I may not be able to cook to bring people together on the train, but the food car certainly did it for me!
This was the night when the bottle of vodka came into play and believe it or not was my first Vodka after over a week in Russia! After a chilled out day hopping on and off the train Fanny and I went for a quiet dinner with Vladimir. As we finished up the dynamic duo Conor and Cihan came down and joined us. I intended to stop and have one beer with them and then go to bed after staying up past 2 every night since i got on the train. No such luck…
The ever graceful Vladimir taking on Cihan after an evening of banter and chatter, and VODKA!
I’d like to say that i was corrupted by these two lads and i was an innocent victim, but you all know that i would be lying. Fanny said she would only drink vodka so after getting a round in and roping Cihan into joining me in a bottle ordered one of those too. We spent the evening getting to know Vladimir a bit better, he’s a tough nut to crack. But he finally warmed up a bit and showed us pictures of his family and told us about his children and grandchildren. It was so sweet. We just about managed to get him to crack a smile as well. He wasn’t smiling so much after the arm wrestle though later in the night though… poor guy!
The night rolled into day when a beer curfew was ignored by all and we were all sat relaxing taking in the sights with some new faces in the appointed party cabin by 11am the next day. What i thought was going to be 6 days of reading and looking at the view is far from it, but in a brilliant way. We had a good giggle, jumping off and on the train to hunt down snacks and more beer. Being eyed by the train conductor for buying it from the stores and not from his stash of Chinese beer. There is always a back up with those guys, but i don’t think they would be able to keep up with us if they were the sole supply!
They apply some curious rules as well, although if you are kind to them then they bend them a little. Like you are not allowed
Station stop on the Trans-Siberian
to get into the wrong carriage when we get on and off at stations. However climbing under the train when you can’t be bothered to walk up and over the bridge is OK. I have also been allowed to use the oh so glamorous loo in the station stops having been too unorganised to think about going beforehand. I’ve been having way too much fun for such mundane planning!
Yummy Chinese treats from the conductors dinner stash!
They came to our rescue when having missed dinner we were tipsy and hungry. I’d seen them making some amazing food in their rooms over the past few days and wondered if they would sell us some when we missed our last dinner with Vladimir. They seemed to be doing a nice sideline in all sorts of other things so why not?! It worked and Cihan and I had the most amazing supper of rice and marinated eggs with veg. If you don’t ask and all that! Such a great night again, we’ve had a few people get off and on in Mongolia but still all brilliant and all being quickly adopted into the fray of carriage number 6. It’s where all the fun happens!
I’m going to try and get some sleep!! tomorrow will be an early night… i hope!
Tired but happy Cake-Lady!
Ciao x x x x
