Almost suddenly, the landscape changes. As far as the eye can see is the vast, open, grassy steppe landscape of the Gobi Desert.
The grassy steppe of the Gobi Desert was intimidating and beautiful. Nothingness broken with an occasional ‘ger’ (Russians call them ‘yurts’), a few grazing wild camel or horse, a very small village or a huge coal/gas exploration mine.
Beautiful Siberia.
Kind of scary statue in decay on the Russo-Mongolian border.
Public architecture in Russia, especially from the Soviet period, was very impressive. From the marble subway stations in Moscow, to the train stations along the railway, it seemed as if the Soviets wanted to impress with the power and glory of the state. Personal housing certainly paid the price. Here is a typical train station in the middle of “nowhereville.”
The train across Siberia is electric…all the way from Moscow to Vladivostok…but they heat the water (used to heat the cabin and for drinking tea/eating noodles) with large coal boilers in each car.
The constant smell of coal dust and smoke became the signature smell of Siberia.
The coal boiler
Train Dinner
Woke up early in the am to make sure I caught the sight of this HUGE lake. 1/5 (20%) of the Earth’s fresh water is in this one lake…over a mile deep in areas.
This was one of the most beautiful areas of Siberia, with some large and very large snow capped mountains near the lake.
We saw tons of small villages and “suburban” (or exurban) dachas all across all of Russia. All looked very similar, small wooden structures with large gardens…many still waiting to harvest their cabbage.
Most urban living…in Moscow and across Russia and SIberia…seems to continue to be centered around the old Soviet communal dorm structure. What was surprising is how many new structures were being built in western Siberia.
OK, home now and able to update…staring with the trip across Russia and Siberia by train! Here is the Yaroslavsky Station just prior to leaving Moscow.
Stateside! But the LA airport has not been the most welcome…immigration lines were down right hostile, I yelled at a guy who cut a bunch of us in line! Why is he so important, huh? People clapped, a little like the mmu lunch line…
I have a ton of pics and video to upload to answer many questions. Will be busy these next couple of days, so stay tuned!
Speak, Memory 
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