train No. 92IJ - Wagon Lux 
While Regina, Christian and Oliver still fast food procured, I waited with John and the luggage in the station hall.
06/30/2006: Our position on the platform was well chosen. The car of the first class - Wagon Lux - holds close to us. The door opens and a Provodnik, a male guard gets out.
We present our Bilet him. Although there are tickets in question was purchased in Moscow (from Oliver's Railway Employees acquaintances), they confuse our Provodnik first. The space reservations are already from Moscow (Kazansky Railway Station), the tickets are issued as such from Gorky. Oliver also wants to see the same clarified that he has booked an entire compartment to itself as "Single", which brings the train crew completely confused. He flips around two minutes in the ticket (each of which consists of several sheets) and waves will eventually: "Get in," he says to us, "That I watch later at your leisure. And now we drag our bags in single file down the hall and demonstrate our compartments.
Even as we look around us in the hallway, we spoke to a woman. "You are the other volunteers, I accept your T-shirts." So this is Olga, our still missing German participant. Later we learn it at the evening get-together to know more detail.
Instead of the upper bunk hang Lux-length mirrors in the car with stylized Baikal motif on the walls - a hallmark of the 92-ger train.
is otherwise a lux car identical to the Kupejny sleeping car, ...
... only plush and even for only 2 people are relatively more space.
Our cabins are really no different than the usual "Kupejnye" compartments. It lacks the upper bunk. Therefore, one has to second-and correspondingly more space than four people and it is on the bunks, which indeed are also benches, sufficient headroom. The compartments also plush equipped. Instead of the upper bunks adorn large, oval, almost Victorian-looking mirror the walls. They are decorated with stylized motifs Baikal. This and some other feature of this campaign, such as curtains or the board range of mineral make clear that we take the train "Moscow-Severobaikalsk Severobaikalsk. It is used in Severobaikalsk and operated under the responsibility of the local railway department. Later we sit
together and share our resources. Unfortunately, our urgent shopping trip was on the station square of Nizhny Novgorod, not very productive. But Olga drags a huge bag of only about food. She had a stopover in Moscow on their Relationship is inserted. There was her brother, apparently a new rich Moscow, given her a huge supply of food, which they had extra to buy a new bag. Even Italian ham was there.
Olga is German-Russian descent and lives in Heidelberg, where she is researching a scientific foundation of topics in genetics. She has a doctorate in biology. It proved to be very communicative - others would call it talkative and dominates with its somewhat self-centered nature often the conversations in the group. Oliver will tell me later, questions whether I is not even on my nerves. Well - everyone has their own characteristics. We will judge us as a group how well we are clear with each other to come. I made up my mind, I do not make a decision too quickly.
Our Provodniks, a couple whose male part, we had already seen, we concluded soon friendship - especially Olga, who developed a relationship with Tanya, the Provodnitza, there was a well Volga-German descent and quick with her a heart and a soul was.
An afternoon in Nizhny Novgorod 06/30/2006: 
The Bolshaya Pokrovskaya is the celebrity Nier road from Nizhny Novgorod. It runs from Gorky Square to the defiant Kremlin.
Historic buildings line the avenue and Marina and Sweta us to know about it.
Theatre in Ekaterine classicism - this cake style is still used in Russian architecture, inspired by love.
Thus began our stroll around town - so to speak, officially - at the Maxim Gorky monument. Of course they are proud of this famous son of the city, whose name she bore Soviet times. Finally, his literary works, even if he manipulated by the Soviet cultural policy as a proletarian poet, without controversy.
We stroll along the Gorky Square and enter the Bolshaya Pokrovskaya - a central Promeniermeile the city. This boulevard is a pedestrian area of superlatives. With 1.4 kilometers long, it is probably the longest pedestrian street in Russia. Who here expected massive Stalinist buildings will be pleasantly surprised. It dominates Ekaterine classicism. The road is quite comparable with the Moscow Arbat. But somehow she is likeable to me than the Arbat, which is perhaps the light summertime atmosphere, or only on the non-existent crowds of Nepphändlern - it just seems comfortable, in spite of the masses who are here on the road.
We walk along this road. From time to time, we remain a family portrait session, are and Sweta or Marina tells us about one or the other architectural highlights, or just interesting things about the city.
Nizhny Novgorod is a city of millions. Only Moscow, St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk are surely greater. Otherwise, Nizhny Novgorod, Ekaterinburg competes with for fourth place on the list of the largest cities in Russia . Sweta is sure: our city is the fourth largest in Russia. According to Wikipedia, but has already Ekaterinburg Nizhny Novgorod by 2006 advanced to fourth place, albeit with a few thousand inhabitants more.
The street is lined with trees or alternately of renovated old building facades. Countless shops, kiosks and cafes offering their services. In front of a historic building of the University of paintings are offered for sale.
Then and now: Inside the Kremlin are churches and prestigious office buildings. To our right (not pictured) is on the eternal flame, is behind the Kremlin wall, a majestic balcony overlooking the Volga.
The Kremlin was once built on a hill below the Okamündung. Here you can look up and see Volga left behind the Kremlin Oka lead.
The Minin and Pozharsky monument in the old city beneath the Kremlin.
In the distance, at the end of the Boulevard, is one of the Kremlin towers visual completion. Comfortable step, we approach him. Past a historic building of the Russian bank and the theater in the classical style.
Finally, we are faced with the Kremlin. This was once the fortified city limits. The fortified walls to fend off the attacks of the Tatars and Mongols, and this they did with success. This dramatic of all the Kremlin in the Russian Grand Duchy was the attacks of the Tatars in 1520 and 1536 stand.
Now is the gate open to visitors and we enter the interior of the Kremlin. Right hand is directly behind the Kremlin wall is a gallery of historical military equipment: tanks, howitzers and the like. It will probably symbolize the military machine of the city.
We walk through the Kremlin to the upper limit in the direction of the river bank, past representative office buildings and religious buildings. This is also the eternal flame. Behind it opened a breathtaking view over the Volga River and the mouth of the Oka to the left.
We leave the Kremlin by one of the landward gates and walk outside the Kremlin wall along the eastern. Here's a fairly new, gorgeous Free staircase was built, over which one can go down the Volga. Also here to stay and we enjoy the view. Then we get down to the old town on the river bank.
Here we are surrounded by historical buildings. About fortified tower on the walls of the Kremlin. We come to a monument that strikes me as strangely familiar. It is the monument to Minin and Pozharsky , which is just as well as in Moscow's Red Square. Sweta says this: Of course, the original monument in Moscow, because the heroes Minin and Pozharsky the liberation of Moscow from the Polish-Lithuanian occupation in 1612 are. But Minin and Pozharsky Nizhny Novgorod are sons and advanced with a volunteer army from our city to Moscow. Therefore, they are also heroes of this city. For this reason, we have built here a faithful replica of the Moscow Minin and Pozharsky monument.
After this digression, it is already time to go back to the station. By Sweta we leave here, Marina accompanied us to the train. With a local bus proppevollen again we return to the station where we purchase food in a hurry and get the backpacks from the luggage storage. We enter the platform as our train coming from Moscow, already rolling up.
From the Golden Ring to the Volga 06/30/2006: This is the third day of travel. In the early morning hours, we have passed the Moscow region and roll now by Golden Ring , a belt of historic towns, often marked by golden church domes and fortifications - the so-called Kremlin - should that protect once the outer limit of the " Moscow Rus .
The Golden Ring - a belt of ancient cities around Moscow - characterized by old wooden houses on the one hand ...
... and churches covered in gold and other Kremlin, which once secured the border of the "Moscow Rus".
Vladimir, Suzdal find the best-known city of the Golden Ring.
Vladimir is probably next Suzdal and Sergiev Posad (former Zagorsk) the most famous city of the Golden Ring . The Russian Railways Vladimir devotes a change of locomotive and thus holds long enough for it to at least be able to stroll around a few minutes on the platform. The Golden Ring effect on me, as if time stood still. From Moscow's boom or a boom, such as in Tyumen by the crude oil here is nothing to feel or see. But I am convinced that this will also come here. The Golden Ring has both tourist potential, but also - by its proximity to Moscow - an advantage for the economy.
But now is our support has come to an end and we continue to roll, past ramshackle old wooden houses in the direction of Nizhny Novgorod on the Volga.
Here it should according to Oliver's planning to go as follows: In Nizhny Novgorod (formerly Gorky) we get out. Our connecting train goes as planned until the evening, so we'll have time for sightseeing. Here again, Oliver has been planned and we are in the Marina, a friend of Oliver awaits at the station.
Marina speaks good German. They welcomed us warmly and invites us on a guided tour. First we get our big backpacks luggage and then we enter the station forecourt. This is where they are as Nizhny Novgorod booming city. Life swirling heavy traffic, colorful kiosks, new bank buildings and signs all around shape the first impression. We are struggling in the wake of Marina by a bus stop. Soon we ride in a proppevollen local bus to the city center.
The platform in Vladimir - it seems the whole train is of the legs.
After a bus ride from Station in the city, we start our city tour on Gorky Square.
Christian and Marina on Gorky Square - this is still Sweta join us.
Nizhny Novgorod is located on the site where the Oka flows into the Volga, one can say at the mouth of a mighty river into an even more powerful.
Nizhny Novgorod, known as the birthplace of Russian / Soviet proletarian writer Maxim Gorky , after the city was named in Soviet times, but also as the armorers of the Soviet Union, the center of heavy engineering and exile of dissidents Andrei Sakharov . The city was until recently closed to foreigners. Very exciting but the history of Nizhny Novgorod and the traces on which we can convert the next few hours is.
We emerge from the bus near the Gorky Square. The day is sunny and hot. The smells of summer are intense city. Near the telephone exchange is a classic mobile Kwasfass . I have not seen for a long time! exchange in a bank on the corner of our money. Then we stroll among flower beds on Gorky square up to the Maxim-Gorki-Memorial, where we have arranged to meet with Sweta.
A woman approached our group is welcomed warmly by Oliver. It is Sweta. Also, she speaks very good German. Finally, also a German teacher. Together, we will start our city tour in which we Marina and Sweta alternate talk about important things about the city.
Belarus - Transit 06/29/2006: reached in the early hours of the morning we cross the border. The train is a long time in Poland. This rise to the Belarusian border guards. The car attendants and passengers wake us soon come the controls - the first Polish then the White Russian.
A stop in Belarus - unfortunately I had failed in Brest, to To photograph there, although we had a long stop.
Minsk - the capital of Belarus. A view from the train station.
We leave Minsk. In this curve the length of our train is clear.
The Belarusian control is carried out on behalf of the Russian Federation. On the border between Belarus and Russia, it will never be any more checks. Although we therefore first in the transit country Belarus are, so to speak, we have also passes the outer border of Russia.
The checks have not really awake can be, so we continue to dawn as the train is uncoupled for gauging the wider Russian gauge in sections and the Umspurhallen is rolled. Here I observe - lying face down on my bed - the bustle of the railway workers, while we float with the lifts in the air. And I always nod again. Half asleep, I experienced the gauging procedure and rolling into the station of Brest. Our car was there been separated from the rest of the train that would go directly to Moscow and yes we were on a siding at the east end of the station "parked". The train to Kazan was only hours later deployed and coupled our car there be.
Inwischen were all awake and had her morning toilet and breakfast behind - time for a walk. The Provodniza us asked us not too far away from the wagon - he could also be out ranked somewhere in between. Probably she was more afraid we would forget the time or get lost. Ultimately, we respected their request and strolled back only to the station and, while Oliver was a lot of photos. I had (unfortunately) waived to bring my camera.
Somewhere there was a shunting locomotive moved into our siding and our car was coupled to the train to Kazan and subsequently provided before the Brest railway station. Our stop in Brest thus lasted about 8 hours from 3:05 bis 11:13 clock time clock Eastern European (of which we were sleeping or dozing but the first few hours).
Not every station has ready platforms that are long enough for our train. Thus, the head of the train is already outside the station.
John has cared for the first time in Russia: The ice for now, the beer for after.
Last stop in daylight in Smolensk.
But then we rolled through Belarus - now on a broad Russian track and having weighed the calming and rhythmic banging the bogies.
This day between two nights in a "small" umspurfähigen standard gauge wagon , which is exceptional in addition to the broad gauge wagons a little thin (see photo on the left or see here), was used that day to meet people. This meant in the first place: we get to know Christian and Christian gets to know us. Of course, the Christian was particularly curious, since we already other four for the second time and went for him as a "newcomer Baikal" the experience was driven. But his experience as a professional engineer should we have a great support to the Baikal be.
The stop in Minsk I was among the many still well remembered for, as I (or from the perspective of the train) the city but to be quite impressive warnahm.
On one of the first extended maintenance on Russian territory, finally our first ruble were used and we are covered with a fresh food - from ice cream to beer what it takes so the train. In Smolensk finally dawned
it already and we walked one last time for today on the platform. Then we rolled into the night and on the Podmoskowye (Moscow region) to.
again between on-axis 06/28/2006: addition to my technical project planning were also other plans taking shape. On the one hand were the visas and travel planning, this time from quite routine. On the other drew increasingly clear from the staffing of our camp.
The three compartments in the sleeper car we had booked a double compartments and each covered for two.
The travel planning and procurement of train tickets was instrumental in Oliver's hands. We wanted this time all the way from Germany to take the train. Back to it should go from Novosibirsk by plane to Hannover. In return, Oliver
has devised a special variant. It should be in the coaches Berlin to Kazan-Nizhny Novgorod and go after several hours of residence from there directly to Severobaikalsk.
was the German speaking part of the force in addition to the previous year's participants Oliver, John, Regina and me of Christian from Bischofswerda and Olga from Heidelberg, the right to appeal came later. She wanted to travel to Moscow, so that we would only learn about in Nizhny Novgorod. From the Russian people we knew only that some old friends would again be of the party.
Our coaches at the stop in Kazan Berlin-Frankfurt / Oder.
Warsaw Central Station - Then we went into the evening twilight.
We therefore started already in Verden by train. The first stage began on the morning of 6/28/2006 and took us to Berlin. From "Berlin-Lichtenberg should then start our journey right. On the platform in light mountain we met Oliver and Christian (we met in person now). Until the departure was still plenty of time so that we have properly spending spree with purchases. was provided
When finally the train, we headed to the Kazan coaches, which was coupled as the first behind the locomotive. The train attendants were happy when they learned that they would have been passengers from Berlin, for clearly this car was more of prestige in use, although the demand is low. Oliver explained it to the fact that Kazan is indeed the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Tatarstan, and such must have a course just cars - good for us.
We took our three very special compartments in possession, we (ie Oliver for us) had booked as a Double. Then we rolled some point east.
At the last stop in Germany - in Frankfurt / Oder - brother and sister in law came from the Oder to the train and even supplied us with drinks. Then we went further by Poland. Behind Warsaw we left the sun behind us and so have our first travel day. Regina and I had a compartment, Christian and John went one further and Oliver as "single" and had a compartment to themselves.
