I awoke to Misha banging on my door - calmly telling me that we had 12 minutes to catch the train - I had fallen into a death like sleep and slept over 10 hours ... The station was 1km away and we were on the 7th floor
I was packed in 1 minute, checked out in another and while Misha went to order a taxi by Yandex .. I grabbed one that had just dropped off a client !
I was in a blind panic and confused - Misha his normal laid-back self - stating as we paid the taxi that we still had 4 minutes..
We had to go through security screening - but there was no queue and we had to run the width of the station - as our train was the last but one away ! ...
We left onto the first open door and got 'told , "this is not your carriage ! )" - like we cared )))
The train left and I dropped into my seat feeling my heart thumping ... A small panic - I could not find my UK passport - it was in the back pocket of my jeans. I don't think I calmed down until 50km south of Moscow - observing heavy snow and slow moving traffic - THANK GOD we took the train !
Our 'wagon' was a double decker and we quickly realised that the glass prevented the GPS antenna working and it was sealed ((
The cabin for the journey :
You can see, they give you snacks and chocolate
Tea was ordered - 65p a cup and were tucked into some chocolate watching miles after miles of snow..
Anticipation was mounting - we were actually going to make it to Sochi ! This is like travelling from Manchester (UK ) to Nice (FR) or New York to Miami.
Lunch was served - we weren't expecting a meal - it was Pork with prune sauce and buckwheat - served in tin foil - as if on an airliner. I nodded off to sleep - again
This was an express- so it was dangerous to alight from the train - as it didn't stop long ! I observed a northbound train at Liski being made ice free by the lady responsible for the carriage ( Vagon )
We had a meal in the restaurant car - we could lock our cabin ( coupe) - having been given a key - and I had a dark beer ( Czech) and Pork Shashlik with rice - Misha had a soup. Very tasty !
Somehow I managed to sleep through Voronezh - so didn't get a chance to see if Angel-Eyes had brought Mini-me to wave at us - or possibly send him for a holiday in Sochi !))
I just slept and slept !