Being dumped in front of Ykaterinberg station at 1:30 in the morning leaving me to figure out the right train, platform etc was a challenge that I am glad to say my primitive Russian coped with. It was quite a feeling to be boarding a train whose destination board said Moscow-Ulaan Bataar (the capital of Mongolia). Over the next two and a half days I learned to manage the techniques and etiquette of travelling with the Russians in a four berth sleeping compartment. As Westerners you will be shocked to hear that amongst my ever changing travelling companions were an (attractive) nursery school teacher and her daughter-what drama and danger that would have presented in our world!!-No, she only shared a tomato with me!!!
