track turned a little southward to cross the hills and plains of the Volga towards Moscow.
Before crossing the ranges last night we stopped in Yekaterinburg where a young rail engineer joined our little cabin. In the morning I discovered he speaks reasonable English, so he taught me some Russian before revealing his dream is to do a trip to Australia and New Zealand - the two countries I know best. This led to my Russian lesson being cut short as we discussed all the things he could do down under.
A great way to pass my third day on the train to Moscow...
Blogs from today:
Irkutsk to Moscow on the Trans-Siberian Express
Pyongyang to St Petersburg by train
Coast to coast across Eurasia
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