Guess what...more trees! We are Tiaga wilderness. I know I am witnessing all Siberia has to offer. I am here in late June, the sunny days are long and it is beautiful. The wilderness is seemingly unending, it is green an lush. It looks so appealing. To the north of us there is very little in terms of habitation and then you reach the polar circle. I fully realize this season is short lived. Soon the reality of short summer and the brutally long winter be realized. This region will soon fall into a deep freeze for 8 months until next years summer.
This reminds me of a joke my boss told me...There is a man in the mid-western US while the region is in the middle of a cold spell. This streak of cold weather has hit the US hard and lingered around for a several weeks. He is talking to a business associate on the phone in Siberia. The Russian inquires about the weather. The American informs him about the cold spell and the -30 degree weather. The Russian agree that it is brutally cold and shares him sympathy with his associate. He says that sometimes it gets that cold in Siberia too. The American reassures him that his house has good insulation and that they have plenty of firewood to keep warm in the cold weather. The Russian says, "Oh...you're referring to the temperature outside, I was referring to the temperature inside.".
Today I estimate I am on the opposite side of the world from my home. It just reminds me that there is an entire world of people here I don't often even consider their existence. They are also created in God's image and just as valuable to Him as I am. Today also mark the half way to Vladivostok, but we will get off of the train in Irkutsk.
In the afternoon the scenery is starting to give way to rollings hills. There are humble little shacks, in various stages of upkeep, nestled into the hillside. The plains are sprinkled with little purple and yellow flowers. It is truly picturesque. Krasnoyarsk is certainly not what I was expecting when I thought of Siberia.
Today’s trains stops include:
Krasnoyarsk: 2526 miles (4065 km); 2d 9h 20 min. - Krasnoyarsk is turning into one of the most attractive regions in Russia for both Russian and foreign tourists. The region offers a unique combination of beautiful rivers and mountains, clean air, hunting and fishing, architectural sites and the ethnic culture of a unique northern nation.
Ilanskaya – This 20 minute stop allowed us to sample local cuisine...Piroshki. They are similar to a hot pocket. Bread stuffed with with either veggies or meat. And of course I had to top that off with ice cream.
Angarsk: 3177 miles (5113 km); 3d 2h 20min. - A hazardous city with unsightly landscapes. Recently the construction of an oil pipeline between Russia and China, which would begin in Angarsk, has been discussed.
IRKUTS: 3202 miles (5153 km); 3d 3h 20min. - Irkutsk has over 600,000 people and is located on the Angara River. It is the starting point for many who adventure to the Lake Baikal area because it is a major point on the Trans-Siberian/Trans-Mongolian train route. Founded by Russians in 1652 as a major fort beyond the Ural Mountains, it was populated by exiled political prisoners sent by the tsars and communists. Today, the city has become a college town with many young people attending universities there.
This reminds me of a joke my boss told me...There is a man in the mid-western US while the region is in the middle of a cold spell. This streak of cold weather has hit the US hard and lingered around for a several weeks. He is talking to a business associate on the phone in Siberia. The Russian inquires about the weather. The American informs him about the cold spell and the -30 degree weather. The Russian agree that it is brutally cold and shares him sympathy with his associate. He says that sometimes it gets that cold in Siberia too. The American reassures him that his house has good insulation and that they have plenty of firewood to keep warm in the cold weather. The Russian says, "Oh...you're referring to the temperature outside, I was referring to the temperature inside.".
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| View of the plains from the train. |
In the afternoon the scenery is starting to give way to rollings hills. There are humble little shacks, in various stages of upkeep, nestled into the hillside. The plains are sprinkled with little purple and yellow flowers. It is truly picturesque. Krasnoyarsk is certainly not what I was expecting when I thought of Siberia.
 |
| Cottages on a hillside. |
Krasnoyarsk: 2526 miles (4065 km); 2d 9h 20 min. - Krasnoyarsk is turning into one of the most attractive regions in Russia for both Russian and foreign tourists. The region offers a unique combination of beautiful rivers and mountains, clean air, hunting and fishing, architectural sites and the ethnic culture of a unique northern nation.
Ilanskaya – This 20 minute stop allowed us to sample local cuisine...Piroshki. They are similar to a hot pocket. Bread stuffed with with either veggies or meat. And of course I had to top that off with ice cream.
Angarsk: 3177 miles (5113 km); 3d 2h 20min. - A hazardous city with unsightly landscapes. Recently the construction of an oil pipeline between Russia and China, which would begin in Angarsk, has been discussed.
IRKUTS: 3202 miles (5153 km); 3d 3h 20min. - Irkutsk has over 600,000 people and is located on the Angara River. It is the starting point for many who adventure to the Lake Baikal area because it is a major point on the Trans-Siberian/Trans-Mongolian train route. Founded by Russians in 1652 as a major fort beyond the Ural Mountains, it was populated by exiled political prisoners sent by the tsars and communists. Today, the city has become a college town with many young people attending universities there.
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