China and Russia trip
Nancye and I have just returned from a three week trip around the world. It was the sort of adventure that happens only once in a lifetime. On May 10 we flew to Beijing from Cincinnati, Ohio. There we spent four days seeing the usual sights. Then we embarked on the central piece of our trip. We boarded the Trans-Siberian railroad in Beijing and rode all the way to Moscow. On the way we had an over night stay in Ulaan Baator, the capital of Mongolia. Reboarding we spend four full days relaxing on the train - or as Nancye says, “Camping out on the train.” Then we had three nights in Moscow, the overnight train to St. Petersburg and three nights and days there. In Ulaan Baator, Moscow and St. Petersburg we stayed with local residents in a ‘homestay.’
On May 29 we flew to Cologne, Germany and stayed one day with my college sweetheart, Kate Adcock Siegel. On the 30th we took a train to Brussels where we spent the night so we could get up early the next morning and fly to New York and Cincinnati.
In the coming days I will post some stories from the trip and if I can figure out how to do it some pictures.
Three for the moment.
Several years ago I got a wild idea. Why not drive a Land Rover to Alaska, take a ferry across the Beiring Straits and then drive across Siberia to Western Europe. I actually investigated this idea eventually talking with some one at National Geographic and learning that there are no roads in eastern Siberia and no gas stations. We would have to mount an expedition similar to ascending Mt. Everest. So.
Then we discovered the Trans Siberian railway and spent several years planning and saving for this great adventure. Rather than start in Vladivostock we decided to begin in Beijing and to see that city as well as the two Russian cities at the other end of the line. So we did.
In Beijing there are people at all the tourist sites hawking all manner of junk. “Rolex” watches. “Gucci” handbags. And all sorts of hats. Even on the Great Wall they are trying to get you to my this stuff. On the Great Wall a young woman was trying to sell “magic rings.” Two silver rings about six inches in diameter which, when you know the trick will link together. The only English she knew was, “magic rings.” She demonstrated them to me while I was sitting on the wall so I said, “Let me show you a magic trick.” I demonstrated the trick of pulling off the end of your finger that I learned from my Dad probably 60 years ago. The young woman was fascinated and wanted me to show her how to do it. As I was doing so two or three other sellers gathered around to see what we were doing. It was a moment of communication and fun. The kind of thing that made this a memorable trip.
In Moscow we visited the Stanislavski House Museum and the Chekov House Museum. Both places are the homes in which these two great men of the Russian Theatre lived and worked. Each contained a small theatre where they rehearsed and taught. There is something special about such a visit. We stood and walked and sat in the place where important people and events occurred. What a great memory.
More later.
On May 29 we flew to Cologne, Germany and stayed one day with my college sweetheart, Kate Adcock Siegel. On the 30th we took a train to Brussels where we spent the night so we could get up early the next morning and fly to New York and Cincinnati.
In the coming days I will post some stories from the trip and if I can figure out how to do it some pictures.
Three for the moment.
Several years ago I got a wild idea. Why not drive a Land Rover to Alaska, take a ferry across the Beiring Straits and then drive across Siberia to Western Europe. I actually investigated this idea eventually talking with some one at National Geographic and learning that there are no roads in eastern Siberia and no gas stations. We would have to mount an expedition similar to ascending Mt. Everest. So.
Then we discovered the Trans Siberian railway and spent several years planning and saving for this great adventure. Rather than start in Vladivostock we decided to begin in Beijing and to see that city as well as the two Russian cities at the other end of the line. So we did.
In Beijing there are people at all the tourist sites hawking all manner of junk. “Rolex” watches. “Gucci” handbags. And all sorts of hats. Even on the Great Wall they are trying to get you to my this stuff. On the Great Wall a young woman was trying to sell “magic rings.” Two silver rings about six inches in diameter which, when you know the trick will link together. The only English she knew was, “magic rings.” She demonstrated them to me while I was sitting on the wall so I said, “Let me show you a magic trick.” I demonstrated the trick of pulling off the end of your finger that I learned from my Dad probably 60 years ago. The young woman was fascinated and wanted me to show her how to do it. As I was doing so two or three other sellers gathered around to see what we were doing. It was a moment of communication and fun. The kind of thing that made this a memorable trip.
In Moscow we visited the Stanislavski House Museum and the Chekov House Museum. Both places are the homes in which these two great men of the Russian Theatre lived and worked. Each contained a small theatre where they rehearsed and taught. There is something special about such a visit. We stood and walked and sat in the place where important people and events occurred. What a great memory.
More later.
posted by Thomas Van Brunt | 9:52 AM
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