Author: Silke

Today we wanted to see the old town of Kolywan about 50 km away. Novosibirsk is very large! Unfortunately, we failed on public transport, although a supernice Novosibirskerin accompanied us to our transfer point. She drove around with us for about 1 hour, invited us on the first bus ride and then waited with us even though she still had to go to work. Thank you Irina!!! That illuminated the day! After a few attempts it worked quite well to have a small conversation with the translation app "Google Translator".

Unfortunately, several minibuses of line 326 passed by at the Stanislavskogo Square stop without stopping. Since it was very stormy we decided to cancel the trip, have a coffee and take the bus to the hotel. That worked out wonderfully! In the buses, by the way, there is always a conductor who comes around after departure and collects. For the trip with the trolleybus 24 we paid 18 rubles (approx. 0.25 €) each.

In the evening we were again very good food in the restaurant Baranzhar!

Silke

Today at noon we arrived in Novosibirsk in rainy weather. In the evening we were in the city in the restaurant "Puppen Haus"! Very sweet and imaginatively furnished like a large doll's house. Reiner had shrimp skewers on mushrooms with fried vegetables and I had a corn cream soup and baked potatoes with salad!There was also tapped beer and homemade cranberry juice. Everything very tasty and nicely prepared!To find good restaurants, we often follow TripAdvisor's recommendations. It has been worth it a few times.

Silke

Today we continue with the Transsib overnight to Novosibirsk. This time we have the two lower beds! I just lost to Reiner at The Carcassonne! At the moment 4 Russians are playing cards on Reiner's side!

Silke

On the night of 16. – 17. 7.1918, that is, 100 years ago, the last Russian tsar was shot by the Bolsheviks together with his wife and children in Yekaterinburg.

Exactly where the house stood where the execution of the Tsar's family took place, the Russian Orthodox "Cathedral on the Blood" was built in 2002/03.

Yekaterinburg is located east of the Ural Mountains and is thus the border town of Europe to Asia. The time difference to Achim near Bremen is three hours more and the temperature today 9 degrees less. At 13 degrees daytime high and 5 degrees at night we are happy about our thick jackets.

Old and new mix here colorfully mixed up. Tram drivers decorate their cabs with curtains and teddy bears!

Silke

After about 27 hours we reached our first stage destination Ekaterinburg. Sunny 6 degrees!

We had a 4 bed compartment with a literal Russian.

Very nice are the stops with a slightly longer stay.

Many guests and staff get off and walk onto the platform. In Vekova we were offered by "flying merchants" among others blue berries and cranberries, sandwiches and mineral water. Chandeliers, jewellery and stuffed squirrels were also on offer.

in Druzhinino not only the children got vanilla ice cream but also the poodles!

Silke

Here we go! Trans-Siberian Railway First Stage!

This morning on the way to the train we were amazed how thoroughly the streets are cleaned after the Moscow birthday! With water cannon and scrubber!!!

Silke

Today it celebrates the 871st birthday of the city of Moscow! It took us a little while to figure out what the many security forces and barriers mean! Another farewell cocktail at Red Square and tomorrow we go to the Transsib!

Silke

On the second day of our trip, I tested our travel health insurance extensively!

We wanted to get our train tickets quickly, so I stumbled up the stairs of the metro station Aleksoevskaya.

I suffered a pretty deep puncture wound to my knee.Back at the hotel, the receptionist called an ambulance.

With blue light through Moscow! Luckily, Reiner was allowed to join in.

Language barrier was quite obstructive but with translation app and partly some English speaking hospital staff it went.Small surgery and at about 3:00 o'clock we were allowed to go.

Have slept this morning and while Reiner got the tickets I sat in the café for a few hours. Walking slowly works. Blessing in disguise.

Silke