Krasnoyarsk

The train trip started 12.39 Moscow time (yes all interrail in Russia is presented with Moscow time even if they are
departing from Vladivostok.

So my first bad memory in Russia was on the Sverdlovsk vagzal (the train station). A very drunk guy was harassing me, asking me things in Russia which i didn't understand. I said da svidanja and packa to him but he only went more aggressive and imitating me saying :"ja nje panimajo" suddenly a Russian bystander interfered and tried to calm down the man but he scream at him as well. So the bystander took of, by running and one minute later a Russian Police came with him. And the police smacked him so hard in the head that i bet you could hear it all the way to Sweden. It was not afraid but that kind of behaviour exists in all parts of the world so its really nothing unique for Russia.

I was not afraid, only grateful to the police (militsaya). Anyway, entering the wagon was very interesting because
my fellow three passengers was a babuschka (grandma) and two young kids, one girl and one boy. They boy had so much energy i fall asleep to the group Behemoth later on, that maybe not say much to you but that's nearly impossible to fall asleep to. The girl was taking photos of me all the time and said krasavy every time she looked at the result. The babuschka and the two kids stepped off in Novosibirsk and new passengers joined. One mom and son from the Russian republic Altai! And also a old Russian guy that was stuttering and believing the louder he speaks the better i would understand Russian language. But the Altai mom (border guard from Russia to Mongolia) and son (studying criminology) was very friendly and took well care of me. They didn't want me to eat
my magasin (Russian food store) bought bread and that i should tried theirs home-baked, which i did and it was lovely. Anyhow me and the guy exchanged email addresses so i will have continued contact with him, really nice fellow.

After 34 hours of train travelling i entered Krasnoyarsk in the middle of the night. There was a bunch of taxi wanting to sell taxi and further away there was another bunch not as willing to sell. So i said "njiet spatsiba" to the offensive taxi drivers and asked the lazy drivers of price and it was very good price, no haggle needed. But they drove me to wrong hotel so at 4am and a girl speaking poor English saying i must pay the hotel room by cash. i said: "this a voucher, there is already paid for" she looks at it, "you want breakfast or no breakfast". i say: "breakfast is included" she says: "including in what?" i say: "the voucher, this is a voucher"
she sais: "Whats a voucher? this a joke?" i said: "puuuuuuuuuuh its not a joke" and she has another look at the voucher and says: "Ahhh, wrong hotel, stupid taxi driver" she is gently and kind again and calls for another taxi, also good price directly" and he speaks only Russian with me but i was actually able to answer all his questions.
My hotel does not have internet, and i asked this morning: "you have internet?" and got the very cool response: "no, this is Russia". I felt really train lagged today and had breakfast around 9 AM and then hit the deck again. Woke up around 14 PM and now i am at a very noisy internet cafe in Krasnoyarsk! People are very kind and curious here as well. There was guy speaking pretty good English so when i said to him and he translated he translated for the whole internet café of what i was doing here.

I have no agenda at all in Krasnoyarsk except that i am very happy for surviving that train trip, i have travelled by train for a total of 60+ hours now. 24 hours more to Ulan-Ude and 60 more hours to Vladivostok. So roughly around 140 hours by train before i leave Russia.

I really hope everyone is ok. A lot of people is worried about me, asking me if i am ok etc in email. Thanks for your concern, i am really ok and this is a very interesting trip. Don't worry, be happy!

Kind Regards
Per