04-05-2015, 04:10 AM
I signed up to a subscription to a dating website and I focused on the cities I would be passing through. I met a Russian Woman in Volgograd, one in Kazan and one in Tomsk. Before I took the trip, I spent 6 weeks at a Russian language school in Ukraine where I met about 15 or 20 Women (through an agency).
While none of the 3 on the TSR worked out, it was nice to have a local guide. All 3 spoke English and one of the three, I met the whole family and stayed (free) at the Grandma's house.
I also met one Woman on the train. I wasn't able to communicate with the provednitza (the train stewardess) and this Russian Woman came over, translated for me and then had 1,001 questions about me. She pretty much hinted that she was interested and I spent the next 3 days with her at the next city.
I also met some interesting Germans, Brits & Australians on the train ride. The German wanted to bed me and I was half tempted but it was not what I came for.
The trip was BEYOND memorable; it was one of the best memories of my life.
I traveled some sections 1st, some 2nd and some in 3rd class. My knee jerk thoughts to all three:
1st class - Nou·veau rich businessmen and pricks who think they're too good to talk to you. The bed was comfortable, the toilet a disgrace.
2nd class - interesting people, some stiff, some not, had some interesting times. The bed was comfortable, the toilet a disgrace.
3rd class - salt of the earth Russian farmers, factory workers and "normal" people. Very helpful, tried to communicate, SHARED THEIR FOOD WITH ME. They saw I was eating "store bought" food and insisted I share in their home cooked delicacies. Some of the best food of my life. For the rest of the trip, I only took the third class train, brought nothing but a bottle of Vodka and some beers, immediately opened up a toast, passed the bottle and then ate like a king. The bed was comfortable, but much too short for a 6' 2" guy, toilet was immaculate.
While none of the 3 on the TSR worked out, it was nice to have a local guide. All 3 spoke English and one of the three, I met the whole family and stayed (free) at the Grandma's house.
I also met one Woman on the train. I wasn't able to communicate with the provednitza (the train stewardess) and this Russian Woman came over, translated for me and then had 1,001 questions about me. She pretty much hinted that she was interested and I spent the next 3 days with her at the next city.
I also met some interesting Germans, Brits & Australians on the train ride. The German wanted to bed me and I was half tempted but it was not what I came for.
The trip was BEYOND memorable; it was one of the best memories of my life.
I traveled some sections 1st, some 2nd and some in 3rd class. My knee jerk thoughts to all three:
1st class - Nou·veau rich businessmen and pricks who think they're too good to talk to you. The bed was comfortable, the toilet a disgrace.
2nd class - interesting people, some stiff, some not, had some interesting times. The bed was comfortable, the toilet a disgrace.
3rd class - salt of the earth Russian farmers, factory workers and "normal" people. Very helpful, tried to communicate, SHARED THEIR FOOD WITH ME. They saw I was eating "store bought" food and insisted I share in their home cooked delicacies. Some of the best food of my life. For the rest of the trip, I only took the third class train, brought nothing but a bottle of Vodka and some beers, immediately opened up a toast, passed the bottle and then ate like a king. The bed was comfortable, but much too short for a 6' 2" guy, toilet was immaculate.