I decided to take a break from the train stuff and run down to the Ismaylofsky Market - I jumped on the metro and zoomed over there and walked around for about an hour. Another huge statue in one of the metro stations.

Ismaylofsky got kind of boring - it is supposed to be closed on Monday, so I didn't stick around long. I looked down at the watch and noticed it was 2:15. I had figured out that the #3 train *from* Beijing was coming in at 2:30. Hmmm, I thought, I bet that's the same train that I'll take to Beijing tomorrow (#4 - both only operate once a week). I went back to the Yarowslavskiy Station in time to see the #3 pull in. They have signs on the platform saying where the train is coming from or going to, but they also have signs on the side of the cars indicating the same. This was says (from right to left): Moscow, Ulan Bataar, Beijing.

I'm in car #9, so figured that this was probably my car. I peeked in the window and was able to confirm that these are 1st class (two berth) compartments. I found a Provodinist (carriage attendant) helping folks offload and I asked him if this was going to be the the #4 train to Beijing tomorrow. Yep. Ok, good to go. Now I know where & when to show up.

Another cool shot for my train friend Tom.

One more...

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So... I'm back. Long story, but I did not get on the train to China the way I had planned. I got sick (food poisoning) the night before I was supposed to get on the trian - it happened hours before I was to get on this train. I made the mistake of eating at a sidewalk stand... long long story. Net/net - I came home a week early & didn't go to China. I'm shooting to continue the trip sometime in August of 07.

Damn.