Ironically, I’d recently scoffed at travelers I met in Moscow who bragged about Trans-Siberian plans. I had no idea where to go in Siberia-hell, I could barely tell you where Siberia started and ended-and though I’d meant to consult a map of Russia, I hadn’t yet gotten around to it. Ilya is right: Siberia is far, far away, and I should’ve realized that sooner.Īdmittedly, my only (loose) plan for my entire six weeks in Russia was “Go somewhere in Siberia.” A Russian professor I studied with seven years before had high praise for the region vague notions of beauty are the only motivations I need to buy a one-way ticket to Russia. His competitor-a friend whom I mentally refer to as Pirate since he wears the same striped tank top and black bandana every day-nods in agreement as he makes his own calculations. “You are going to Siberia! What did you expect? It is very far away,” my Couchsurfing host responds distractedly as he plots moves on a chess board. “Ilya, is this right?” My eyes widen disbelievingly as I frantically scroll through schedules on the Russian Railways app. The realization set in on a muggy summer evening, in a cabin on the banks of the Volga River in Russia. But last summer, my poor planning led to the longest train journey of my life. No plans means more spontaneity, saying yes to any opportunities coming my way, and adventures that always exceed (nonexistent) expectations.
TRANS SIBERIA RAILROAD STORY SERIES
A running series of obtuse observations and snarky thoughts from that time I unexpectedly rode a Trans-Siberian train across Russia for four days straight.
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