It's big and it's white. Russia is around 4 times the size of Australia. Its 9289 km from Vladivostok to Moscow, and its going to take the train over 7 1/2 days to get there. We've already travelled 24 hours, and we've just got to the eastern edge of Siberia and crossed the first of 7 time zones. There's snow on the ground, with bare birch trees jutting out of the white. Weather is fine and generally clear with the sun shining, but its close to freezing. Yes, it's Dr Zhivago country!
Our carriage is lovely and modern. A 4 berth kupe (2nd class), but we booked all 4 berths so we have it to ourselves. 8 sleeping cars, a restaurant car, and 3 goods wagons make up Train #1 - Rossiya - the pride of the fleet. There haven't been any food vendors on the stations platforms at stops as we expected, so we've had lunch and dinner in the restaurant car, which isn't cheap. Two unisex toilets at the end of each carriage, and a hot water boiler near the Provodnik's (carriage attendant's) room. Lots of time to laze about, read, stare out the window, and hum Lara's theme.
They still observe some traditions - the Russian national anthem blared out from the platform speakers as our train left the station.
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