Trans-Mongolian Express

Just had a great trip across Siberia to Mongolia. Rocking away in a compartment for four days isn't as claustrophobic as it sounds. We had a shared 'shower'. And the wide wide world out the window. Lot's of travelers to chat with. The Conductor guys shepherding us, had their  hands full wrangling passengers at all the stops along the way.  Practiced my Chinese with them, a little bit. Louis Vuittoon was aboard with a film crew documenting every whistle stop. On the train platforms, ladies with their portable markets were selling boiled eggs, mutton-stuffed fry breads, apples, crackers, pop...and snap

                                                                         a station

           There was never more than 20 minutes at any given stop so exploring was a bit curtailed. So a lot of the photos will look painterly because they were mostly take through dirty windows. A very special effect.

                                                                 Midnight whistle stop

          Sunset with TV reflection. Russian pre-recorded MTV accompanied meals in the dining car

                                  Every town has a tower. This one only appears to be leaning

 Spring comes late to the north east. People had just begun planting their vegetable gardens

                                           the middle of nowhere has taken on new meaning

                               The famous Lake Baikal. The silver buckle on the Tsar's Siberian belt

                                        "we rolled right past that tragedy' sang Ms. Mitchell

                                                                           Wiggly