Mariana, the receptionist has got up. I sweated a bit at 2 a.m. and switched on the AC. I still was not getting sleep. I took one B.P. tablet. It could be that I was stressed due to not getting accommodation at Kiev and even a bed in a hostel costing 70 Euros. After sometime I got to sleep. Room has also become cool. I had almost packed my stuff last night. Shower was refreshing.
I came down to the reception at 7.15 a.m. Mariana’s house door was closed and so could not check mail.
Taxi had come a little down. Mariana, the receptionist brought two packets of breakfast. I saw it later, it consisted of two cheese stuffed chillies, bread, cheese piece, two packets of Dahi (yoghurt) and three boiled eggs. This was my breakfast, lunch and dinner. How affectionate and how lucky I am. Mariana came to the taxi and kissed me and abade good bye. She was also becoming emotional. She was calling me father.
Driver was good. He kept on speaking to me in Russian. There was a traffic jam for sometime. It was good to reach the station early. Ticket counter opened at 8 a.m. and there was no rush. I could easily change my electronic tickets sent by Himanshu to paper ticket and then sat there in the waiting hall till it displayed that my train coming from Alobr will arrive at platform. It was easy to go with only few stairs.
Train was on time and my compartment 8 stopped at the exist place where I was standing although there was no markings. I showed passport and ticket to the woman conductor. She gave a smile of welcome and directed me to the seat. It is a side berth. This is 3rd class sleeper. In one open cabin, there are six berths, three on each side and then two on side berths. I got side down stairs. The table in between 2 seats could be folded in such a way that it became a part of berth which is comfortable. Conductor gave a packet of linen, towel and pillow cover. I lied down for sometime.
The train is moving all through by the side of sea and malls and sometimes high hills on the other side. The station will come tomorrow. Train lights are large and powerful on electric lines. Hills are all green with thick jungle of trees. I took some pictures. Train’s speed is slow due to hilly terrain.
3.20 p.m.: Train has stopped at a big station for long. Passengers have gone to buy food items from shop inside a hall. I am not hungry. We have moved away from the sea coast. Sochi is 142 kms long with the sea coast. There are no beaches of sand. There are small pebbles and of course water to swim. No big moves like in last sea when I came in ship. Train will reach next station Balanslar where I will get down and get another train after one hour for Kiev. This is an overnight train.
10.30 p.m.: The train has stopped at some big station for a long time.
Last train reached in time at 4.18 p.m. at Karasvov Station. A few passengers got down. I walked to the platform and asked for bread from a station shop. I was directed outside the station. Since there was time I went out of the station and bought Potato patties, bananas and cucumber. It is expensive in Russia. Train came at platform 2 and I got in to compartment 14. It is again an open cabin of 6 berth, 4(each) on one side and 2 on window side. There are two old women and one young man going back to his home in Russia. This train is going to Kiev, Ukraine. It is cool air now. There were many sunflower fields. Everyone had their dinner of whatever they brought along. I had dinner of the breakfast items and then went to sleep. I got up now only. Train has started. Border will come midnight.
3.00 a.m.: Now the border formalities of Ukrain are over. Russian border crossed at 1.30 a.m. which is 30.06.2012, last day of my visa. I faced no problem at both the borders. Immigration was closed in the compartment. I had good sleep before that.
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