To get you in the Russian mindset, I have to ask the following question: Have you ever ridden on an overnight train? If you answer YES to this question, you understand what I am trying to describe. If you answer NO, well, hold on for this experience!!
To answer my own question, I HAVE ridden on an overnight train before. When I was studying abroad in France, a group of us did the overnight train to the south of France. This question is important, because I knew what to expect on an overnight train, well, I at least thought I did!
We, Jess, Caroline, Cathy, and myself, boarded the overnight train to St. Petersburg at 8:15pm for the 12 hour train ride. When we got on the train we were expecting 2nd class accommodations, a 4 bed closed compartment. (A closed compartment means there is a door-curtain for some type of privacy and a 4 bed compartment means that two beds are stacked on each wall.) Well, we were not that lucky. When we first entered the car, we walked down the hallway for about 5 feet and then the car opened up and all we saw were rows of beds. NO privacy! What the hell, this isn't second class!! This must be wrong!! Long story short, we were in the right car and the right class! What have we gotten ourselves into!! To add to our excitement of the night, our beds were not in the 4 bed compartment, but our beds were next to the isle.
At that point all we could do was make the best of our situation. So, we settled in for the night, the long night! As were pondering our situation, Jess simply says, "I'm going to die on this train," and Cathy proceeds to laugh hysterically while Caroline and myself follow suit! Because we were laughing so hard at our predicament, tears began to flow and our fellow car began to take notice of our hysteria. There was no hiding our laughter, it was there for all to hear and see. At this point, the passengers began laughing either with us or at us. We are not quite sure!
Eventually our laughter subsided and we made our beds and went to sleep clutching our lifeline. (Lifeline meaning our passport, money, and credit card.) When I woke the next morning, we had all survived the night!
General Observations about the Train
While laying in my top bunk next to the isle, I realized I was eye-level with people waking by. Its a creepy feeling knowing people are eyeing you up in that position. Creepy!!
People changed into their pajamas for the night and then changed into there clothes for the next day right in the open.
All varieties of people are in the 2nd class. (The train ticket to St. Petersburg only cost 700 Rubles which is $23.00, while the price of the ticket back cost 1000 Rubles which is $34.00. So it was rather reasonable.)
People bring food and drinks for the long train ride.
To answer my own question, I HAVE ridden on an overnight train before. When I was studying abroad in France, a group of us did the overnight train to the south of France. This question is important, because I knew what to expect on an overnight train, well, I at least thought I did!
We, Jess, Caroline, Cathy, and myself, boarded the overnight train to St. Petersburg at 8:15pm for the 12 hour train ride. When we got on the train we were expecting 2nd class accommodations, a 4 bed closed compartment. (A closed compartment means there is a door-curtain for some type of privacy and a 4 bed compartment means that two beds are stacked on each wall.) Well, we were not that lucky. When we first entered the car, we walked down the hallway for about 5 feet and then the car opened up and all we saw were rows of beds. NO privacy! What the hell, this isn't second class!! This must be wrong!! Long story short, we were in the right car and the right class! What have we gotten ourselves into!! To add to our excitement of the night, our beds were not in the 4 bed compartment, but our beds were next to the isle.
At that point all we could do was make the best of our situation. So, we settled in for the night, the long night! As were pondering our situation, Jess simply says, "I'm going to die on this train," and Cathy proceeds to laugh hysterically while Caroline and myself follow suit! Because we were laughing so hard at our predicament, tears began to flow and our fellow car began to take notice of our hysteria. There was no hiding our laughter, it was there for all to hear and see. At this point, the passengers began laughing either with us or at us. We are not quite sure!
Eventually our laughter subsided and we made our beds and went to sleep clutching our lifeline. (Lifeline meaning our passport, money, and credit card.) When I woke the next morning, we had all survived the night!
General Observations about the Train
While laying in my top bunk next to the isle, I realized I was eye-level with people waking by. Its a creepy feeling knowing people are eyeing you up in that position. Creepy!!
People changed into their pajamas for the night and then changed into there clothes for the next day right in the open.
All varieties of people are in the 2nd class. (The train ticket to St. Petersburg only cost 700 Rubles which is $23.00, while the price of the ticket back cost 1000 Rubles which is $34.00. So it was rather reasonable.)
People bring food and drinks for the long train ride.
The Train Ticket
2nd Class Accommodations
(L-R: Cathy, Caroline, Jess, ME)
Caroline and Jess. Jess is on the top bunk next to the isle.
Thumbs down from Jess!
Ah, overnight trains! Now I want to go back to France...and check out Russia! Loving the blog, Becky! :)
ReplyDelete--Mary F.
It seems like yesterday that we were on our way to Nice!!
ReplyDelete