Hi, regarding the transiberian train: take lots of books as it is very boring!


Also, get a 1st class ticket if you can. It is not "1st class" as we know it! That will be a cabin with 4 bunk beds. 2 down, 2 up.


I would advise you to get a lower bunk bed. Like that, you can sit at lower ground, else you will need to climb up to the upper bunk bed to sit, not great. Russians don't sit on someone else bunk bed, even during the day, even if you are on the upper level!


Also it means that you can use the side table by the window.


Pot noodles seems to be the staple diet on the train. You can buy it easily on shops, when the train stops and there is constant boiling water for free in the coaches. Bring your cup!

The train's schedule is in the corridor, get familiar with Cyrillic to understand it as it tells where and how long it will stop! I advise you to bring stuff like tins of pate or sardines, bread or stuff like that as well.

Make friends with the restaurant staff and the ladies there will let you recharge your electronics behind the counter, else it is hard to find an available electric plug (only few per coach so always busy!).


Russian don't seem to use the restaurant coach (too expensive fro them?) so it's a good place to spend part of the boring day....

See details of our journey and shipping bikes on the transiberian from Irkutsk to Moscow and how to get the bikes out of the station in Moscow here:
The franglais-riders motorcycle adventures around the world....: Into Siberia!


Cheers.

__________________
Maria

www.franglais-riders.com