Train to Tomsk
Well 26 or so hours later (the 28 hours I mentioned in my last blog was a gross exaggeration after I forgot to take the time difference into account) I arrive in Tomsk. I'm starting to get used to the way that Russian trains work now. Being on train 38 was as expected less good than the first train (number 2) but better than the second train (who's number was in the hundreds). Sadly no patriotic music to welcome the arrival of the train this time, but I suspect this is because the train continues on from Tomsk-1 to Tomsk-2. I have no idea what's in Tomsk-2 or indeed where it is, although according to my Lonely Planet there's a Tomsk-7 which is a secret nuclear research city around here somewhere, so I get the feeling that when it comes to Tomsks we're not short on the ground. It seems to be the way that Communist countries do things too. There are several instances of things being numbered. I know there's at least a Perm-1 and Perm-2 stations. There are enough dodgy perms around as it is if you ask me, but why they don't do what the rest of the world does and actually give them quaint names is beyond me. For one thing I seem to recall that it's been scientifically proven that people remember names more easily than numbers. So Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria rather than Manchester 1 or 2. I certainly had to keep checking to remind myself that it was Tomsk-1 that I needed to alight at.
The journey this time was more pleasant than the last. I was with Russians in the compartment again but they were quiet and kept to themselves while outside the sun was shining, the birds (if they could have been heard) would have been singing, or chittering as the bird life most in evidence were Magpies, and although the countryside hadn't really become any more interesting than it had been previously the bright sunlight helped sell the vista and the fact that it was getting warm in the carriage made it perfectly pleasant to hang out by one of the open windows in the carriage corridor. I did some shopping in Ekaterinburg to stock up for the journey and did what I saw other backpackers do in Moscow which was to buy meals that just required hot water (as due to the on-board Samovar this is something that isn't in short supply) so it was instant noodles Russian style all the way along with biscuits and Cadburys chocolates no less! I haven't decided if they quite taste the same as they do at home. I know it's the Peter Kaye stereotype of them being identical to the ones at home but I'm not sure if these are. Oddly the Whole Nut bar I got indicated if anything that it should be mint flavoured too but I couldn't detect any evidence of that.
So the day on board was idly spent, and it seemed to drift by easily as I listed to the music on my PDA (it's rather odd having a British soundtrack to a very Russian landscape) and before I know it bedtime had come again and the next morning came with arrival in Tomsk - well almost, in that fellow Russian passengers seem to like to get up far too early for the stop and then sit around twiddling their thumbs for an hour, but hey.
I arrived in Tomsk in the rain, and went straight to the hotel, which fortunately was nice and modern with BBC World again and even French and German TV should I feel in the mood. I got a few more hours of kippage in the most welcome comfortable hotel bed and then trudged through the rain. I went to a tourist company down the main road which my Lonely Planet mentions for doing tours. I ended up chatting to a guy there who speaks English and he ended up showing me around the sights of Tomsk for free! Alas I didn't have my camera with me as it was tipping down when I set out, but the weather improved and the sun is shining brightly now, so I'm hoping to get some photos in during the next couple of days I have here. Tomsk is a small place, my guide mentioned that there's really only three main roads running through it, but there are lots of attractive wooden buildings and some nice parks and I have the feeling it will suit me fine. No mad dash around the sights, rather a casual saunter until Friday's train to Irkutsk - which alas has a number high in the hundreds so I expect it to be some ancient decrepit thing!
I expect I'll get online again in Tomsk tomorrow or Friday, but until then farewell from a Springlike Siberia!
The journey this time was more pleasant than the last. I was with Russians in the compartment again but they were quiet and kept to themselves while outside the sun was shining, the birds (if they could have been heard) would have been singing, or chittering as the bird life most in evidence were Magpies, and although the countryside hadn't really become any more interesting than it had been previously the bright sunlight helped sell the vista and the fact that it was getting warm in the carriage made it perfectly pleasant to hang out by one of the open windows in the carriage corridor. I did some shopping in Ekaterinburg to stock up for the journey and did what I saw other backpackers do in Moscow which was to buy meals that just required hot water (as due to the on-board Samovar this is something that isn't in short supply) so it was instant noodles Russian style all the way along with biscuits and Cadburys chocolates no less! I haven't decided if they quite taste the same as they do at home. I know it's the Peter Kaye stereotype of them being identical to the ones at home but I'm not sure if these are. Oddly the Whole Nut bar I got indicated if anything that it should be mint flavoured too but I couldn't detect any evidence of that.
So the day on board was idly spent, and it seemed to drift by easily as I listed to the music on my PDA (it's rather odd having a British soundtrack to a very Russian landscape) and before I know it bedtime had come again and the next morning came with arrival in Tomsk - well almost, in that fellow Russian passengers seem to like to get up far too early for the stop and then sit around twiddling their thumbs for an hour, but hey.
I arrived in Tomsk in the rain, and went straight to the hotel, which fortunately was nice and modern with BBC World again and even French and German TV should I feel in the mood. I got a few more hours of kippage in the most welcome comfortable hotel bed and then trudged through the rain. I went to a tourist company down the main road which my Lonely Planet mentions for doing tours. I ended up chatting to a guy there who speaks English and he ended up showing me around the sights of Tomsk for free! Alas I didn't have my camera with me as it was tipping down when I set out, but the weather improved and the sun is shining brightly now, so I'm hoping to get some photos in during the next couple of days I have here. Tomsk is a small place, my guide mentioned that there's really only three main roads running through it, but there are lots of attractive wooden buildings and some nice parks and I have the feeling it will suit me fine. No mad dash around the sights, rather a casual saunter until Friday's train to Irkutsk - which alas has a number high in the hundreds so I expect it to be some ancient decrepit thing!
I expect I'll get online again in Tomsk tomorrow or Friday, but until then farewell from a Springlike Siberia!
posted by Daniel at 12:19 pm
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