Maria89

Omsk

Maria89 — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Ok so I'm kinda cheating cos I'm actually writing this from Irkutsk, I just wanted the "Omsk" point on the map above. It was really dull there, was planning to stay for 2 nights but ended up moving my ticket forward a day. Some beautiful views of the river Om and Irtysh though.

Keeping cool in Kazan

Maria89 — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

So I've been in Kazan 3 days, leaving for Omsk tomorrow morning.

1st impressions on arrival: like Moscow but smaller, even hotter (41 degrees and counting), the skirts are even shorter and the heels are even higher.

My best friend Katz and I have looked around the Kremlin and the main mosque within, a handful of beautifully ornate orthodox churches, a market and a monestary. Listened to Tatar radio (like a weird mix of chinese+indian music), ate Tatar food (eg chak-chak, a weird deep-fried stickey sweet, doesn't taste of much but it's nice). Btw they serve sushi and mojitos EVERYWHERE here.

anyway, gotta go, more later

Melting in Moscow

Maria89 — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

So I've been in Moscow a few days now, staying in my dad's flat (free accom, sweet!)

Went to dinner in a snazzy little jazz club (Forte) with him the other night, the food was good, the band was better. Followed by an oreo maddness in TGI Friday's (traditional Russian experience. For my family, anyway).

Been enjoying nostalgic Russian food that I don't get in England, such as shproti (little tinned fish, kinda like sardines but not), ryazhinka (a yougurt-like drink) and my personal favorite, pryaniki (this one's the hardest to explain...little dense sugar-coated spiced cakes, i guess. I've gone through almost a whole pack in a day).

Have been trying and failing miserably to order train tickets for the last 2 legs of my journey, irkutsk-ulan bator and ulan bator-beijing. I don't think it's possible to order international train tickets in Moscow, but I don't wanna leave it til i get there...

Was super-touristy today: hung around Red Square, went to the historical museum (more to get away from the heat and noise than anything), road on the metro lots.

Btw it's too hot here. 38 degrees and counting. Guess I better get used to it though, it's only gonna get hotter as I head east.

One last thing: saw a 10 ruble coin for the 1st time today. I didn't know they existed. Twas quite exciting.

Amsterdam Day 5

Maria89 — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

That's right, I've been on my journey 5 days already and am only just writing my 1st blog entry. I just haven't had time yet! I've done so much already, highlights (and lowlights) including:

-Missing the overnight ferry to Amsterdam cos all the trains from Cambridge Harwick were canceled. Had to stay a night in Harwick then get the morning ferry on Fri, breakfast on board.

-Checking in to a 32-bed dorm at the Flying Pig, an awesome central hostel.

-Eating antelope stew in a cute Ethiopian restaurant

-Hanging out with some of Rhi's friends who were house-sitting for a puzzel-maker, eating pancakes+solving puzzels on the roof in the sun

-Borrowing the puzzel-maker's bikes to explore Jordaan+9 streets+markets (bought flowers+cheese+other touristy stuff)

-cycling to the beach, swimming+sunbathing

-seeing Morcheeba live!

I think that's about it for now, more later!

Planning+packing

Maria89 — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I'm in the midst of booking tickets, visas, insurance and making endless shopping and to-do lists, hope all this paperwork is worth it! It's exciting though, I've been thinking of this trip for such a long time it's become a bit of an abstract concept, but now I've started spending money on it which means it's actually happening! 1st hiccough: all the trains from Amsterdam to Moscow (even the non-direct ones via Berlin) are sold out, looks like i'll have to fly that leg. But it'll probably turn out cheaper than the train, which is a plus i guess.