Yekaterinberg

A 49 hour train ride from Irkutsk brought us to Yekaterinberg just 40km from the border between Asia and Europe.  Riding on the train has been so fun.  Russians on the train have been very nice and interested in who we are and what we are doing.  Most don't speak English and since we don't speak Russian, our conversations have been limited but can still last a couple hours.  Our guidebook also describes all of the little towns we pass through, so we get to learn some about Russian history.  The landscape has been surprisingly similar being mostly birch tree forests and small wooden houses.

Buying beer at one of the stops

Getting some air

Birch forests - and now you've seen Siberia!

Yekaterinberg (or Yakinberg as we called it before we figured out what the actual name was) is a mid to large size city known historically as the city where the Romanov family was murdered in 1918 during the Russian Revolution. There is not too much to see or do here, but we have enjoyed our time.  The city is pretty and we found a great Russian restaurant that is buffet style, so we can pick and choose. Tomorrow morning we head out to Moscow, where we will be staying with my second cousin for three nights, then homeward bound!

Romanov Memorial (Church of the Blood)

City Hall

Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin were here! (Just kidding)

Some of the beautifully painted buildings behind us